My trip to Jerusalem
Happy Easter, friends! I hope you’re all enjoying your church family, your immediate family and friends today.
I thought I would honor our Easter celebration by sharing photos of my trip to Old City, Jerusalem. I have to admit, this entire experience was absolutely surreal. At first I had no plans to venture into Jerusalem alone. I was working for an Israeli tech company and began in April of 2015, so I was invited to Tel Aviv (along with about 30 other people around the world) for new hire training. Tel Aviv is like the Silicon Valley for the rest of the world, but no one else from my team expressed interest to venture outside of Tel Aviv. They planned to catch up on sleep and meet at a restaurant later near the Mediterranean. Also a good choice.
But…
After the 11 hour plane ride and some good conversation with two amazing Israeli citizens (and former soldiers) they told me I’d be crazy to miss this opportunity. We talked politics, their experiences serving in the Israeli army…but mostly about life and enjoying every moment. They gave me lots of advice about traveling to the Old City.
So, I landed at 10am on a Sunday, then hopped on the green public transport bus (and I convinced one coworker to go with me). An hour later we were off to see the holiest city in the world.
Jerusalem, Israel Without a Guide
First impressions of Jerusalem 
Getting pizza near Central Station in Jerusalem. A photo of the young, female Israeli soldiers patrolling the streets. 
Getting used to the currency took no time at all. 
Tower of David as we walked up to Old City. 
Jaffa Gate, entrance to the Old City. 
Jaffa Gate 
Old Jerusalem is very much a “market” atmosphere. 
Walking through the market in the Christian Quadrant 
All of the streets are lined with vendors. 
Via Dolorosa: Jesus’s last walk with the cross, where he stopped is marked by Roman Numerals. Also called, The Stations of the Cross. 
The VI Station of the Cross, where Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. 
Station VIII: Jesus meets the pious women of Jerusalem 
After picking up a brochure, we started to find our way around. Finally, the Church of the Holy Spulchre. 
Church of the Holy Secpulchre (and the Immovable Ladder in the image). 
Calvary, or Golgotha altar — the site where it’s believed that Jesus was crucified. 
Stone of the Anointing, inside of the Church of Sepulchre. “And in the meantime they carefully wrapped him, together with spices and myrrh, in a new linen cloth, that had never been used by anyone.” (Apocryphal Gospel of Gamiliel) 
Stone of the Anointing, inside of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre 
Next to the tomb, a mosaic on the wall 
Holy Sepulchre mosaic 
The Aedicula where, according to Christian religious tradition, the “body” of Jesus was buried. 
The Aedicula 
Leaving the church, we started to follow other tours. We didn’t join an organized tour because many had started already once we arrived. 
Taking in the surroundings as we wandered. 
Jerusalem, and we did venture into all four quadrants. 
We followed a tour into the Jewish Quadrant 
And found the Western Wall 
Western Wall 
The little green paper is the prayer I left for my family. 
A wall divided the men and women. 
Having a guide would have helped, but sometimes I snapped pictures not knowing exactly where I was. 
Old ruins of Jerusalem are actually about 20 feet below ground. 
The garden where Peter denied Jesus 
The garden where Peter denied Jesus 
A building in the Jewish Quadrant. 
More ruins 
The Room of the Last Supper 
The Room of the Last Supper 
The Room of the Last Supper 
The Room of the Last Supper 
Entrance to Mary’s crypt 
Mary’s Tomb 
Altar at Mary’s Tomb 
This is the reference to the next image, Crusades ruins 
Crusades ruins 
Armenian district. And Kanye & Kim were inside of this church getting their baby baptized at this same moment. 
We didn’t know it, but all of the limousines were for Baby West’s baptism behind these doors 
Some of the stores you’d find in the market 
View from my room in Tel Aviv 
My work team, lots of amazing food and group outings the rest of the week. 
Tel Aviv is just like any coastal city, lots of activities. A very active, and metropolitan culture. 
This happened quite a bit. 
A posh restaurant in Old Jaffa, Israel 
The Mediterranean at sunset 
My husband and I were able to Facetime as I crossed the Atlantic. Iceburgs were so tiny from the sky 
Ice forming on the windows… 
Hope you enjoyed the tour
What I’ve learned about the culture – very warm, welcoming, and fearless people. They possess a “west coast” mentality where they are always outside enjoying nature, including the Mediterranean waterfront, parks or the desert. Northern Israel is very green and lush. As you head to southern Israel, that’s where the terrain turns to dry.
It turns out that Tel Aviv is like the “Silicon Valley” to the rest of the world. So, my company is headquartered there. This gives me the opportunity to travel back to Israel about twice per year. Without a guide, there were times that I ended up in parts of Old City that were unwelcoming. But then I’d experience a moment like this, that brought perspective…and calm.
Video above is of the Holocaust Memorial Observence which happens every year. After watching this from our office window, I was in tears (along with several other people from work). Very moving.
Singing inside of the Last Supper Room.
The Stone of the Anoitment inside of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
I hope you enjoyed the tour, and hug your loved ones today.
He is Risen, indeed!
xo
Such a wonderful tour. Thank you so much for taking me along. I enjoyed it so much. I wish you and your family a very Blessed and Happy Easter.
Thank you Marty! I hope you had a great Easter celebration with your family!