Jerusalem with friends
From Tel Aviv we hopped on a train and went back to Jerusalem. We just dropped our stuff off at the hostel and went out into the afternoon streets. Our goal was to end up on the Mount of Olives in time for the sunset and see whatever we can in between.
Around the Wall…..
My first visit around the wall was in the blazing sun, anti-clockwise and alone, this time around it was the complete opposite. It was afternoon, the other way around and with friends. A complete different experiences. I did not have to talk to myself while pointing at things. Instead, one friend was a seasoned Jerusalem visitor and believer and explained some points of interest that we would have missed otherwise.
First stop was the outside of the Garden Tomb where Skull Hill is said to have been. I think it is pretty ironic that the spot suggested as the place where salvation happened which is revered by Christians, now is embedded in a Muslim community.
Also, I got introduced to some controversial information. As you should know from my previous posts, there are 2 places said to have been ‘the place of the skull’, outside the Garden Tomb and under the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. My new friend introduced us to the believe that a monumental discovery was made at the Garden Tomb that proves that it is the place were the cross stood.
I however cannot fully accept that explanation because apparently the Lord forbade the person who found this monumental find, from showing it to people. I cant buy into that because if he really found what he said he did, I cant understand why the Lord will want that hidden. It is one of those things, that if it came to light, I would believe that the whole world will see the light so to speak.
Mount of Olives
When you stand at the wall looking out over valley to the Mount of Olives, you might think that it is a gentle rolling hill. It is only when you start walking up that you discover that there is nothing gentle about it. The rolling part can be true, especially if you trip, you will definitely roll down.
We walked up the narrow winding street enclosed with walls and fences. It is a bit terrifying every time a car tried to pass. Terrifying because the street is only wide enough for one vehicle at a time, but it seems to be functioning as a two-way street (maybe unintentionally?). Add to that all blind spots created by how the narrow street bends and turns between high walls.
We almost witnessed a crash. After the ‘almost’ part, there was a face off between the drivers. Neither wanted to move, which is understandable because moving entailed reversing either uphill in the narrow street or down. Furious honking and yelling ensued. In the end the car coming down gave up the fight and reversed.
While this was happening we huffed and puffed up the hill like old smokers. Lung attack loading……
Finally at the top, we had a nice view of the new Old City. We sat on some steps, took some pictures and got our breathing and heart rates under control.
It was still long before sunset when we got to the top and we decided not wait around for that golden moment. We walked parallel to the Old City in a Northern direction and to see what there was to see. While we were there, there was much talk about the Third Temple and altars marking the beginning of the build, so the guys wanted to go check out if there was any substance to the rumors (there was none).
Detour to sunset.
From the view on the Mount of Olives, my friend showed me where he and the Kings Harpists had their concert in the ruins at the foot of the Wall. He then proceeded to play their version of The Blessing on his phone while we were walking through a Muslim community.
Tensions around the world are running very high so I was a bit concerned by us boldly listening to Christian music. Then I thought that if they guys were not scared of listening to worship music in that area, I would not be afraid also. And nothing happened.
Somewhere we found a road alleyway stairway going down, which we took. And what a scenic route that was. There was a field with olive trees to the right, and tall pointy trees lining the road to the left. Walking down, the sun started setting behind the Walls of Jerusalem, coloring the sky golden, then pink. There was just something special about walking next to the flowers and trees of the field, with the dark closing in from behind stretching toward the golden glow emanating from above the wall. That was pretty spectacular. The only thing missing was some sort of calm classical music in the background. Unfortunately, the sound of distant angry hooting filled that gap.
Back in the valley
Somewhere we ended up back near Gethsemane, crossed the valley and went towards the wall. Dusk was setting quickly and unbeknownst to me the fast of the day was nearly over. I almost dove for cover when right above my head on the other side of a wall something like a cannon fired. An almost lung and heart attack in the space of a couple of hours. Wowsers!
Luckily my companions knew the drill and they just said ‘ A, the fast is over’. When we got to the Lion’s Gate, you could smell ‘braaivleis’ and people were streaming towards the Temple Mount I guess for a communal braai/end of fast feast. And as they started their feast, we ended our day.
Services at the Garden Tomb
How many people can say that they attended early morning services at the Garden Tomb. I am very lucky to be counted among those. It is a very ‘international’ gathering of believers and I am amazed by how many people of Asian decent were present.
I loved the garden on my first visit and then again while attending the services. It is pretty spectacular singing while the wind is rustling through the leaves and flowers. After the service, we went to the spot were the cross could have stood. If I had not been shown where, I would have completely missed it.
We sat there, read from the Bible in the stillness. I hope that in future, when I read those passages again I will remember the literal and figurative ‘fragrant aroma’ .
Ephesians 5:2…. walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Stampede
After the morning at the Garden Tomb, sights were set on wandering through the streets of the Old City. It turned out to be a ‘not so great’ idea on that specific day. Too many religion-specific ‘festivities’ were happening at the same time. More crowds than usual took to the streets of the Old Town. At one intersection there was suddenly a hold up. I stood on tippy toes, and it seemed like Catholics and Muslims were having a standoff. None would let the others pass. With tensions running high as default, a confrontation like that could quickly change into a fighting stampede. Not a place for tourists to be, so backtracking happened very fast to get out of dodge.
So instead of wandering in the Old City, wandering happened everywhere else. There were a few random things that I did not see when I was there before, those random things don’t necessarily have a story to go along with it, but here they are anyway…
I bit of the Netherlands in the heart of the holy land
It looks Dutch-y, but is of no relation until the resent (2012) restoration by which the Dutch raised funds to have it restored. Originally in 1857, the mill was built to produce flour, but for several reasons fell into disrepair over many years.
Today, the Montefiore Windmill is restored with the Lion of Juda standing watch nearby. They are the landmarks of a fairly new and very nice neighborhood. For me, walking down through this neighborhood felt like walking through the streets of some Greek island (saying this as someone who has never set foot near Greece.)
Suspended bridge.
Not far from the Windmill, down the valley and to the South, hangs a brand new suspended bridge. It is 202m long and spans the Hinnom valley.
There is no story here, unless you want me to tell you that ‘n clung to the rungs in fear of heights, I can make that up, but instead of a made up story, rather look at some pictures, which may or may not speak a story in a 1000 words.
More random things
Here are a few more pictures of random things that fascinated me: streets empty of traffic, a book case in the middle of everywhere, flowers on balconies, fountains and a ginormous radio. And of course the wall. For some or other weird reason I love the wall like it is an old friend. I know it is weird, it is an inanimate object, lets just add to to all the rest of the weird things about me and call it a day
That was that, Jerusalem and sunset on the Mount of Olives with friends with some added random things that I saw and found amusing.
How 2
I will just add these few new things to my original Jerusalem how to maps. Added on the map is the Mount of Olives, the Windmill and the Lion and then of course the Suspended Bridge.
👇Here are all the other landmarks in Jerusalem that I visited by myself with their maps and ‘how to’ for each. They are in Afrikaans, so just choose the translate option and Bob will be your funny uncle (for the most part the translations are pretty good, but there are some hilarious misses.
