Its taken a while to get here and this is the run down to the end of the Israel adventure. In six days we head off to Turkey and others in our party go off to other parts of Europe or return home to Australia. Jerusalem is not a big city as such but it packs a lot in. This is a snippet of our first couple of days. Started out at the Mt of Olives, descended down the hill to the Garden of Gethsemane and onto the Eastern Gate of the City. Wandered around the Muslim section of the city which contains the Via Delorosa, the path through the city which tradition has Jesus tracing to the Crucifixion. Some of these Stations of the Cross have historical basis and others are, well you know,  somewhat problematical. 

From the Mt of Olives, across the Jewish Cemetery to the Dome of the Rock

Walking down from the Mt of Olives you eventually reach the Eastern Gate to Jerusalem. This is the 16th Century Gate and is now a 21st Century traffic nightmare to get in.

We visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcu (spelling ? its late at night!) and see the place where tradition and perhaps historical evidence places the crucifixion of Jesus. Well I feel  it’s a bit over the top for the Protestant branch………….but the Catholic and Orthodox traditions of eastern  Europe and Eurasia  place great belief and faith in these places and the traditions that go with them. 

This is the main fresco depicting the Last Supper in the Church of the Holy Sepulcu (this has not been spelt right but its late at night!), which marks the place where tradition places the Crucifixion of Jesus.

Down at the Western Wall we see some great contrasts of tradition and the modern presence of the Israel State,  a few days before Israel’s Independence day and Memorial Day.

On the way to the Western Wall for prayers

On guard at the Western Wall

Something more tomorrow no doubt!