Mount of Olives in Jerusalem

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Day 7: JERUSALEM - MOUNT OF THE OLIVES

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Today is the day that the alarm sounded sooner in our trip to Israel and Palestine. It is a special day in which we have to take our tripod with us and visit some of the places where we want to take some photos with the first Esplanade of the Mosques and then the expected Mount of Olives.
Before 7 in the morning we go down to the breakfast room of the Abraham Hostel where we make a couple of well-loaded coffees and some toast with which we will start today.


Halls of the Abraham Hostel. Jerusalem

Phrases with “seasoning”. Abraham Hostel

We go back to Jaffa Road, with a lot of atmosphere although it is very early to the Jaffa Gate, which we cross again to travel the same path we did yesterday morning.
Today, as soon as we cross it, we stop to look for some graves that supposedly belong to the architects of Soliman, who are said to have been beheaded for leaving the Monastery of Zion out of the walls.


The graves are just on the left, as you enter.


Tombs of the architects of Soliman. Jerusalem

We return to the David St, at this time even with the stores closed and as we did yesterday, we enter through the security control at the Western Wall and return to get to the next security control, which is what we It will take a second time on our trip to Israel and Palestine to the Mosque Esplanade.

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This time, as soon as we arrive, we see that there is a much longer queue than there was yesterday and we have to wait for more than 15 minutes until it is our turn to pass that tunnel again ...


Security Control of the Esplanade of the Mosques

Today the day is much sunnier and that encourages us to take many more photos than we thought we would take.
As soon as we enter the enclosure, we mount the tripod and place one of the cameras to go something more comfortable and “we put ourselves into work”.


Views of the Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

Posing in front of the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques

Although we try to go a little fast, because yesterday we already visited with ease, it is impossible for us.
Being in front of the Dome of the Rock in the Esplanade of the Mosques and not stopping 100 times to look at it is an offense and we are not going to commit it, so we stop every moment.


Black and White in the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

Views of Mount of Olives from the Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

After walking around the enclosure, we go back up to the Dome of the Rock, where we place the tripod and we go crazy shooting ...


Colors in the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

Posing in the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

Although we have gone very early, time flies by and we find that the change of the sun makes us have to change the position to be able to take the photos without many shadows. But since we are not professionals, it is difficult for us to have to go around the Dome of the Rock several times.


On the stairs of the Balances of Souls. Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

Dome of the Rock Esplanade of the Mosques

Game of lights in the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

Detail of the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

When we are about to pick up the tripod and go to our next visit, we turn again, not knowing very well why and reassemble the camera to take another series of photos.


About to leave the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques

But in the end we are not leaving ... we return to the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques

Dome of the Rock Esplanade of the Mosques

Domes in the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

Entrance of the Dome of the Rock. Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

And now the time has come to go and we do it by looking back, to see for the last time the complete relief of the Dome of the Rock in the Esplanade of the Mosques.


Dome of the Rock Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem

At the time of leaving, we were wrong at the door and we did it for yesterday, by the Cotton Gate, when we realize that we should have done it for the Bab al-Hadad or the Bab al-Nazir, to go to the Small Wall, which is an extension of the Western Wall.
We try to re-enter, but a soldier tells us that it is impossible and when asked about the Small Wall, he immediately tells us where to go and tells a partner to accompany us.


Small Wall Jerusalem

In this area, Arab families living near the wall often leave lights on so that Jews can read their prayers after sunset.


In the Little Wall ... Jerusalem

Detail of the Small Wall. Jerusalem

We are not going to lie to you, the time we spend in the Small Wall is very special for us, because there is no one and we can enjoy this moment alone.
They only cross some Arabs that make us look at each other a couple of times for the contrast we see and that is something that keeps a city like Jerusalem.
It is another one of those moments in our trip to Israel and Palestine in which we notice the pinch in the stomach.


Black and White in the Small Wall. Jerusalem

After this time of relaxation, we go through the souk until we reach the Via Dolorosa to continue and reach the Puerta de los Leones from where we see what will be our next objective: Mount of Olives.
With a huge offer of biblical history, in addition to spectacular views of Jerusalemthe El Mount of Olives It is presented to the traveler.

