Our itinerary is a bit out of whack and since I haven't been blogging daily, I'm a bit out of whack. LOL.
Today's actual itinerary in summation: City of David, King David's Palace, Caananite Tunnel, Western Wall Tunnel, Western Wall, Davidson Museum, Robinson's Arch, Southern Robinson's Arch, and the Southern Steps. Feature: wedding renewal of Andrea and Dennis Stizza.
We got an earlier start this morning: 07:45am and headed for the City of David to see King David's Palace. As this excavation is still relatively new, much of the palace is still under ruins. LaLa and Bill said that what we were able to see this year, wasn't uncovered last year, amazing what changes can occur in a year.
Among the ruins we saw a wall that had built by Nehemiah (spelling), an ancient toilet and the Jebucite (spelling) wall. It's pretty amazing the stonework and hard labor that has gone into building much of the sites we've seen, very backbreaking for sure.
We then went through the water shaft for the Gihron Spring. There's a fork that leads off to Hezekiah's Tunnel on the right and a Caananite Tunnel on the left. As the water was rushing and waist deep in Hezekiah's Tunnel plus we weren't prepared for splunking, and a few of our group were extremely claustrophobic we choose the milder route and went through the Caananite Tunnel.
The Caananite Tunnel was an extremely narrow, perhaps about 2 feet wide and 7 foot high in some parts, maybe higher in others and lower in other parts, path through the water shaft. There were lights installed in the ground so the path was relatively well lit, enough to provide plenty of light so that you could travel through the tunnel without injury but not so much that it would destroy the ambiance of the tunnel - if tunnels had ambiance.
Our next stop was the Shiloach Pool in the Jerusalem Walls National Park or what we know as the Pools of Siloam (spelling). Pastor Matt gave the teaching. After the teaching we were able to go inside the pools, as far as they had excavated up until it reached the exit point of Hezekiah's Tunnel. Pretty amazing to think, that all the tunnels and what not connected. But then again it was a city and the water system needed to go through the city, reaching all parts, just as our modern day water system needs to reach all homes and area in a city.
While in the Jerusalem Walls National Park we go to walk on a road that Jesus walked on. It was still under excavation so it was like going through another shorter but wider tunnel. We were guided on the road by the man who had helped with the excavation of the Pools of Shiloach. At the exit of the road, among the dirt and rock, we saw a human bone, what looked to be part of a vertebrae. Photo to come after. After the "journey" several of us purchased widow's mites and Roman coins.
We then headed for the Old Jewish Quarter to see remains of Jerusalem in the 1st Temple period, a broad wall that was built during the time of Hezekiah, 1000 - 586 BC. Side note: dates here are posted as BCE and CE vs BC and AD. BCE meaning Before Coming Era as opposed to BC - Before Christ and CE - Common Era as opposed to After Death, because they don't believe in Jesus. I found that rather interesting especially since they used his birth and death as the basis for their time dating yet they don't acknowledging Him.
While inside the Old Jewish Quarter we visited the Oil Press Gallery, owned by Tisha's friend Abir (spelling and last name later when I have his card in front of me). Our stop here was threefold: 1) To emphasize how many ruins are in the area and how things are built around them. While creating a space for a safe in his shop, Abir came across some ruins. Whereas in the USA, all construction would have to end and the site would be declared some monument or what not and the shop could no longer be built, here in Israel, shops and other buildings are just built around ruins and other archeological finding. Photos to come later.
2) To see the many wonderful things in his shop. Ronnie bought herself a beautiful necklace of Roman Glass made by Abir.
3) To view the Western Wall from a private residence of a friend of Abir's. The view was spectacular, not only could we see the Western Wall but the view of Jerusalem was amazing. We could see the mountains of Jordan - yep, mountains located in the country of Jordan, the Dome of the Rock, and Jaffa Gate. We even saw some of the Air Force (I think she said the Jordanian Air Force but I'm confused since Israeli citizens can't freely visit Jordan so I wasn't sure if it was reciproval) - dignitaries from many countries are visiting Israel for the 6oth anniversary. Photos to come later.
After the rooftop vist we had lunch at the Quarter Cafe. A quaint rooftop cafe located in the Old Jewish Quarter. I had potato latkes (spelling). Prices in Israel are quite high compared to the USA and a key point, are not posted. So you don't know how much things cost until you get to the register, unless you ask before you select your food item. During our lunch one of Tisha's friends who has a jewerly shop came by and those who were interested ordered necklaces in their Hebrew names or rings with scriptures. I couldn't remember if my sister Anita wanted silver or gold and since the price for gold was $110 whereas the price for silver was $20, I passed. It wasn't until a few days later that I found my note from home that said she wanted silver. Oh well, I had also gotten her some Dead Sea products just in case I couldn't find a place that made necklaces in Hebrew.
A great thing about the Quarter Cafe restaurant: the bathroom. It seems silly but when you're visiting lots of public toilets, a clean stall with seat covers (this one had the automatic seat covers that you see in the Chicago Airport and other places, vs the paper seat covers), toilet paper and afterwards a sink with soap and paper towels to dry your hands is a treat. Photo to come later. Many of the public restrooms did not have seat covers let alone toilet paper. And to find paper towels to dry our hands was a treat. The other bathrooms had airdryers that were quite ineffective or nothing at all so would have to wipe our hands on our pants or shirts.
Our next stop was a quick view of the Golden Mennorah (spelling) which will be used if a third temple is built.
We then proceeded to the Western Wall Tunnels.
Will try to finish up today, need to go eat and get started on the day again.
