Today was loooong. To list the places we saw would be just that – a list. So here it is:
Mosque of Ascension – kind of boring, but it supposedly marks the exact spot where Jesus left the earth. It was weird that it was a mosque.
Next we went up on the Mount of Olives, where we got a great view of the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock.
From there we walked to the church of the Pater Noster, where they had plaques on the wall with the Lord’s prayer in every conceivable language. It was really neat.
Then the Dominus Flevit (Jesus wept) chapel, which wasn’t much.
We walked to the modern Church of All Nations, at the possible site of the garden of Gethsemane. On the ceiling they had emblems of every country that contributed.
Next on our trek down the Mount of Olives was the cave of Gethsemane, which might be where Jesus was betrayed.
Right next to it was the Tomb of the Virgin, which also – far more interesting to me – contained the tomb of Baldwin II, king of Jerusalem. Dr. B took my picture there.
We got on the bus, then got off and walked to the site of the pools of Bethesda. Right there was the very cool church of St. Anne, the only complete Crusader church. When we went in, there was a church service going on. They sang “Hosanna in the highest,” and the acoustics were so powerful, 50 voices sounded like hundreds. Plus, there was a bird flying around in the high dome. It sent chills up my spine!
We walked the Via Dolorosa, but the only station of the cross we stopped by was the chapel of the flagellation. We also saw the so-called Ecce Homo arch.
At the end of the Via Dolorosa was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was rather disappointing. It was so gaudy and ornate, I felt nothing at all. I touched the “original slab” of the tomb and put my hand in the hole where the cross was. But it all was like, “yeah right.” Maybe I’m too much of a skeptic.
After that, we visited the “Upper Room,” a grand room from the medieval period. Beneath that was “David’s tomb.”
I almost forgot one of the neatest things we did! But with this seemingly endless list, who can blame me? Before Bethesda, we went through a security check to approach the Western Wall [Live Web Cam]. The guys and girls had to split up, of course. We wove our way through the crowd so we could lay our hands on the wall. I felt kind of bad because all these women were praying at the wall, and we were a bunch of intruding tourists who only wanted a photograph . . . but I guess they’re used to it.
Anyway, after David’s tomb we went to St. Peter in Gallicantus, and frankly, I’m not sure exactly what it was. I think it was supposed to be the pit where Jesus might have been imprisoned.
We also went to an obscure site, the Queen (Helen)’s Tomb, a series of caves filled with burial slots.
Finally, we visited Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden tomb, which I actually enjoyed, even though it’s most likely not the site. Instead of a big, gaudy church, it was a beautiful garden – a refreshing change. It was nice (and possible) to imagine that Jesus was there. They made us listen to one of their guides, and I liked how he emphasized that it doesn’t matter WHERE it happened, just that it happened. He said, “No matter where Jesus’ tomb is, it is empty, and that makes my life worth living.” So the garden tomb was a pleasant end to a very long day of touring.
I just ate supper at McDonalds with Will and Dr. Browning, and am about to go to bed. Tomorrow morning we’re going to the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock, then we have a free day for shopping and laundry.
Right now on MTV, I’m being subjected to Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. Even across the ocean, there is no escape!