The Joys of Retirement Production Company

Our adventure today began at the church of St Anne and the Bethesda pools. This is at or near the place of Jesus’s trial, Antonia Fortress, or Praetorium. Today it is built over by 2000 years of life in Jerusalem, however the location are marked as the stations of the cross 1 to 9. Numbers 10-14 are in the church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Walking the possible route he had to take those last minutes of his life and seeing the location of the Rock called Golgotha bring his suffering into focus. However the buildings constructed since such as the church, built in the 4th century by Helen, mother of Constantine cover over the natural features. But because Christians living at the time kept the stories and locations in their hearts and shared them with their children and grandchildren, it is believed they are the true locations.

After the visit along the via Delarosa and church, we traveled to the Israel Museum to see a1st century model of the city. This was built to depict Jerusalem within 70 years of Christ’s life so you can clearly see the praetorium, Antonio’s Fortress, what he was judged, the Rock called Golgotha, as well as other places where he was that night of His betrayal.

Also at this museum, is the Shrine of the Book, housing the Dead Sea Scrolls (but photography is forbidden there) the top of the museum is built like one of the jars where they were stored.

We ended our day near the Valley of Elah, where the boy David slew Goliath with a Rock from the brook. For more photos, go to
https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Via-Delarosa-Israel-museum–and-Valley-of-Elah

Today, by rising and leaving early, we were among the first groups to visit the Temple Mount. This is the flattened top of Mount Moriah, whether the Dome of the Rock now sits. It is where the Temples of Israel were built. We talked about it yesterday when we saw it from the Mount of Olives. Because this area is now controlled by the Muslims, access is limited. We were able to see the opposite side of the Golden Gate, sealed for now, but Jesus will return thru that gate, with those believers who have died in Christ.

From there we visited the Garden Tomb, a location just outside the wall which holds a rock that appears like a skull, and an ancient tomb. While neither of these are probably actually the true places of Christ’s death and resurrection, it gives us the idea of what it might have been like. We sang hymns there and reflected on what Jesus did for us when he died and paid the price for our sins.

We went back to the Dung gate, where we entered the temple mound and entered to area of the wailing wall, at the western side of the temple mount. Since the Jews have returned, they have excavated underground and have exposed a lot of the western wall thru tunnels where the old road was.

We returned to the bus via the old city via Delarosa and traveled to a location near Bethlehem in the West Bank. We were in Palestinian territory. After a pita lunch with grilled chicken and lamb in a local restaurant, we visited a location there, just outside Bethlehem, which shows us what the life of a Shepard would have been like. We remembered all the mentions of Bethlehem in scripture, from Rachel, Ruth, Naomi and Boaz, to David’s family lineage right up to Jesus birth. All those ancestors worked the fields here, as farmers or shepards.

The local population of this small town is about 35% Christian, unlike Bethlehem, now just 10% believers. We skipped the church of the nativity, which may, or may not be on the accurate location. But this Shepard’s Fields location gives you a much better feel for what it was like!

Of course , there must be some shopping time, so we visited the wood carving business of the local Christian families. Their olive wood nativities, sculptures, and plaques were expertly done. We all like supporting local small business, and they were glad to see us.

Our photos from the day are here. https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Temple-Mount-and-Shepards-Field

Update: Shalom from Jerusalem

On our health, I felt good enough for breakfast, and to start on the morning sightseeing the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane. Did ok til noon, then faded, so Emmett got me a cab back to hotel. Not 100% yet, but I will get there. May do the half day again tomorrow. I really think I just missed my afternoon naps!😅

Our day began at the top of the Mount of Olives where you have this iconic and stunning view of old Jerusalem. We have an excellent guide, Avi, who have us the lay of the land and pointed out the landmarks. Our Pastor Guide Kurt has given us great Biblical insight and background on the events that happened there, and will continue at each important sight.

From here the Dome of the Rock dominates, built over the top of Mt Moriah, the site where Abraham, in obedience to God, brought Issac to be slain, a great testament to his faith. (Spoiler alert: God approved of his obedience and spared Issac, in case you don’t know the story. ) It is on this site that Solomon built his temple and the 2nd temple was constructed after the Babylonian destruction of the 1st. The 2nd was destroyed by the Roman’s in 70 AD. Today it is called the Temple Mount and is a Muslim Holy site, where they say Mohammad ascended.

We also see the Grey Dome to the left of the Dome, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We visit there tomorrow. The Eastern or Golden Gate, the Gate the Lord will return thru was sealed by the Sultan Suliman the Magnificent in the 13th century, to prevent the Lord’s return. ( he didn’t know much about the Lord’s return, obviously, if he thought THAT would keep Him from returning) .

