Mt of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden Tomb

We had another full day, visiting sites inside and surrounding the Old City.  We started with a cab ride (in the cleanest taxi I have ever seen) up to the Mt. of Olives.  We were told to get there in the morning for the best view and pictures and we were not disappointed.  We then walked down with stops in a Jewish Cemetery and the Garden of Gethsemane.  

We aren't sure if the garden we were in was THE garden - and we actually went in two different gardens, but we enjoyed thinking about Christ praying on this very hill - most likely near some of these olive trees. 

We continued walking down the hill and back into the Old City.  We checked out a place called Treasures of the Temple which is a group of Jews who are working on being "ready" for them moment when the time is right to go back in and re-build the temple.  

Today we ate lunch at a place in the Christian Quarter where we all had schwarma in pita sandwiches.  They were quite yummy!  After lunch we went to the Bible Society and then wandered around the shopping bazzar for a while.  For those who have never been to Jerusalem, the shopping inside the old city walls is something to behold.  It is row after row after row, of what I swear is the same 12 shops, over and over ;).  It is interesting to see how different the shopping areas look in the different quarters.  

We also climbed a tower in a church (sorry don't remember which one) for 5 shekels.  It was an AMAZING view of the whole city.  We climbed about a million stairs to get up there, but it was totally worth it.  

We did go to the Church of the Holy Seplachure and that was. . .interesting. There were a TON of people in there and it was just odd.  I am glad we went - just to say we have been there.  

After we stopped in a restaurant for a cold beverage, we took a taxi to the Garden Tomb.  This is an area that is near Galgotha and MAY have been the location of the tomb where Jesus was buried.  It is run by a British group who function solely on donations.  The message they were sharing was such a breath of fresh air - from what we had experienced up until this point.  The guy who works there was giving a talk to a group and we listened in.  He said that we don't know for sure if this was Christ's tomb or not.  The location and type of tomb do lend to the possibility that it COULD be, but that is not what it is important.  He emphasized that what WAS important was the message of the cross.  Christ died for all and raised from the dead 3 days later.  So simple and yet so profound.  

Love and Misses to everyone at home!