 |
| Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives |
 |
| Ancient Mosaic of Jerusalem City |
Whether one is a Follower of the Christian, Muslim or Jewish
religion, Agnostic or Atheist, a visit to Jerusalem would be a highlight in
anyone’s life. It has deep significance for the faithful, as many of the
stories/legends of their Holy Books took place here. Archeological digs and
research have confirmed many of the ancient tales of historic personages and
historic places, and every square inch of the city has a story to tell.
Foremost for the Christian pilgrims since the religion took
hold, is of course the story of the last hours in the Life of Jesus of Nazareth
and the internment near the place of his death. Jewish and Muslim faith share
acceptance of Jesus as a prophet, if not as a son of God, like Christians believe.
 |
| Jesus after being taken from the cross |
 |
| The stone slab where he was wrapped in linen is right here... |
It is quite an experience to visit these revered places,
together with thousands of tourists and pilgrims, which make movement through
the city, and especially at the ‘Holy Sites’ quite a challenge. Intensive use
of elbow power is recommended by every guide; otherwise one cannot penetrate
the mass of humanity piling up in the antique edifices and especially around
places like the Holy Sepulchre. There pilgrims and tourists alike, wait for two
hours in line to be able to crawl into a small space, which allegedly is the
place where Jesus was laid to rest – at least for a couple of days…The last
stations of the Via Dolorosa are contained in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
and joining the transit along these shrines is not a good thing for anyone prone
to agoraphobia, vertigo or claustrophobia.
 |
| The Holy Sepulchre |
The place where Jesus pleaded for his life with his heavenly
father (Let this cup pass by…) on Mount Gethsemane is inside a smaller church
which is surrounded by olive trees said to be almost two thousand years old,
offspring of the original trees. It was not quite as crowded, albeit tour buses
lined the road leading up to the church for at least a mile.
 |
| Jesus in the Garden |
 |
| Ancient Olive Trees in the Garden of Gethsemane |
Most of these places may or may not be the exact location of
these historic events, as battles, destruction, replacement, expansion of the
city walls, various occupying forces tended to move things around a bit. But,
many of these events did indeed occur, but sometimes tradition wins out over
archeological logic. Nevertheless, the city has an overpowering impact on
everyone entering her ancient gates.
 |
| Praying at the Western Wall |
No visit to Jerusalem would be complete without a stop at
the Western Wall, where today’s Jewish believers pray to be close to their Holy
of Holies, the Temple Mount where the arch of the Covenant is said to have
rested. It goes back to King Salomon. But today it is under Muslim ownership,
and Jewish believers are barred from entering this shrine so important to their
beliefs. We nearly lost one of our passengers there, who lost track of time
whilst praying at the wall. Another passenger espied him from afar
(recognizable by the unmistakable Holland America bag) and someone woke him
from his dreamlike state and brought him back to the bus.
 |
| Souvenir Statuette |
 |
| Holland America tell tale bag, second from right |
The Middle East conflict is evident. Security measures are
extreme and thorough. Bullet holes pit many walls. Jewish people talk about the
‘administered territory’ instead of ‘occupied territory’ when referring to
tracks of land claimed by Palestine. There are gigantic walls alongside
highways crossing these administered territories, to protect drivers from rock
throwing Palestinians. But they evoke memories of Berlin Walls and all that
those entail. However, daily life in Jerusalem seems to run smoothly, with
people of every creed, colour and appearance tolerating each other without too
much obvious tension. It would be of interest to hear what the Palestinian
population is thinking about their life in Israel.
 |
| Crowns of Thorns - souvenirs |
I took a tour today, as it seemed to be the most efficient
mode to get a glimpse of Jerusalem’s treasures during the short time available,
considering the relatively long distance from Ashod Port and the limited
disposable time.
If one can tolerate the incredible crowds, and has leisurely
time, Jerusalem is a veritable jewel in terms of ancient history and its role
in the three largest monotheistic religions of the World.
 |
| Lizard in under the Ancient Olive Trees |