We walk thru the area of the Garden of Gethsemane. There are 24 chapels for every event in Biblical History on this Mount. As you move down the Mount of Olives, we move thru the last week of Christ’s life. We walked today where Jesus walked, literally. We walked down the Palm Sunday road, the route Jesus took on the Donkey triumphantly entering into the city of Jerusalem. We visited chapels where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, Dominus Flavit, Gethsemane, the olive Grove, and a garden where Jesus prayed and where the disciples slept while he prayed on the night he was betrayed.

We then traveled to Mount Zion, across the Kidron Valley, along the way Jesus was taken by the soldiers, for trial at the home of the High Priest, Caiaphas. This is the place that Peter denied Christ 3 times before the cock crowed. St Peter in Gallicantu chapel, a modern Chapel is built over the ruins of what may be the high priest’s home. There is a pit there, possible the pit where Jesus was placed for some hours the night of His arrest. We sang there and read a scripture. There is a first century stairway there, certainly traveled by Jesus between Kidron Valley and Moint Zion.

My energy was fading, so I took a taxi back to the hotel for a bowl of soup, some jello ( thank you to my sweet honey) . The group, along with Emmett went on into the Jewish quarter of the old city of Jerusalem and on with the itinerary.

More pictures of this morning’s adventure are posted here
https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Mount-of-Olives–

For most of 5 days I have down with an intestinal bug… I mean really down.    Emmett has taken care of me with Gatorade and water and some pills, (mine weren’t working) altho I haven’t been able to eat anything of substance since Friday morning.   As bad as I felt this morning,  we had to vacate our BnB in Tel Aviv and make the trip too Jerusalem.   NO PROBLEM,  if you are well!  We did it on Thursday.   However when you are having episodes of explosive diarrhea and debilitating cramps,  the prospect was frightening.   Almost paralyzing.   But we prepped….. 2 extra pair of undies,  extra shorts,  a roll of tp, 3 antidiuretic pills in my stomach, and many fervent prayers and we set out. 

There were always taxis by our hotel but when we needed 1 we found out they just have coffee next door!  And NOONE wanted to take us to the Tel Aviv train station. 4 empty cabs said no!  Soooooo,  the bus was how we went on Thursday,  it was now our only choice.   The hotel even refused to call a cab for us!  Luckily we have ridden the bus system,  knew how to use it and had money on one bus card.

At the bus station we needed to add money to our second card to take the train.  But we figured that out using 1 of the machines….. only to find the trains all delayed.  

We arrived in Jerusalem with no mishaps!  Thanking GOD every minute for no cramps,  no diarrhea!  Cabs were across the light rail tracks and Emmett got the bags to a cab which took us to the Dan Jerusalem hotel….. which didn’t have our names or the name of our tour group!   Lovely! 

We would still be sitting in that lobby waiting for the group to arrive if our Pastor hadn’t written a note to say meet us for dinner at 6, and we said we were in the lobby.   He asked what hotel when we told him they don’t have our names. He gave us the name of the new hotel and  The Dan called another  cab for us. 

We are finally at the new hotel, in our room….. obviously not the Dan.  But the prayers and the 3 pink pills got me this far. The restaurant here made me a scrambled egg, so I had my first solid food in a couple days,  which has gone down,  so far without cramps!  I’m feeling better and Emmett has gone for more Gatorade and water.  Pray for us,  as he is now experiencing some of my symptoms,  and we are both taking the medication.   I hope we caught it early for him.  

The saga continues…

By bus, train and then tram, we enjoyed a day trip to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. We chose to arrive in the old city via the Damascus Gate, to walk the Muslim quarter Sukh, or market area. The crowds were light so we visited the church of the Holy Sepulechre and places a couple prayers for friends at the Western Wall. We will visit again with our group, but this have us time to explore more. We had a wonderful lunch of Shwarma and kebab. https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Jerusalem-day-trip

Today we Visited Old Jaffa Town and harbor plus had a great hummus lunch at the best hummus place in Israel! Abu Hassan for Hummus. https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Old-Jaffa

We are here, settling in, exploring the area and enjoying breakfast overlooking the beaches. This is our respite for the 2 of us after 7+ weeks of travel! We will post our few excursions, but for the next week, the beach is our view.

Our last official excision in Italy, we saw Pompeii, the city covered in the ash of the volcanic eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79AD. Uncovered in parts over the last 300 years, it gives us a view of daily life in a small Italian town of 20,000 inhabitants in the first century.
https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Pompeii

Our visit to Sicily at the port of Messina allowed us to drive up the coast to the village of Castelmola and Taormina, with views of Mt Etna in the distance. https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Sicily-Messina–Castelmola-and-Taormina-

We don’t often take ship tours but yesterday we did on Corfu and it was very good! Our guide was excellent. We visited a seaside village Palaiokastritsa, a monetary whet 3 Greek orthodox nuns live and run a small gift shop. We had lunch at a great little restaurant with Meses, Greek small bites, like tapas. We ended our day with a short visit to the smaller of the old forts and the old town of Corfu Town, situated between the 2 old fortifications. Enjoy. https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Corfu