I Got a little extra sleep in anticipation of a lot of walking, much of it uphill. It was Shabbat and no buses or trains were running so I walked to the Old City and continued to give the cut-proof gloves to the police and military personnel guarding the entrances to the Old City. I entered the Old City via the Damascus gate. This is the place where most of the arab community in Jerusalem enters. It is also the site of the most terrorist attacks on the Israeli guards. Immediately inside the Damascus gate is the arab shuk. "Shuk" means market and this one has lots of sights and sounds and smells from merchants encouraging you to visit their shops and large spice counters. Also in the Shuk are merchants selling t-shirts with the logos of all professional sports teams and many of the better known universities. I'm certain that not one cent has been paid to anyone for the right to used these logos. Here are some from my University, another university, and my beloved but struggling Denver Broncos. The shirts also have Hebrew lettering which when sounded out states the name or name of the mascot of the particular sports team.
After what seemed like an endless walk through the Shuk I went back to the Kotel (Western Wall) just to see it again. From there I went out the Lion's Gate on the eastern wall of the Old City and began my steep walk up the hill to the Mount of Olives.
This is the view toward the Lion's Gate in the Old City. You can see a car parked. With pedestrians crowding the street its a real adventure when a car tries to get through.
This picture is the gate to the grounds of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. This Church is the resting place for the remains of Prince Philip of England's Mother.
She was Greek royalty and was known as Princess Andrew of Greece or Alice of Battenburg. The following picture is of a metal placque attached to her oak coffin which is raised off the floor in a private space at the Church. I first visited Princesse Alicia, as the nuns call her, two years ago after learning that she was a hero of the Holocaust for saving a Jewish family in Greece during the Second World War. She was also deaf since birth and learned to speak five languages fluently and could read lips expertly.
I learned about Princess Andrew before my first trip to Israel two years ago. I brought with me a stone given to me on Holocaust Rememberance Day at my Synagogue and in the Jewish tradition of leaving a stone at the burial site of those we remember, I planned to leave my stone for the Princess.
After some difficulty in gaining entry two years ago because I was not a friend of the Royal Family, I now have a rapport with some of the nuns and last year I was remembered after sixteen months and allowed in the little room with the casket once again. Each time before I left a stone and last year both of my stones were on the marble ledge that runs around the small room. This year they were gone but I placed another one which you can see in this picture.
This next picture shows the back of the young nun who helped me. The don't want to be identified and they don't want their pictures taken as their vow is to help others an not to draw any attention to themselves.
The grounds of the church are home to many friendly and well kept cats. This gray kitty stopped to pose for me.
These next two pictures are a bit out of order. They are of the Lion's gate to the Old City and the cut proof gloves I have been giving to those young Israelis who guard the Old City.
These next three photos are of me standing in front of the door to the private room containing Princess Andrew's remains, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, and a view to the wall of the Old City taken from the Garden of Gethsemene.
I had done a lot of walking and it felt like it was all uphill so I headed back to my hotel to relax and contemplate dinner. I decided on falafel at my favorite place. There were upgrades at the falafel stand since last year which included a glassed in room with tables in addition to the outside tables next to the street. I went to the glassed in room and all tables were partially occupied. I asked an Asian woman if I could join her and she welcomed me. Her friend, another Asian woman joined us and I learned that they are Messianic Christians from Singapore named Jacqueline (she said she was named for Jackie Kennedy Onassis) and Gina (she said she was named for Gina Lolabrigida).
They, like many people in Singapore love Israel. A bit of Singaporean history: In 1965 Singapore, which was previously a city in Malasia, became independent. The people of Singapore didn't want independence but Malasia didn't want them to be part of Malasia any more. Singapore, as a new nation was faced with having to do such things as create an army asked many nations in the world to help. Every nation refused except one-Israel, only 17 years old itself, rendered a great deal of assistance which the people of Singapore have never forgotten. We talked for a long time and I learned a lot about the love for Israel that Messianic Christians have. We exchanged email addresses and I headed to my room so I could get up early for the 7AM bus to Tel Aviv to reconnect with my volunteer group and ride a chartered bus back to the Air Force base.
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