Hectic in the old City

 

Today, we were to have a hectic walk around the Old City, initially starting by visiting the tunnels leading to the Pool of Siloam, which I’ve heard so many times from Gospel readings.

Then it was a dash across the City to the Hurva Synagogue http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136397 which has only recently been re-built after destruction in wars… a similar tale for so many religious buildings across Jerusalem, and if not destroyed, then taken over by differing religions, all claiming precedence !

As can be seen if you read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurva_Synagogue

An informative visitwhich, for me left too many questions to be answered…

We then had an excellent lunch nearby, before setting out onto the Via Dolorosa, and following Christ’s passion journey – so many interesting points along the way, including the beginning – now a Muslim School, where the Franciscans are allowed to enter once a week, to start the ‘Stations of the Cross’, each Friday afternoon !

At the conclusion of the stations, we had ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre a Church built around where Christ was killed on Calvary, and buried in the tomb – although to see it now, you would never realise it, the tomb being encased in Marble, and Calvary being built over, although you can put your hand down a hole to touch the rock !

The throngs of the thousands of Pilgrims and tourists didn’t exactly help and attempts at prayer though !

Then it was a swift walk back across the city, and eventually Hotel and dinner…

We later had a late night walk through the city, to the ‘wailing wall’ where large numbers of Jewish people were gathered, it being the Sabbath for them. The city was certainly more peaceful, and interesting late at night.