The Holy City

It has been quite a day! We left Tiberias this morning around 8:30 and went to Meggido, which is on a hilltop and the site of some fascinating ancient ruins. There have been people living there for thousands of years, until about 500 years before Christ. It is at a strategic crossroads and we saw them excavating the stables of King Ahab, who had a military base there with over 450 horses.






Then we went to Cesarea Maritima, Herod’s grand harbor on the Mediterranean Sea. Again, we saw some neat ancient ruins, and got to put our toes in the sea!


This is a Roman aqueduct that was used to carry fresh water from the mountains to Herod's city.


After a long day driving and visiting ancient digs, we finally made it into the city of Jerusalem. It was pretty amazing to top over the mountain and drop down to the city. The hills are so steep here, the best I can compare it to is when we went to West Virginia, only there are very few trees. There are buildings, old and new up and down every hillside. It is densely packed together.

We are staying at the Notre Dame Institute, which is a Catholic retreat center just outside the New Gate. We had the opportunity to go up on to the roof of the hotel this evening for a panoramic view of the city at night with Father Kelly, a good Irish preist from County Cork. He was an absolute delight! He pointed out all the highlights of the city that you can see from here, which are quite a few. He pointed out the Temple mount, several significant churches and sites like the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion, which is not where the Temple is.

Tomorrow we begin our time seeing all we can. We begin on the Mount of Olives, then go down the Kidron Valley and into the city on the Via Delorosa, and finish our day at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It’s a big day, with a lot to take in.

Grace and peace to all!