Have I ever mentioned that I should become an alcoholic? Seriously, I'm so much more relaxed about *stuff* including the parents :)
Me enjoying a champagne at breakfast - for both my wedding anniversary and Israeli Independence Day
Photo by Mum
Today was our "off" day, a day entirely to ourselves.
Except because of the traffic yesterday what they did is reschedule our visit to the Garden Tomb til today at 9am. So at 8:15 we all met and trundled up the hill, almost getting lost but finding it in the end and getting there right on time.
Jaffa Gate
Side of the Jaffa Gate
Tram on Shlomo ha-Melekh Street
And it turned out to be one of the coolest places on the trip. Firstly there were no churches on top. But also because while this *could* have been the place of Jesus crucifixion and burial, the guides (who were volunteers from the UK on two or three month trips here) were strongly pointing out that we don't *know* this, but what does it really matter, the fact is Jesus died, was buried and was raised *somewhere* around here, and this *may* be the place but it doesn't really matter. I really liked this and it was a really nice experience.
The Garden Tomb sign
Photo by Dad
Skull Hill - possible site of Golgotha
Inside the Garden Tomb. Jesus was buried in a tomb similar to this
A stone similar to this would have been used to seal Jesus' tomb
Wine press in the garden
Photo by Dad
Mum, Dad and me at the Garden Tomb
The Garden Tomb
After this, everyone scattered in all different directions.
I joined the parents and Leslie and Jill and we meandered through the Damascus gate to go find the Tower of David museum.
Damascus Gate from the outside
Damascus Gate from the inside
OK meandered is not the right word. The parents charged through the bazaars and Jill and I were drifting behind thinking "dudes, chill, we're in no rush". Whatevs.
So we got to the museum and it was actually pretty cool. We didn't really spend any time looking at the exhibits, but it was cool walking around the ramparts, and we got to see several flyovers of various military aircraft (it's their Independence Day here).
Entrance to the Tower of David
Phasael Tower - built as part of Herod's Palace
Dale Chihuly glass in the entrance of the museum
The Tower of David citadel
View east from the Tower of David Phaseal tower
The Dome of the Rock from the Phaseal tower
View of the Tower of David citadel from the Phaseal tower
Photo by Dad
Church of the Holy Sepulchre from the Phaseal tower
Flags flying over the top of the Phaseal tower
View northeast over the Tower of David citadel
Photo by Dad
View towards the northern towers
Western walls of Jerusalem
Arch in the Tower of David citadel
Photo by Dad
C-130 Hercules flyby
Israeli Air Force KC707 tanker and F-15C fighter jets
Inside a corridor in the citadel
Cutaway model of the Dome of the Rock
Mosque in the Tower of David citadel
Photo by Mum
After that we found a place to have lunch which was actually a lot like other places we've had lunch in terms of setup with getting food and dessert. One of the staff brought a Melbournian staff member to our table to say hello - he was a volunteer staying here for *six* months!
After lunch we thought we might do the ramparts walk but two different signs said 1 shekel or 16 shekels but there was a big group ahead of us trying to convince the guys they'd paid with another ticket so we decided it was all too hard and left. On the way back to the Jaffa gate we heard all this noise and looked over the side and there was this *huge* parade of young people coming down the road. They were on a peace march and were from all over the world. It was a pretty cool thing to watch and wave to the guys and shout Aussie Aussie Aussie to the people carrying Australian flags :)
Jaffa Gate
Tower of David
Independence Day youth march
Panamanians in the Independence Day youth march
Photo by Dad
Next Mum and Leslie decided to go back to the hotel, and Jill and Dad and I decided to wander through the city again. We thought we might head for the Zion Gate or the Dung Gate but really weren't sure how to get to either, so just wandered. When we got to the south-western part of the city we found a sign that said Wailing Wall lookout so went to that and all the people from the march were there! It was pretty cool.
Walking through ancient Jerusalem, near the Wailing Wall
Youth march converging on the Wailing Wall plaza
Photo by Dad
From here Dad decided to go off and find Absolom's Pinnacle while Jill and I decided to go back to the hotel. We went out the Dung Gate and even found a herd of goats and their shepherd which was pretty cool. But the road we wanted to walk on didn't have a footpath so we decided to head back up to the Zion Gate, walked around the outside of the city wall, then headed back down when we found a path.
The Dung Gate from the inside
Goats crossing the road. Our hotel in the background
Southern walls of Jerusalem
Southwest corner of Jerusalem city walls
So got back to the hotel and bought myself an hour of internet, but a miscommunication meant I kept the sweetie up a lot later than he was planning... sorry sweetie! but it was nice to see him and blogged about five blog entries. Then people came down to the lobby as well and were talking to me and buying me beer and I was copying files for them.
Dinner, chatting, blogging, bed!!
Distance covered on the GPS: 15.9 km (all walking!)
Steps walked: 17989
Photos on the Canon: 164
Photos on the Sony: 50
Videos: 2
NIS Spent: 65