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- 10 essential places to see in Jerusalem
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A good option to learn about the history of the Mount of Olives is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish.


Views of the wall where the Esplanade of the Mosques is behind from the Mount of Olives

The Golden Gate Views of the wall where the Esplanade of the Mosques is behind from the Mount of Olives

According to the book of Zechariah, this is the place where God will begin to redeem the dead when the Messiah returns on Judgment Day.
Jews have always preferred to be buried here to secure a preferred place. Today about 150000 people rest on these slopes.
Apart from being the oldest cemetery in the world, there are many churches that commemorate the events that are believed to have led to the arrest of Jesus and his ascension to heaven.
We go down a fairly steep slope and find ourselves, on the left hand side, to the Tomb of Mary.


Tomb of Mary Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

This is one of the most sacred enclaves of Christianity.
The truth is that it is a somewhat sad place, decorated with old brass lamps and immersed in centuries old.


Going down to the Tomb of Mary. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

Interior of the Tomb of Mary. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

When she died in the middle of the 1st century, Mary was buried in this place by the disciples.
The current structure dates from the time of the Crusaders of the 12th century and was built on Byzantine foundations.


Interior Detail of the Tomb of Mary. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem. Travel to Israel and Palestine

On the road, next to the stairs leading to the tomb, there is a small dome supported by several columns where the memorial to Mujir ad-Din, a Muslim judge and historian of S.XV.
Right next to the Tomb of Mary we find the Grotto of Gethsemane, where we do not hesitate to enter, being the place where "Judas gave the Lord."


Entrance to the Grotto of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

Warnings at the Entrance to the Grotto of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

Interior of the Grotto of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives

Detail of the Grotto of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

Grotto of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives

One of the visits we most want to make in this area of ​​Jerusalem is the Garden of Gethsemane, where it is believed that Jesus was arrested.
The Garden of Gethsemane is found a few minutes walk from the Tomb of Mary.


Mount of Olives area. Jerusalem

Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

The garden has some of the oldest olive trees in the world, 3 of which are more than 2000 years old, according to a scientific study.


Garden of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives

Posing in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

The Garden of Gethsemane is not accessed by the main road, but by the narrow alley behind the church.


Garden of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

In the Garden of Gethsemane we are more than 45 minutes, just circling, feeling a special energy that we do not know exactly what it is, but that makes us feel very good in this place.
We are lucky that they are pruning one of the olive trees and we do not think too much when we go to where they are leaving the branches and cut several, which we keep between the pages of the guide and in a bag that we carry in the bag.
We have just “acquired,” which will be the best material memory we could have on this trip to Israel and Palestine.


Entrance and Exit of the Garden of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives

Right next to it is the Church of All Nations that are characterized by bright golden mosaics.


Church of All Nations. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem. Travel to Israel and Palestine

The Church of All Nations was delivered in 1924 and its design was by architect Barluzzi.
The mosaic represents Jesus assuming the suffering of the world. For that reason it is also known as Basilica of the Agony.


Church of All Nations. Mount of Olives

Upon arriving at the door we see that the Church of All Nations is one of the most visited points of the Mount of Olives.


Entrance of the Church of All Nations. Mount of Olives

Interior of the Church of All Nations. Mount of Olives

Right in front of the altar is the rock that is believed to be, where Jesus prayed before he was arrested and where we met an Ethiopian group that "gives us" his faith.


Rock inside the Church of All Nations. Mount of Olives

Moment of introspection in the Church of All Nations. Mount of Olives

We have to say again that, although we are not believers, in Jerusalem you breathe something special, something that moves you inside and we would not know how to define.
It is certainly something that catches and makes you feel things that may not have or need no explanation.
We continue along the slope, which begins to have more and more slope, until we find the door of the Church of Mary Magdalene.


Entrance of the Church of Mary Magdalene. Mount of Olives

Before arriving at the Church proper, we climbed some stairs, surrounded by gardens that make us enter a very different environment than we have been until now.
Despite being tarnished by the scourge of time, the golden domes of the Church of Mary Magdalene remain one of the most attractive and surprising symbols of Jerusalem.


