Jerusalem!, Jerusalem!
I write this from the Petra Hostel in Old City Jerusalem. My first hours in Jerusalem have been quite action-packed. I visited the holiest sites in Judaism and Christianity tonight. Being the Sabbath, thousands flocked to the Western Wall, the only remaining wall from the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. After I took this photo, I was told that photography is forbidden at the Western Wall on Sabbath. I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher tonight. Here is a photo of the spot that marks where Jesus was crucified: And this monument in the church is built around the holy sepulcher--the tomb where Jesus was laid for 3 days before his Resurrection. Here's the stone that Jesus was laid on in his tomb: The mosaics inside the church are quite incredible as well. I am surprised that the old walled city of Jerusalem where I'm staying the next couple nights is open at all times. You can visit the Western Wall 24-7, 365 days a year. I haven't felt the restrictions on movement in Israel...