Day 3

Randomly teamed up with an Indian-American chap called Francis from our hotel. He likes to take photos. Lots of photos. Even more than Richard.

Started with taxi to Bethlehem, with 'Alternative Tours'.

Visited the Church of the Nativity, much of which is 1500 years old.

Laura is touching the traditional spot of the birth of Jesus.

Also in Bethlehem is the Milk Grotto - said to be the place that Mary fed Jesus as they set out to flee to Egypt. A drop of her milk is said to have turned the rocks white. Proof that breast is best?

Herodius is a volcano-top fortress constructed by Herod the Great. Climbed 'hundreds of giant steps' (Laura says) up through ancient escape and water tunnels to reach the top.

From the top you get amazing views over the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea and the West Bank area.

Here there are the remains of ancient pools and houses in the foreground with Bethlehem region behind.

It was windy up there.

And lo there were tourists abiding in the fields.

This church, back near Bethlehem, and the cave nearby, mark one of the traditional locations of the Shepherd's Field.

Returned to Jerusalem on a local Palestianian service bus, through the checkpoint.

Quick stop at cafe for Falafel and Humous, then on to the Via Delarosa to join the Franciscan monks on their Stations of the Cross pilgrimage, following the ecumenically agreed route that Jesus took carrying the cross. We followed up to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre but did not go in - saving that for another day.

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.

Day 1

The garden tomb, held by some to be the burial place of Jesus, and at least an example of what a 1st century tomb would look like.

The Damascus Gate, the largest gate into the old city, at the end of the Nablus Road.

The Souks - a good place to get ripped off for tourist tat! The guide book said offer half what they first quote - we paid 25% and still got shafted! In future am offering 10%.

The Western Wall - all that remains of the 2nd Temple. Plastic garden chairs everywhere were a suprise.

The Dome of the Rock - closed to non-Muslims. Very definitely closed to non-Muslims. We are not Muslims. Very disappointed and slightly intimidated.

St Anne's Church, birthplace, apparently, of Our Lady. (They've done it up a bit since then). Also the site of the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed someone according to John 5.

Ecce Homo Arch on the Via Delarosa, believed to be at or near the spot Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus to death.

And then back to the Addar Hotel. And collapse.