Hi, Everyone,
Sorry I haven't blogged since arriving in Jerusalem. Finding an internet connection has been hit or miss. But, tonight, I have had some success!
Jerusalem: As you probably already know, we arrived in Jerusalem a couple of days ago. It's been very hot and busy here. Much different than Galilee, which was quiet and peaceful.
Our ride to Jerusalem took us through some ruins (read Shane's blog) and then to Caesarea Maratima, which is on the Mediterranean Sea. Wow was that beautiful!!! We saw some beautiful Herodian ruins, and it was one of the places Paul was imprisoned. We also saw the harbor where Christianity left the Holy Land and went out to the rest of the world. Pretty incredible.
Jerusalem has been a hard place to be. Our trip was planned to be chronological with Jesus' life. His ministry in Galilee, and then Jesus putting his face toward Jerusalem, where he would die.
We arrived Thursday night, and spent our first full day in Jerusalem on Friday. We walked the Via Delarosa on Friday, commemorating Holy Friday. It was very poignant, walking the way to Calgary. The road is uphill all the way with many many steps. It is no wonder Jesus fell three times on the way.
When we arrived at the place of his death and the place he was buried, it actually is a church--the Church of the Holy Sepulchre--a huge church--actually, it is three churches in one--Eastern Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic. The church was built around the Skulls hill, Calgary, and the tomb of Jesus. The church is very iconoclastic, smells of insence. and is rather opulent.
We visited the tomb today. We also went to the Wailing Wall and prayed.
Palestinian City of Bethlehem: Probably the most interesting part of today was our morning trip. We crossed the wall and went into Palestine, to the city of Bethlehem. There we went to the church of the Nativity and saw where Jesus was born.
The wall around the city is tall so that the Palestinians can't see outside of the city. We had to show our passports leaving Bethlehem. So sad to see Jesus' birthplace as occupied land. More on this when I return. we had a very interesting day there.
Tomorrow, we go to Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock. We are all getting pretty tired. So much walking. I am pretty tired, but we are all going into the Old City for a beer on the roof of a restaurant.
Peace,
Loril
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