Church of Mary Magdalene

The main room of Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem. You could meet anybody here. Think of anybody you can: any age or race, any religion or nationality, here for any reason and with any agenda. It is so cool. South Africa, Wales, Russia or Lexington Kentucky.
These are ossuaries in which you too can store bones of your pre-deceased. They are thought to be from the early Christian period and are high end models. The location is prime, overlooking the Old City from the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane which is Aramaic for olive press. In this small grove are beautiful, grotesque ancient olive trees. Maybe a long time ago someone important was under one of these trees for a short while. Well they were tested for age in case it might be true. Turns out these youngsters were planted by Crusaders around 800 CE. Still making olives however.
Over a bit is a still in use Jewish cemetery. These sites are also primo and passed down for generations. Now the view from here is sweeping, but not that the permanent residents here appreciate it much. That’s not the point. The point is getting a good seat, like for fireworks, for when the first or second coming occurs, depending on your belief. With resurrection, I suspect there is a bit of overlap of Christianity and Judaism where perhaps people think first in line is first in time. This would be the place it would happen it is theorized.
In Israel the Big Olive is obviously Jerusalem. Quiet and pious. Contrast that with Tel Aviv where I have never seen more tattoos. It never sleeps. The average age isn’t more than 35. Shabbat is barely a speed bump, most people here are secular. You barely have time to sit down on the train ride between the two cities. In first street scene it’s just like any other day of the week. In the next scene it’s Shabbat in Jerusalem, lasting Friday night to Saturday night. On a Saturday in Jerusalem children can play on the train tracks with their parents. Absolutely nothing is open except, thankfully, restaurants in the Arab Quarter of the Old City. After that, Sunday will pick up like a Monday and the week starts all over again.
Night falls in Jerusalem. Arabs have set off fireworks tonight for their high school graduation day. It’s time for me to go home. All the way home.Read more