JERUSALEM’S OLD CITY

Even though we were worn out and tired from our day in Bethlehem, we still wanted to see some of Jerusalem’s Old City. As Jacob led us into the Old City, you’re walking on stove paved streets, seeing stone walls and stone buildings – very impressive architecture. As we walked toward the Upper Room Jerusalem’s bells started ringing! I hope someone got it on video and sound. It was awesome!!! Jacob took us to the Upper Room, then outside in a courtyard, Tyler was asked to read from scripture. No one knows where Kind David is buried, but many think it may be under the Upper Room area. We walked down to see where many Jews would go to pray. Men and women had separate sides to view the room. No one can get permission to dig up the area to find out for sure, so they pray toward a marker that might be over the grave site. We went back up to the street level and went through the Zion Gate into the Armenian Quarter. The Old City is divided up into 4 quarters: Armenian, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim. Since it was still the Shabbat, we didn’t go in very far, since the Jewish Quarter would have been closed.

Then we walked to a church that marked Caiaphas’ house (the High Priest during Jesus time.) We talked down into cave-like rooms that they believe is were prisoners would have been held and beaten, including Jesus. It was very emotional to stand in this pit, where Jesus may have suffered for my sins. Then we climbed very stairs to a courtyard that is the area that Peter denied Christ. They have a remarkable statue there with Peter, the little girl that questioned him, a camp fire, and a rooster overhead. From here you can see toward the Mount of Olives and the path Jesus took to the Garden of Gethsemane.

We headed back to the hotel and after dinner, several of us walked to an open mall that Jacob told us about. It was not open when we got there, so we kept walking and ended up at the Old City Jaffa Gate. The Shabbat ended and things started hopin’. People came from everyone adults and children. We walked into the Old City area and had a lot of fun shopping and interacting with the locals. These market areas are where you “negotiate” your price! I think everyone’s feet were worn out by the end of the night. These uneven stone walkways are a bit different to walk on all day. But no one is complaining!!