Today was another day filled with hours of walking. It is the most efficient way to get around the Old City, in terms of shortest distance between 2 points, although not in terms of energy consumption.
Despite having our rented “Super Fan” cooling our room and muffling the multiple evening calls to prayer, sleep was a bit elusive. Josh and I did our share of tossing and turning throughout the night and were awake for good shortly after 6 a.m. Who knows what time zone our inner clocks are on?
We showered and headed down to breakfast to eat and formulate the day’s plan. All 3 of us walked to the Cardo, which is the heart of the Jewish Quarter and is also a resident artist’s quarter for the City. We then parted ways with Louise who continued her shopping treks and Josh and I headed for the Kotel, or Western “wailing wall” , the remnant of the 2nd temple. Today was particularly filled with activity, with many Bar Mitzvah’s being celebrated. Josh, on the male side of Kotel plaza had a first-hand view of the goings on and captured many great shots. The women (mothers) of Bar Mitvah candidates were standing on plastic chairs to look over and observe the celebrations. We exited the Kotel plaza at Dung Gate and headed down towards the Kidron Valley. Initially we were trying to get to the Temple Mount to see the Dome of the Rock, but since we didn’t find the entrance on that side of the walls, we continued towards the Valley floor, visiting the Church of All Nations, or Basilica of the Agony & the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a majestic church with star-studded blue and gold celings and impressive mosaic façade.
Since we had already hiked that far, we decided to continue on up the hill to the Mt of Olives (we had planned to take a tour in the afternoon which would have shuttled us the couple miles to the top, and then walk back down). The limestone bricks of the streets act as solar reflectors, making it really hot. Josh estimated that the incline of the hill was about a 40% grade. Steep going! We climbed past the impressive Jewish cemetery and Russian church of Mary Magdalene with its golden turrets. The trek down the hill was wayyy easier than the ascent. At the bottom of the hill is Mary’s Grotto, a lovely contemplative spot. We paused there for awhile and cooled off in the subterranean grotto before heading back up (another) steep hill to Lion’s Gate and the Via Dolorosa (where we first entered the Old City Saturday morning) and back to our Hospice.
We downloaded and perused our many photos, tangible memories of the day’s trek. Supper tonight is simple street fare, pita, Arabic bread, hummus, baba ghanoush and falafel from a cart parked just outside the Hospice’s doorstep tonight.
Later this evening we go to the Sound and Light show at 9:30 p.m. and after it’s cessation, I am sure we will be ready to be tucked in with our Super fan accompanying sweet dreams.
Despite having our rented “Super Fan” cooling our room and muffling the multiple evening calls to prayer, sleep was a bit elusive. Josh and I did our share of tossing and turning throughout the night and were awake for good shortly after 6 a.m. Who knows what time zone our inner clocks are on?
We showered and headed down to breakfast to eat and formulate the day’s plan. All 3 of us walked to the Cardo, which is the heart of the Jewish Quarter and is also a resident artist’s quarter for the City. We then parted ways with Louise who continued her shopping treks and Josh and I headed for the Kotel, or Western “wailing wall” , the remnant of the 2nd temple. Today was particularly filled with activity, with many Bar Mitzvah’s being celebrated. Josh, on the male side of Kotel plaza had a first-hand view of the goings on and captured many great shots. The women (mothers) of Bar Mitvah candidates were standing on plastic chairs to look over and observe the celebrations. We exited the Kotel plaza at Dung Gate and headed down towards the Kidron Valley. Initially we were trying to get to the Temple Mount to see the Dome of the Rock, but since we didn’t find the entrance on that side of the walls, we continued towards the Valley floor, visiting the Church of All Nations, or Basilica of the Agony & the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a majestic church with star-studded blue and gold celings and impressive mosaic façade.
Since we had already hiked that far, we decided to continue on up the hill to the Mt of Olives (we had planned to take a tour in the afternoon which would have shuttled us the couple miles to the top, and then walk back down). The limestone bricks of the streets act as solar reflectors, making it really hot. Josh estimated that the incline of the hill was about a 40% grade. Steep going! We climbed past the impressive Jewish cemetery and Russian church of Mary Magdalene with its golden turrets. The trek down the hill was wayyy easier than the ascent. At the bottom of the hill is Mary’s Grotto, a lovely contemplative spot. We paused there for awhile and cooled off in the subterranean grotto before heading back up (another) steep hill to Lion’s Gate and the Via Dolorosa (where we first entered the Old City Saturday morning) and back to our Hospice.
We downloaded and perused our many photos, tangible memories of the day’s trek. Supper tonight is simple street fare, pita, Arabic bread, hummus, baba ghanoush and falafel from a cart parked just outside the Hospice’s doorstep tonight.
Later this evening we go to the Sound and Light show at 9:30 p.m. and after it’s cessation, I am sure we will be ready to be tucked in with our Super fan accompanying sweet dreams.
Again, it just makes me so happy to read these posts. You are right were you should be. We are doing fine. I can't wait to hear all the stories and see the rest of the photos! Have a great conference.
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