Temple Mount in the background.
The Palm Sunday road is an extremely steep route, they had even installed railings for people to hold on to while descending. Make sure you wear good walking shoes with grip!
Always make time for selfies! As you can see, there's even a donkey and a man in the background. Taking pictures of the donkey will cost you.... just so you know.
At the Tomb of the Prophets
Jewish tombs/graves - These are examples of Jewish tombs. The rocks on top of the tombs signify to mark a person's visit and the square holes at the bottom are for people to light candles in it for memorial purposes.
As you can see, there are many graves, leading up to the walls of Jerusalem, Jewish, Christian and Muslim.
Can you see how steep it is?!
We checked out Dominus Flevit , a small church that is believed to be where Jesus wept when He arrived in Jerusalem as He foresaw the tragic events that would happen after His death. The church is built in the shape of a teardrop, symbolising Jesus' tears. We also saw the burial cave where a number of small coffins (bone boxes) were housed from the time of Jesus with numerous inscriptions that gave clues that they are first century Christians.
We then visited Garden of Gethsemane next. 'Gethsemane' means olive press, appropriating this place where Jesus was so hardpressed that he sweated drops of blood. This is also the spot where Jesus was betrayed and taken by the soldiers.
These trees are believed to be about a thousand years old at the very least, they could be around since the time of Jesus!
We also visited The Church of All Nations was located near the Garden of Gethsemane.
The huge slab of rock you see cordoned off on the floor marks the spot Jesus is said to be praying in agony on the night of his betrayal. This stone is believed to form a direct line with the Eastern Gate and the entrance of the Holy of Holies.
Kidron Valley...
We also visited the Tomb of King David (though we believe it's not King David's tomb but of a king later than him). It's quite interesting how the ladies and men had to enter separate rooms and the men had to wear a kippah before they head in. People come in here to pray and recite psalms.
It makes me wonder.... which end is the head and vice versa.
We also went upstairs to view the room where the Last Supper and the Pentecost experience took place, it was too crowded in there with people so no pictures!
Bullet shots on ancient walls, this country has been through a lot.
We then paid a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and Avi shared with us that individuals who helped the Jews during the Holocaust at personal risk without any financial motives are honoured with a plaque (with their names) attached to the trees in the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations, no picture of the place from this point on as a sign of respect for this memorial site.
I feel that we have too short a time to spend in here. There are so many stories of survivors in there and I left feeling overwhelmed and a little heartbroken at the treatment of the Jewish people during the genocide.
We then popped over to check out the model of Holy Land (ancient Jerusalem) at Israel Museum. It's uber massive (I had to take a panoramic shot), I can't believe it was transported here from somewhere else in 1000 over pieces and then reassembled to this amazing masterpiece!
We ended our day with a visit to Ben Yehuda street for some shopping! Ok, we (I) didn't buy much.
After many days of kosher food/ Israeli cuisine... I really need my Maccas hit. I was overjoyed that I spotted McDonalds and we had some fries :D Oh, glorious glorious fries...
People buying party accessories in celebration of Purim.
Flowers!! Look how pretty they are :D
So our day ends here and we're waiting for our bus to take us back to the hotel! :)
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