Mount of Olives to Gethsemane

After breakfast, Ibrahim took us to the Mount of Olives, from where we had some good views back towards the old city. We then made our way down a part of the path which has Jesus would have taken over Palm Sunday, stopping at the place where he is thought to have wept over Jerusalem, and where there is a small beautiful tear-shaped chapel commemorating that. We carried on, Mike leading us with the guitar singing 'All glory, laud and honour', until we reached the garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the hill, where we had nearly an hour to wander round by ourselves.

The place was packed with people which made it a challenge getting into some of the various chapels and sites there. The main one was the church of all nations , (blessedly silent because there was a rule against talking in it) but very crowded because near the sanctuary was a slab of rock (purportedly one on which Jesus prayed) which people were queueing to touch and kiss.

Another chapel housed the tomb of the Virgin Mary, and was equally full of pilgrims wanting to venerate her resting place. I didn't spend a lot of time there as it was a bit too ornate and full of embellishments, and I struggled to cope with the crowds.

The garden itself was a small enclosed area of olive trees, one of which (the oldest one there) was enclosed with railings, I think to protect it from damage at the hands of too many eager pilgrims.

A brief respite now back at our Olive Tree hotel and then we head to Bethlehem this afternoon.Read more