Day 32 Ashdod Israel

Thurs, June 20

We arrived at the port of Ashdod, Israel today. I got 'randomly' selected for a thorough security check after my passport was checked. I noticed all the other 'randoms' were all younger travellers which included the crew that were acting as escorts for the day. I wasn't very impressed with that.

Anyway after my little bitching session, I joined the rest of my tour group and we headed for Jerusalem. The bus trip took about 70mins plus a toilet stop. Whilst having the short break a bus load of 17-19 year old boys arrived next to us in their army uniform, with guns strapped to their hip. Turns out it's compulsory for both girls and boys to serve after secondary school. Boys for a minimum of 3 years, girls a minimum of 2.

Ashdod was a mix of industry and suburbia. The port itself had thousands of containers and cars waited to be shipped out. There was also a coal power station very close to port. The countryside is very beautiful. I expected another dry area with the occasional lonely tree and tumbleweed due to the very small amount of rain that is received. The outskirts of Ashdod are surrounded with crop fields, including lots of vineyards and sunflowers. Many pine and fur trees have been planted and apparently they even have some gum trees from Australia. Irrigation is used heavily and it has worked well.

Jerusalem is a city sacred to three major religions. I really took to it because of the clean sandstone buildings and all the plant life everywhere. They have to use local materials for building. The buildings are all of a similar colour, however they all have their own differences and finishing touches. There are plants and trees in every spot that is available, olive trees being the most popular. Most of the buildings in the suburban areas had water tanks and solar panels on their roof to be more energy efficient. 

Our first stop was The Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsememane is also there, with olive trees many centuries old. Jesus was praying in this garden when he was arrested. There is a great view of the city from here.

Next stop was Gethsemane Church of all Nations. There were carob trees just outside. The church also had a garden with olive trees that were between 1500-1700 years old. 

We then made our way to the old city which is split into quarters, Christian, Jewish, Armenian and Moslem. First stop was the Western Wall (also called Wailing Wall) in the Jewish quarter.

The Western Wall is the only fragment of the Great Temple (built by Herod 2,000 years ago) to survive the Roman destruction. It is the most sacred structure for the Jewish people. This was the second Temple to be erected at this site. The first was by Solomon 3,000 years ago. It was destroyed by the Babylonian conqueror Nebuchadnezzar. Long before the first temple stood on this mount Abraham came here to sacrifice his son Issac, and Jacob slept here, dreaming of a ladder to heaven.

During our tour of the Old City we travelled the winding and climbing Via Dolorosa "Sorowful Way", which marks the route that Jesus took from the seat of judgement, then carrying the cross to the site of crucifixion. At the end of the journey we entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. By long standing Christian tradition, this Church marks the historic location of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

After lunch we took the bus to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. I am not overly familiar with the disagreements between the Philistines and Israelites, however there is a massive concrete wall called "The Wall of Life" (seemed an odd choice of name to me) separating Jerusalem and Bethlehem. We had to pass a Security station and then swap tour guides. Our Israeli tour guide was no longer allowed to conduct the tour.

Whilst in Bethlehem we went to the Church of Nativity which marks the spot that Jesus is said to have been born. I didn't learn much from our visit in Bethlehem because our tour guide had a motor mouth and packed too much information into his tour. I was also desperate for a toilet stop at the time, so my attention was diverted to my discomfort.

Finally, before our bus ride back to the ship, and to the annoyance of many in the tour group, we stopped at an overpriced souvenir shop. They had a selection of jewellery and precious stones as well as olive tree wood carvings, most of it religious in nature. Nana and I walked in, saw the prices and walked straight out. I guess people want a pendant or something so they can say that they got it in the holy land. 

Arrival into Ashdod

Much of our bus trip to Jerusalem looked like this. There were crops everywhere, the sunflowers were on the other side of the bus. Apparently salted sunflower seeds are a very popular treat at the major sporting events in Israel.