Church of Mary Magdalene. Mount of Olives

The Church of Mary Magdalene currently serves as a convent and boasts one of the best choirs in the city.
Just look to the opposite side of the Church of Mary Magdalene, we find one of the most impressive views we have seen of Jerusalem, so before visiting the Church, we took out our cameras and looked for the place where we could capture those views of the city that we liked so much.


Views of Jerusalem from Mary Magdalene Church. Mount of Olives

Views of Jerusalem from Mary Magdalene Church. Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

The view inside the Church of Mary Magdalene also helps us to take a short break in the ascent to the Mount of Olives, that although it is not something exaggerated, if it shows that it requires an effort.


Golden domes of the Church of Mary Magdalene. Mount of Olives

Interior of the Church of Mary Magdalene. Mount of Olives

Once we finish this visit, we get back on track, ascending more and more and leaving the oldest cemetery in use in the world on the right.


The oldest cemetery in use in the world. Mount of Olives

The more we climb, the more times we turn to delight in the breathtaking views we have of Jerusalem from here.


Views of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

And we keep going up !!! The Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

The next visit we have in the planning and on the route that we are following is the Dominus Flevit Church, where as soon as we arrive a taxi driver tells us to hurry because they are about to close.
We have a good career, but at the door we find a small organized group that seems to take it easy, so we relax a bit and after a while walking around the enclosure, we will visit the interior of the Church.


Church of Dominus Flevit. The Mount of Olives

The Dominus Flevit Church was originally built at this point and was carried out by medieval pilgrims who claimed to have found the rock in the Mount of Olives where Jesus cried for Jerusalem. Hence the name "Dominus Flevit", "The Lord cried."
The views of the Dome of the Rock from the altar are fascinating.


Views of the Dome of the Rock from the Altar of the Dominus Flevit Church. The Mount of Olives

From the Church of Dominus Flevit you also have spectacular views of Jerusalem and the truth is that at this point we can no longer say which of the ones we have seen are better.


Views of Jerusalem from the Dominus Flevit Church. The Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

Views of the Church of Mary Magdalene from the Church of Dominus Flevit. The Mount of Olives

After seeing the slopes we are facing in the Mount of Olives, we are lucky to have decided to visit once.
Once here we find the Tomb of the Prophets that is right next to a house and we find it closed, so we decided to continue ascending, until we reach the viewpoint next to the Seven Arches Hotel and from where they say they are the best views of Jerusalem.


Views of the Old City from the viewpoint. The Mount of Olives

In this area we find a camel and its owner who are dedicated to giving tourists walks through the viewpoint. We cannot deny that this surprises us and it seems to us something that takes away some “intimacy” at the moment.


Views of the Old City from the viewpoint. The Mount of Olives

From here, with the zoom of the camera, we see the caravan of buses and cars that are at this time in the area of ​​the wall. Incredible the one that is mounted !!!


Caravan to enter the Old City seen from the viewpoint. The Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

Views of the Old City of Jerusalem from the viewpoint. The Mount of Olives

After having a good time in the viewpoint and seeing that it is already after 1 pm and we still have several things to visit in the area of ​​the Mount of Olives, we decided that the time has come to begin the descent.
We go back to the Tomb of the Prophets and this time we ask a man who kindly opens the gate and guides us, explaining the history of the Tomb.


Tomb of the Prophets. The Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

The Tomb of the Prophets is a set of centenary tombs in which the three prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, who lived in the 5th century B.C.


Entrance to the Tomb of the Prophets. The Mount of Olives. Jerusalem

You have to be very careful with the stairs, because apart from being quite uneven, they slide a lot.
A couple enters with us and the man gives a stumble that will be as long as it was on the ground. I do not even want to imagine the damage that must have been done !!
The guide gives us some candles, to be able to light up inside and follow the path that is marking us while giving us the explanations.
The truth is that it is a very interesting visit and that we recommend, although it is not indicated as very important in the guides.
Once we are back in the area of ​​the Church of All Nations we go to the Kidron Valley that is almost opposite.
The Kidrón Valley is historically known as the most traditional site of Jerusalem and boasts archaeological remains of more than 4000 years old.
It is also the site of the legendary City of David.
We only visit a part of the Kidrón Valley, because with the time it is it does not give us more time and we reach the famous Pilar de Absalón and the Tomb of Jehoshaphat.


