This happened on Day 5.

We had checked into the Jerusalem Inn the previous day, settled in and did not really eat due to being Shabbas.  So we all ended up in a local pub and just had beer for dinner and crashed because the next morning we had to be at David's Citadel prior to 8:45 am.

We walked the couple of blocks to the hotel and waiting for the tour bus to arrive. I started taking some photos of taxi's, soldiers, and just anything that struck my fancy.  By about 9:30 am the tour bus arrived and Haya (the tour guide) found us and we loaded into the bus.  Our first stop was Mt. Scopus - near Hebrew University.  From here we had a vantage point of all of Jerusalem.  At the time I did not realize that this was apart of Jordan prior to 1967.  She took us to this ridge where we could take photos of the overview of the city (posted).  After this point we ended up loading back into the bus, listening to a lecture from Haya and driving around the old city of Jerusalem.  We were literally driving on the border between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  She also pointed out areas of interest like Bethelem and the infamous Wall that Israel has been building to keep out the terrorists.  We also saw Absolom's Tomb, the Kidron Valley and each of the entrances into the old city (we had already seen Jaffa Gate prior when we arrived in Jerusalem.) 

At this point we parked near the old city and entered via Zion's Gate into the Armenian quarter.  Haya told us we would be taking a two hour walk (which turned into 4.5 hours).  She said we would be visiting all 4 quarters of the Old City (Muslim, Christian, Armeanan and Jewish).  We unloaded and began our walking tour.  Our first stop was at King David's tomb.  It was very moving, this is where King David is buried and were we first encountered very religious people singing and chanting.  I also found out that in the second floor is where Jesus had the last supper - that was very interesting.  We visited both areas and then moved back down to begin our tour of the Old City.  We were told the Armenian Quarter was the smallest part of Jerusalem and before we really knew it we were in the Christian Quarter.  It was fascinating to see the streets (which resembled more like alleys IMHO) and to walk in a place that has existed for over 4 thousand years. As we were walking at first you don't really notice alot of people - though you see plenty of allys and side streets.  And in the Jewish Quarter we stop and look at the Cardo (or Cardo Maximus).  This was the main Roman Avenue of Jersualem.  It was substantially lower than from where we were standing and it was my first real taste of Roman Ruins and damn, I wish we spent more time there.  After visiting the Jewish Quarter we stopped for a break and some shopping at Al Magithe and after I got done spending oh....alot of money we started back on the tour this time entering the Muslim Quarter.  Almost instantly the population bloomed to overcrowding and the SMELLS..oh my...the smells were amazing coming from the spices and bazaars of the local shops.  The main thing Haya kept trying to do was to keep us all together because if you got lost.....you really got lost!!   Our main objective at this point was to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.   This church is stations 10-14 on the Via Delarosa.  From here we saw the site where Jesus was Crucified and ultimately buried.  If I recall correctly this was the only church I actual went into when I was in Israel.  After spending about 30 min at the Church we started walking the Via Delrosa in reverse.  In this manner we walked back toward the Kotel (the Western Wall).  During the walk we experienced daily life in the bazaars, and the closed off section of part of the Jewish Quarter (because it was Shabbas) and another Chruch (I can't remember the name, but it seemed like an entry into a room off the Via Delorasa) and from there we headed to the Kotel.  This was what I had been waiting for.  We entered through the main entereance went through a metal detector and walked a corridor and once we were through we entered the portico where the Western Wall can be approached.  Haya told us not to take pictures because it's disrespectful, yet now that I am home I see LOTS of pictures of people at the Western Wall up close, even when one is leaving notes at the wall.  Anyway, that is why all of our pics of the Western Wall are so far away - we were told it was disrespectful.  I immediately walked to the wall, put a yamulka on and reached the wall, began praying and at the same time just thinking that I had finally made it.  I had to pause for a few moments just to collect my thoughts as I realized I was not only in Israel, in Jerusalem, but at the very center of Judaism.  At the Kotel saying prayers and thinking of my family my mother and realizing that I have no idea what to do next.  After a few minutes at the wall I took the notes I had and put them in the wall.  And limped back until my yamulka fell off my head in a gust of wind and I had to try to chase after it.  I then walked back to where our tour group was set up and rested a bit (this was the end of the 4 hour + long walk and I was exhausted).  At this point we began to load up in the bus and head to the Kibbutz Ramat Rachael for lunch. 

After lunch we ended up back on the bus and took a street tour of the New City of Jersualem.  We saw the Kenesset, the Supreme Court of Israel, the National Bank of Israel and Independence Part, Al Quds TV headquarters and the Jerusalem Bridge.  Then we hit a couple more churches Church of Mt. of Olives and at Gethsemane.  Most of the people in our tour went in, I did not.  Then we went to Mt of Olives Bazaar.  We stopped there for tea/restrooms and shopping.  I ended up getting a coin from Masada and a some fridge magnets and a Chaim (sp.) emblem for a necklace there.  That was our final stop from this point on we were going to go to the hotels to be dropped off (it was after 4pm going on 5pm). 

We were dropped off on Jaffa street and walked to the Jerusalem Inn. Later this evening Chris went to check out some bars and Shawn and I went next door to a Moroccan restaurant later in the evening.  It was amazing and it was the most expensive meal I had in Israel.  I totally got buzzed off of the glasses of wine and Turkish Coffee. LOL  After about 2 am Shawn and I headed back to our rooms where I finished off more school work and got ready for our next tour (Dead Sea and Masada)

Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 02:30 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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