We began the day overlooking the city from the Mount of Olives. The Dome of the Rock sits on the site where the Jewish Temple is believed to have been located.

We walked to the chapel of Dominus Flevit (the Lord wept), for another iconic view of Jerusalem.

There was time for reflection on the life and ministry of Jesus amongst the olive trees in the area of the Garden of Gethsemane.

We crossed the Kidron Valley and prepared to enter the Old City through St. Stephen’s Gate, also known as The Lion’s Gate.

But first a look back at our path down the Mount of Olives, down to The Church of All Nations located at the traditional site of the Garden of Gethsemane. The onion dome spires of the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene is up the hill, and in the far corner, Dominus Flevit.

As we walked the traditional pilgrim path of the Via Dolorosa, we shared the street with local residents and those who had other business.

Some of the people of Jerusalem.

We entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre complex through the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate.

Coptic Monk

Coptic Chapel

We emerged at the main door of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a bit busier than I expected, post-COVID. Inside, the edicule covers the traditional location of the Tomb of Christ.

There’s much to see inside the church, this is a small sample.

Eventually we returned to the sunlight.

To watch the passing parades.

We walked along more streets, past more shops.

Emerging amongst the pedestrians at Jaffa Gate.

After lunch we drove to Herod’s desert fortress/palace called Herodium.

The recently excavated mini-theater is a once again a showplace to testify to Herod’s glorious ambitions.

Where Herod once had his private room overlooking the theater there is a now a media presentation recreating Herod’s stylish decor.

This was my first chance to enter the palace/fortress up the recently restored monumental entrance.

Up top, a model gives another impression of what the place looked like during its glory, 2000 years ago.

We ended the day in Bethlehem…

…at the Church of the Nativity, the oldest church of Christendom.

Inside the church it’s brighter than it used to be, thanks to recent renovations.

The mosaics high on the walls have been restored. It was the Wise Men, portrayed in a church decoration, that led to its preservation because the Persian Army recognized them and thus the church was not destroyed like so many others.

The star marks the traditional spot where Jesus was born.

After dinner some of us walked around our Jerusalem neighborhood to see local landmarks, such as Montefiore’s windmill.

The luxurious and prestigious King David Hotel was just around the corner.

I had stayed at the King David Hotel several decades ago but I didn’t know that the signatures of some fellow guests were preserved in a display of floor tiles just off the lobby.

Behind the hotel, the Herod Family Tomb, which preserves a rolling stone to secure the doorway.