Sunday 7 April
We are in Israel, our ninth “new” country of this cruise and an early start for a 10+ hour trip from Haifa by coach to Jerusalem.
Whilst there is limited walking on this tour it does mean there are a few of the less able walkers on the coaches of which there are at least 4.
Unfortunately, some of the less able are accompanied by some people with less brain cells.
The 2 and a half hour drive to Jerusalem is firstly over very green undulating ground some of which is used for banana trees, grape vines, olives and oranges to name but a few.
We pass into the hilly terrain around Jerusalem with a comfort stop near a Military museum and Monastery for Silent Monks, the Latrun Trappist monastery, before passing the Israel Museum and stopping outside the Israel Parliament, (Knesset )
There we have explained to us the seven branch Menorah which is situated outside of the Knesset and was made by the German sculptor, Benno Elkan who died in 1960.
The Menorah portrays 29 formative events and concepts from the Old Testament and the History of the Jewish people and arrived in Israel in 1956.
We then move on to the Garden of Gethsemane next to the Sanctuary of Gethsemane, a wonderfully preserved place of worship and opposite the Golden Gate of the old walled city.
As you would expect, despite the crowds, the area is peaceful.
Unfortunately, we have limited time in the gardens but there is time to see the ridiculously old trees before we are taken into the adjacent Sanctuary which contain wonderful paintings on the walls and ceilings.
All around the Sanctuary and Gardens and even over the road to the Walled city of Old Jerusalem and it’s Golden Gate there are tombs of famous (and not so famous) people mentioned in the Bible
It is here that somewhat amazingly that we can hark back to our religious education at schools and all the places mentioned in the Bible only to now find ourselves in the midst of these place names for real.
Now off to another great lunch, cooked Kosher of course, at the Leonardo Hotel in Saint George Street. It was a buffet with wine, and very welcome.
Our final stop on the tour is at the Western (wailing) wall inside the walled city.
As you can imagine, the place was crowded and of course, men and women are separated when visiting the wall.
Even the security at the entrance to the square was gender separated which did manage to confuse one elderly tourist although I think she might have had a pacemaker as she was channelled through a separate security area to her husband.
There are more women than men but the men’s area is bigger and with less chairs to sit on. I must admit I did feel a little uncomfortable taking photos of those at prayer although no one appeared to mind but there were other photographic opportunities though.
We had been given a slip of paper to write a little prayer/message and put it in the cracks in the wall which tradition says are taken up to heaven.
Men have to wear a head covering but these are supplied by a charity free of charge or for a donation. Not having any Shekels with me, I hoped a $ would suffice.
Apart from the Western Wall I am not sure what else there is to do inside the walls as we did not have time for anything other than the wall and an uphill walk to the bus.
Our tour guide today has been excellent, a young woman who whilst being very proud of her country and its traditions is very modern in her outlook.
I must say, a refreshing change from many of the tour guides we have experienced as her ability to part knowledge to us and her enthusiasm was wonderful.
Drive back to Haifa is again 2 and a half hours although had there been no traffic hold ups, it might have been under 2 hours. I did notice though that the trams sped past fairly full with not just Israelis but also Arabs who at least on the places we visited, live side by side in peace.
A very enlightening and worthwhile tour albeit that it is probably a place that I would not necessarily return to.
More Travels with the Reads II 