Day 2

Taxi to the Jaffa Gate and then up onto the walls of the old city for an hour walk around the northern half of the city.

Beautiful views across the city. This was taken from the Damascus Gate, showing the souks in the foreground and Dome of the Rock behind.

On the walls we also met a dove. Very biblical.

Then on to the Rockerfeller Museum, containing artifacts from the whole history of the country, dating back 1.4 million years.

Lunch on the Mount of Olives, to refuel for the afternoon.

(Tip: do not try to walk up here. Mount means mount. Take the bus like we did.)

The chapel/mosque of the ascension.

Complete with 'footprint of Jesus' inside. You get the feeling no one is that bothered about the ascension as there is not much there.

After the Church of Pater Noster, where there is the remains of a cave where Jesus is said to have taught the Lord's Prayer and where it is displayed in every language you can think of (except Welsh!) we went down the steep hill to Dominus Flevit - Jesus Wept - a tear drop shaped church overlooking the city.

This is the garden of Gethsemene, very peaceful and quite moving, with huge old olive trees. Could imagine Jesus here.

The Church of All Nations, which is at the garden, is also quite moving. The rock by the altar is held to be the rock on which Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest. We arrived just as mass was being said.

Tomb of the Virgin Mary, very funky Orthodox shrine, millions (ish) of lamps hanging from the ceiling.

Last stop, St George's Anglican Cathedral, which is just down the road from our hotel. It has kneelers and New English Hymnals. Just like home.

Now off to find a restaurant.