Israel & The Holy Lands

 

Bethlehem and Jerusalem

DAY 91 – Wednesday, April 6, 2011 – This remarkable, very memorable  day in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, Israel was added to our itinerary to replace a canceled stop in Alexandria, Egypt, where there were safety concerns about the political unrest there.

Adding the Holy Lands to our world cruise was an awesome experience…one we will never forget. 

We traveled from our port city of Ashdod by bus to the Israeli-based city of Jerusalem, and then on into the Palestinian-based city of Bethlehem.  This required many clearances and passing through guard stations where armed guards walked down the aisle of our tour bus…something very new to me.

Jerusalem figured prominently in the annals of Jesus’ ministry.  It is the site of the Last Supper, Trial, Condemnation and Crucifixion as well as the Christian tradition of the Burial and Resurrection of Jesus.

Once we entered into Bethlehem from Jerusalem, we went to the birthplace of Jesus, in a lower room that was underground…a stable area under a wonderfully restored historical cathedral building.  It is hard to describe the feeling of reverence to be able to kneel down in silence and place a hand kiss on the ground in this most holy of places.  It was a serene experience that allowed us to say a private, silent prayer at the very modest place where Christ was born.

We spent several similar hours of reverence visiting the special landmarks in Jerusalem, including the walled Old Jerusalem area, the Mount of Olives, and the modern sections of Jerusalem.  

Below are some selected photos from our 10-hour tour bus excursion to Bethlehem and Jerusalem from our port of Ashod, Israel:

These are the walls around Old Jerusalem, an ancient city divided into quadrants known by the faiths of their original populations: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Armenian.  There are a number of named gates leading into the city from many directions.

The small, dark figures seen along the lower wall area are making their way to the Wailing Wall at the base of the walled city, with the dome of the Al-Aqsa Mosque visible inside the walls in the Muslim Quarter of Old Jerusalem.  According to Jewish tradition, God will answer prayers made before the Wailing Wall.

The Garden of Gethsemane was remarkably still intact, filled with massive Olive trees many centuries old.

The Dome of the Rock shines brightly in gold; it is the mosque established where Mohammed ascended to Heaven according to Islamic teaching.

Inside the cathedral in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.  The original floor of the cathedral can be seen under the areas opened in the floor between the rebuilt floor and columns.

As we walked down some very dark steps into the stable area under the cathedral, a single light hung from above into the entrance of the very small room where Jesus was born.

This is the old original stable gate latch in the wall as we stepped into the area where Jesus was born.

This is the wood cradle/manger, where Jesus was laid following his birth.  It is now protected by decorative iron fretwork and hand-stitched heavy fabric that is draped and covering the rock stable walls.

This multi-pointed silver star inlaid in the marble floor and the two lit candles mark the exact spot directly under the cradle/manger where Jesus was born.

  Looking down on Old Jerusalem from Mount of Olives.

New Jerusalem is a city of tall buildings, highlighted by this very modern sculpture that supported a bridge, now serving as a focal point in the city.

We could have stayed in Bethlehem and Jerusalem for many more days, but we had to move on to keep our scheduled itinerary of upcoming ports in Turkey.  We reluctantly left, feeling very thankful for the opportunity to experience this wonderful day.