Tuesday 4/21/09

The day started with a drive up to the Mt of Olives, we parked and looked over the oldest Jewish Cemetery, they believe that is where the New Kingdom will begin and all want to be buried here. We had a view of many of the sites standing here.

We then went inside the Old City of Jerusalem, it is made up in 4 parts, Muslim, Armenian, Jewish and Christian. You had to park on the outside of the wall, and walk the narrow streets and followed the Via Delarosa; the way of the cross. Inside the Holy Sepulchre was what looked like a large Urn, it is located on the side of the Greek Orthodox and is believed to be the center of the world.

Off to Bethlehem! Behind the 25' wall! Our driver could not enter Bethlehem because he is Jewish; he had a Palestinian meet us at the border and take us in (which means we went in to the Palestinian Authority). Wilder taxi ride than New York! We went to the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, and saw the site where Jesus was born. The Palestine girl that met us and took us in was going to Corpus Christi in September to stay with her parents that have a business there.

Our final stop for the day was the Garden Tomb, the site where some think Jesus was buried. There are 2 sites, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre that we saw in the Old City, it is supported by the Greek Orthodox, Catholics and Armenians. The Garden tomb was found at a later date, I am more inclined to believe this is the place where he is buried.