View of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

Gethsemane Church of all Nations. The golden onion dome church in the background is the church of St. Mary Magdalene I think (according to my little map), we didn't get to visit there.

I do not remember the significance of this Catholic Church, I was more focused on the carob seeds from the trees I was standing under, and thinking about chocolate, and trying to get a good photo of the church behind it.  It might be the site Jesus was betrayed and arrested considering its name, but that is a guess, so don't take it to be correct.

Inside Gethsemane Church of all Nations. The Pictures are mosaic.

The olive trees in the church garden. The oldest is 1700 years.

The tomb of the Virgin Mary.

The Golden Gate. Inside this wall is The Old City.

The Western or Wailing Wall. The most visited site in Isreal. The Wall has withstood time, it has witnessed war and peace, destruction and revival. It is tradition to write your prayers on a piece of paper and find a crack in the wall to insert your paper. Nana contributed her prayers to the Wall, I didn't. I wondered if all these pieces of paper is what holds the wall together. There were 2 doves sitting on the Wall, I wouldn't want to park myself under them to pray. Men and women are separated at the wall, I didn't find out why. We had to pass through a security station to access the Wall.

The Jewish quarter was full of celebration, many boys were celebrating their bar mitzvah. This ceremony happens on Mondays and Thursdays. The Jewish men and boys wear a circular cap on top of their head, it is to remind them that God is above them. 

A picture during our walk following Jesus route carrying the cross.

Apparently this is where Jesus stumbled and touched the stone. It is so worn away because billions of people have probably touched the same spot. I didn't, I'm such a party pooper. 

Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This 12th century church is a crusader structure, which replaced earlier churches dating back to Constantine. This is the site of Jesus crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

This marks the spot that Jesus was crucified.

This is the stone that the crucifixion took place upon. They had to cover it up because people steal pieces of it. There is one spot under a table where you can crouch down and touch it. Nana lined up to touch the stone. I didn't. I don't want to knowingly touch something that someone was so brutally murdered on. Looking is enough for me. I guess some people touch it in recognition of his sacrifice, I am not sure.

Crusaders are buried under these wooden markers. They are scattered in the central part of the church. People walk all over them.

Central dome of the church. On the outside it is gold. You can see it on the picture I took of Jerusalem from The Mount of Olives.

The Anointing Stone. The stone that Jesus' body was cleaned and prepared for burial upon. It is covered in an oil. Again, people touch it and lie on it like the fellow in this picture. He was there when I arrived, and there when I left an hour later. I think he may have dozed off.

Part of the mosaic above the Anointing Stone.

 This is a tomb in the church that is similar to what Jesus would have been buried in.

In the Greek Orthadox section of the church. The Greek Orthadox believe that circular stool marks the centre of the world.

I was told this is the bomb disposal unit! Just outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

In the distance is King David Hotel. Also an example of the plant life in the city that I love.

More modern Jerusalem blends in with the old rather well.

I saw a lot of dwellings like this whilst travelling on the bus.

The streets in town look like this.

The first Humming Bird I have ever seen. Was hard to get a shot of this fella, they are so fast.

Where we had lunch.

Local wine included! 

I had a small helping of every dessert option. The cheesecake was the 2nd best I have ever had, next to Nana's. Looking back at this picture makes me want to go back.

'The Wall of Life' that separates Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This is the Jerusalem side.

This is the Bethlehem side.

The Church of Nativity. Marks the birthplace of Jesus. We didn't actually get to see 'the' spot he was born, instead we were shown a similar room to that of his birth.

The place Jesus was born would have been similar to this room minus the stained glass window and light. Some were annoyed we didn't go to the right spot. "Travelled half way around the world to see this", one fellow said very irritated. Instead of spending half an hour in a line to see the birthplace, we had to go to an overpriced souvenir shop instead, according to the tour guide. At this point I was just focused on my overwhelming need for a toilet stop.

Bethlehem.

One of the Dead Sea Scroll urns.

Tomorrow we have a sea day.