Absalom Pillar. Kidron Valley Jerusalem

Tomb of Jehoshaphat Kidron Valley Jerusalem

As we go through the Kidron Valley, Petra does not get rid of us in Jordan where we were a few years ago.
When we look at the clock again, it is after 2 p.m. and the stomach begins to demand some attention, so we go back to the same street that took us this morning to the Mount of Olives, to cross the Gate of the Lions again and go to Pizzeria Basti where we were yesterday and so well we ate.
Today we ordered a lamb kebab, a falafel menu, two lemonades and two coffees for 130 shekels.
After being here for more than an hour, recovering from the morning so complete that we had, we go, again, to the Wailing Wall where today, with more time, we want to enter each one in its part and part of being More time enjoying the site, take some photos.
And so we do. We pass the security check again and when we arrive, we directly separate and each enters its part.


Part of the women in the Western Wall

Western Wall. Jerusalem

Black and white woman at the Western Wall. Jerusalem

As I mingle with the women who are praying, I feel less visible and after sitting for a while and watching, I consider that the time has come to leave, perhaps because I don't understand too well what I am seeing ...


Western Wall. Jerusalem

Detail of the Western Wall. Jerusalem

Roger is still on the part of the men taking pictures and while I wait for him, he looks out over the fence that separates me from the “wall of men”.


Black and white detail of the Western Wall

Once we have been long enough, we return to the viewpoint where we have been the previous days, to have a view of the daylight of the Wall.


Views of the Western Wall from one of the viewpoints

Dome of the Rock from one of the viewpoints. Jerusalem

Today is spreading us and when we look again at the clock we see that we are still on time, if we run a little, to reach the doors of what is one of the entrances to take a Walk through the Walls that is next from the Jaffa Gate.


Entrance to the “Walk through the walls”. Jerusalem

We pay 16 shekels and we are going to travel the kilometer that we will travel through the top of the wall from the Jaffa Gate in a northerly direction to the Lions Gate.
You can also take the tour of the southern part, but we have decided to make the north ...
And now we better leave some photos as a summary of our tour.


"Walk through the walls." Jerusalem

Christmas tree in the “Walk through the walls”. Jerusalem

It begins at dusk during the “Walk through the walls”. Jerusalem

Contrasts in the “Walk through the walls”. Jerusalem

The first part of the tour we have to say that we were a bit disappointed. Although it is something curious and entertaining, we expected more from this first part of the tour.
We recommend doing it after having a prior knowledge of the city, in order to locate the different things that are seen.


Images of a “Walk through the walls”. Jerusalem

"Walk through the walls." Jerusalem

Touring the “Walk through the walls”

The second part of the tour, so to speak, when the Dome of the Rock begins to be seen is much more interesting and has different and recommended views of the Old City.


The Dome of the Rock from the Walls. “Walk through the walls”

Photographing The Dome of the Rock from the Walls. "Walk through the walls." Jerusalem

Stunning views of the Dome of the Rock from the Walls. "Walk through the walls." Jerusalem

It took us a little less than an hour to travel this section of the wall and we descended the stairs of Herod's Gate in the Muslim quarter.
Today we have already finished it in a matter of visits, so we will walk for a while through the streets of the Old City and almost without wanting to reach the area of ​​the Holy Sepulcher, where we stop at one of the bars to Drink some orange juices for 15 shekels each.


Moment of rest in front of some orange juices in Jerusalem

Seeing that it is already after 6 pm, we return to David St. Where we do some shopping and send some postcards.


Returning home ... Jerusalem

Colors in David St. Jerusalem

After discarding some restaurants to have dinner, we ended up in the same area these days ago, in a restaurant where we ordered a couple of menus (no menu) for 49 shekels each, plus drinks, which in the end we get 126 shekels dinner.
We are not going to complain. At the moment we are eating like kings!
And from here, almost crawling we arrived at Abraham Hostel, wishing to lie down and rest.
Today has been an intense day. Today we have traveled ...


... Jerusalem. Travel to Israel and Palestine
Day 8
JERUSALEM - VIA DOLOROSA - SANTO SEPULCRO - WALL OF LAS LAMENTATIONS

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