Day7 and last post. 

We have a final day of touring then eat and pack and leave for airport at 1:30 am.  Will not have time to update tomorrow.  Hope you have enjoyed keeping up with us.  Today we are going to show you some of the "side sights" of  Jerusalem as we traveled along to give you a feel for the city.  Of course there will be words of observation from Bruce!

There are NOT (3) three people in the world that are funnier than Andi Smart.

First of all she breaks her toe and has to go to the Dr. to get the pin taken out of it for the trip. Her tremendous husband says... ' You did it to yourself, so you can't complain! ' Geez...I've seen tough before in my life, but up and down the hills and steps with her toes buddy taped she she navigates on...not asking for any assistance.

Walking up to the top of Mt. Carmel looking at a sun dial pointing in different directions and giving distances to various cities and locations on the platform looking out over the Valley of Armageddon....she raises both arms high into the air... " Ahh, which way to San Jose? "

Looking at the location inside of the Temple where Jesus healed the sick man in John 5..." Look, it's the diving pool and the kiddie pool! "

Where I am complete old school taking notes with a pencil and a Big Chief notepad, Brian Smart is all over his Blackberry. So when Alan couldn't locate the proper scripture to read relating to the story @ our location, Brian in less than 3.5 seconds in total Bible Drill domination V*I* C*T*O*R*Y ...bam!  Recites the chapter and verse..... Andi looks to Ridley..." That's YOUR son ! (Sarcasm included)

Andi is a big time spelling bee champion...any question on the misunderstanding of Ze 'evve " The Comedian " accent of Byzantine or Bedouin...she always knows how to spell a tough word... " I GOT THIS!  I GOT this church thing goin' on ! "

 

A Hasidic Jew

 

Would you like to purchase a chicken like this?

Or get your bread from a cart - pushed around outside without a cover and people all around?

How about shopping like this?

 

Inside the Walls of Jerusalem

 

Here we go out amongst 'em early in the morning up into the Temple Mount where Herod raised the height of the Temple built the compound and square and courtyard.  Where other Temples may be more beautiful but this was the largest and most sacred.

 

Today the Muslims were grouped out in the courtyard to study, security guards yell at us ' no touching! ' ...children happily walked past us smiling and waving but boys and girls go to school separately. Where Ze evve " The Comedian " got upset, " These European people have no manners! "

 

 

 

 

We were suppose to be standing where Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac and the angel appeared to him with a lamb. Where Jesus was upset where he found the money changers at a sacred place. Where King Abdula of Jordan was assassinated for cutting a peace treaty July 15, 1951.

 

 

 

Then we went outside the Temple walls to St Anne Monastery where the beautiful echo of Alan Shoumaker led us in singing ' Holy, Holy, Holy ' and The Lords Prayer.

 

Quick walk around the Bethesda Pool where Jesus healed (John 5 ) the invalid. Down the Via Dolorosa " The way of the cross ".
 

This route includes the 14 Stations of the Cross which Jesus walked after Ponticus Pilot (John 19:16) handed him over to be crucified at the Antonio Fortress and pointed to the "Ecce homo" arch.

 

We stopped in the " lithostrotos " which means ' the pavement '  and stood on Roman " striated " concrete...which are grooves / striations in the road similar to the sides of the our current highway that hum and wake you up to tell you that not on the road...but in the Roman times it helped the horses to keep from slipping. While standing there Ridley said a beautiful prayer to bless the trip and help us to better understand what our eyes are seeing.

 

 

The Dome of the Rock

 

Man playing near the Western Wall

Dude, just hanging around.  Notice he has the scriptures with him.

 

We have had pretty much the same meal every night- chicken, rice, potatoes. Bro. Alan found a great little PIZZA place near the hotel so a group of us decided to give it a try.  It was a welcome break from the meals we have grown tired of.

 

Then Bruce, Scott and I went for a quick walk to take a couple of pictures of the area light up at night.