Thursday – April 23

Our first small group day. The hotel we are at is lovely – right in the heart of a pedestrian mall with shops and all. But this is still Jerusalem so think old stones and new signs. It was also a great place for revelry last night. We literally had to elbow our way through the crowds, avoiding the shaving cream sprayers! It was crazy but very fun to see. The noise continued late into the night so sleep came slowly.
The next morning, after a very good breakfast, we met our guide for the next three days. His name is Amit. He is a young Israeli who is quite open to both sides here so we could talk freely about what we have seen and heard. He is also charming and very cute so he is the perfect guide! I may adopt him!
Today we stay in Jerusalem so our first stop was the City of David excavation site. This is where it is believed that David’s palace was. However, it is a very controversial place as it is on Palestinian land and so some Palestinians have been displaced. There are still a few homes right on the site. Israel feels it has the right to connect to its history. Palestinians may agree but the at what cost? It was still very interesting to see, but some that we were traveling with earlier, would not have set foot there.
We wandered around the upper levels first and then headed into some tunnels used to bring water into Jerusalem even when it was under siege. They were fascinating and well lit for the slightly claustrophobic! The construction in these ancient times continues to amaze me. And here they were always digging through stone! Slaves made it all possible but it is an awful thought.
We then went over to the Western Wall or Wailing Wall – a surviving wall from the second temple. We could write our prayers and notes and go to the women’s side of the wall to pray and tuck our bits of paper into cracks in the wall. Despite all the people, it was meaningful.
It is Independence Day so in the square before the Wall, there were groups of young people from all over the world singing and dancing in celebration.
Lunch was our next stop and I had a yummy hamburger! A nice change. Then off to a longish line to get up to the Temple Mount. I’m sure everyone has seen pictures of the Dome of the Rock and it can be seen from so many places in Jerusalem. It is beautiful with its golden dome and gorgeous mosaics – blue and green. It was a privilege to be up there.
Just to keep us going, Amit took us for coffee at the Austrian Hospice – really a hotel from the late 19th century. A lovely building and great coffee stop. After all the walking, it was so nice to have these breaks.
Then a walk through the Arab quarter with all its little booths along the narrow stone street. It is so colorful and noisy. A little shopping and then another quick stop for some kanefe – a local dessert. We have also bumped into a few of our fellow travelers today so two of them joined us.
Next we visited a possible Upper Room site which is significant to all faiths. Our final stop was The Church of St Peter in Gallicantu which had been Caiphus’ house and where Jesus was kept the night before he died. It is also the site of Peter’s denial so there is a golden rooster on the top. It was a beautiful, quiet, and sobering place. An appropriate end to the day.
Supper was walking distance and again a lovely break and time of good food and fellowship.
Our guide has been excellent. He has a great deal of knowledge but is so personable and helps us learn and gain an additional perspective. These extra few days, with just a few lovely women, are proving to be a real blessing – a time to process and talk a little even though the days are very full. Tomorrow Masada and the Dead Sea! Can you believe it!? I can’t.

Editor’s note – my brand new iPad decided to stop charging so these last couple posts and all future ones are typed out by my bumbling fingers. Please forgive typos and auto correct anomalies! I’ll clean it all up at home, after I sleep for a couple of days!