FUN-travel: Holy Land – Jerusalem, Israel – Day 11

April 17, 2013 by  

The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration

Trip Day 65 – Thursday, April 4 – Jerusalem, Israel – cloudy, breezy, cooler – low 70’s

Jerusalem, Israel 42

Jewish Quarter

  • 7:00 – get up
  • A – good cappuccino
  • 8:45 – pick up for tour
  • 1st stop – 9:00 – Temple Mount – Dome of the Rock and El Akza Mosques – holiest place for both Jews & Muslims
  • 2nd stop – 10:15 – Western Wall – also known as Wailing Wall – holiest place in Jewish tradition today – men pray on left side & women on right – lots of bar mitzvahs in plaza
  • C – sidewalks are streaming w/groups of festive family & friends carrying big balloon bouquets proceeding to plaza w/singing  & musicians drumming & playing horns
  • 10:30 – Jerusalem bagel break – large, oblong, seeded bread w/herbs for dipping – VG
  • 3rd stop –10:45 – City of David – oldest part of Jerusalem – archeological finds include underground acropolis & palace – walk through tunnels dug to carry spring water
  • 11:30 – walk through Jewish Quarter – go to Cardo – original Roman thoroughfare now exclusive shopping arcade
  • 4th stop – 12:30 – Church of the Dormition – said to be where the Last Supper took place – also Tomb of David
Jerusalem, Israel 100

Wailing Wall

Bethlehem, West Bank 11

Grotto of the Nativity

  • 1:00 – new guide – Palestinian, Isa, drives us to Bethlehem (Yuval can’t go there)
  • 1st stop – Church @ the Shepherd’s Fields – shepherds from here saw the Star of Nativity
  • 2nd stop – Schawarma lunch break – pita sandwich filled w/meat, sauces & various vegetable salads
  • 3rd stop – Church of the Nativity – one of most holiest Christian sites – Grotto of the Nativity is focal point w/silver  star over site believed to be birth place of Jesus
  • 4th stop – 4:00 – Aroma coffee – cappuccino break
  • 5:00 – happy hour @ hotel
  • 7:30 – dinner Darna – Moroccan restaurant – dipping sauce/vegetable appetizer – lamb entrée – just so-so & $$$

FF – (FUN-fact) – Church of the Nativity was built over the cave where Jesus was supposedly born. In 1852 shared custody of the church was granted to the Roman Catholic, Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches, the Greeks caring the Grotto of the Nativity.
More FF – Fresh fruit and vegetables are abundant.

Jerusalem, Israel 109

Bar Mitzvah Celebration

 

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