Today was a later start. We boarded the bus at 9:30 and were off on the streets of Jerusalem. Our first stop for the day was at the Garden Tomb. We walked through a lovely garden with native plants and on the back side of the garden there was a seating area. Our guide proceeded to tell us why this possibly is the site of Jesus’s crucifixion. They feel it is the Place of the Skull named in the Bible because the cliff face is in the shape of a face.
Then we continued through the garden past the wine press, another sign pointing towards a garden (vineyard). And now on to the tomb. We ducked to enter the tomb. First there was a small room that they feel was the room where they would prepare the body for burial and then to the right there was a room for two persons. An interesting fact I learned here is that outside the tomb there was a track where they would roll the stone to seal the tomb. It was a ditch a few inches deep to keep the stone from falling over.
After we were all through the tomb they led us to a small garden room where we had a time of singing and rejoicing, singing songs of our risen Lord and Redeemer.
Then we took to the streets and alleys and markets. The colors and scents were energizing; fresh fruits and vegetables, barrels of nuts, bowls of tea and spices, gelati, coffee, halva, candies, there was so much to see. Not to mention the pottery, lamps, camel leather products, prayer shawls and other souvenir kitchy things. We even found some fabric shops, much to the delight of the women!
Next they led us to an area where there were lots of small food places to choose from. We tried shawarma for the first time. It was rotisserie meat and they shaved about a cup onto your plate and then you had a choice of salads, olives, hummus and other toppings to add to it. Traditionally it all gets stuffed in a pita bread as a sandwich.
After lunch we walked to the Church of the Sepulcher. This is another possible site of Golgotha. Most people believe this is the most probable site, but no one knows for sure. The thing that is most important is that the tomb is empty and He lives! There is a Catholic Church built on the site and the Catholic people will come to kiss the stone where they feel Jesus was crucified.
Then we were off again to our underground tour of the western wall. It was fascinating to see all the unexposed portions of the western wall. I wonder how much more they will discover in years to come?
The day was coming to an end and some were ready to go back to the hotel and some were wanting to go back to the markets. So we split ways and kept everyone happy. But after another hour of walking the cobblestone streets the shoppers were very happy to board the bus and head back to the hotel as well.
At dinner back at the hotel we had a special time of sharing highlights and a time of blessing Aharon, our tour guide. He became a friend in the short time we were here and we are talking of planning an event in the States and having him come to speak.
We have a 1:00 am departure in the morning and then a long day of traveling ahead of us. So long!
