Jerusalem - May 7

May 7, Our 19th Wedding Anniversary - Father Bob talked about "accepting not fixing" at our Mass held on the Mount of Olives across a narrow street from the Garden of Gethsemane.   The honking taxis that clogged the street could not be heard in the peaceful grove walled off from the outside world.


Father Bob asked Joanne & I to say a few words about "How We Met"  and "What Makes our Marriage Work." After Joanne gave a complete accounting of our meeting day and other reflections , I just said, "I was lucky!" 

Joanne really enjoyed visiting the Church of All Nations, which was a gorgeous holy place.  All the windows were created in different hues of purple to reflect the ranges of Christ's suffering.    Then, we walked down the Kidron Valley that lies between the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount.  Jesus walked this very way after his arrest in Gethsemane. 

The hillside was once covered by thousands of Jewish graves dating back thousands of years but many of them are now destroyed. Marian described the Jewish burial practice of the time of the crucifixion of Jesus.

At the end of our walk, we entered an archaelogical site where excavation well below street level has uncovered the ancient Pool of Siloam.  An aquaduct that brought water to the City of David and a stepped path that led up to the Temple Mount have also been discovered.

After lunch at the lovely Kibbutz Ramon Rachel
hotel, we went to the Israeli Museum where we viewed a large model of 1st century Jerusalem and the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Just fascinating!

We began and ended our day at the Hotel Dan that features a very attractive multi tiered lobby.

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