Mirjam's World - Travel - Israel - Holy Land: Jerusalem: Lion's Gate, Damascus Gate, Herod's Gate, Via Delorosa, Church of St. Anna, Bethesda Pool, Antonia Fortress, Condemnation Chapel, Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher

The Bible says:
"When he had thus
spoken, he spat on the
ground, and made clay
of the spittle, and
anointed his eyes with
the clay, and said unto
him, Go, wash in the
pool of Siloam. He
went away therefore,
and washed, and came
seeing."
(John 9:6-7)

We got up a bit shaken that morning because of continues loud explosions during the night. We
were all convinced that we found ourselves in the middle of yet another armed conflict between the
Israelis and Palestinians. It turned out that all we heard were the sounds of fireworks on the eve of
Israel's 61st birthday. It was Independence Day.

The bus dropped us off on a slope, on the southern side
of the old city of Jerusalem, where the CITY OF DAVID
used to be. The area is tightly inhabited by mainly a
Muslim population. We walked downhill, between the
houses, and by a school where mothers were bringing
their youth (they even let us peek in), to visit the POOL OF
SILOAM, where we read a verse form the Bible that
mentions it, dipped our fingers and toes into the water
and climbed out again.

From there we went on the other side of the city to have
mass at SAINT SAVIOUR'S, this is the seat of the Franciscan
Custody, which, since 1342, represents

Catholic Communities to the Holy Land.
We gathered by the NEW GATE, which
was opened in 1889, to allow access to
the CHRISTIAN QUARTER. We walked
along the narrow streets, went through a
door under a covered walkway, then
headed upstairs into what looked like
someone's apartment, but when we
opened the door we gasped as we were
faced with the richly painted walls of a
huge church.

Soon we found ourselves walking again - this time towards
the JAFFA GATE, this used to be the main road to the port
of Jaffa. We went pass the TOWER OF DAVID
(JERUSALEM CITADEL), then fought with the cars in a
narrow tunnel, peeked into interestingly decorated
restaurants in the ARMENIAN QUARTER and found the
Gate.

It is the main entrance (for pedestrians and an occasional
motorbike) to the old city from east to west and offers
access to Mount Zion with several important sites like
KING DAVID'S TOMB, the HALL OF THE LAST SUPPER
and THE BASILICA OF THE DORMITION which we visited
first. The upper church has incredible mosaics and
paintings. The crypt holds the site, where, according to
the old Jerusalem tradition Mary lived and died.

From there it is only a short walk towards the Hall of The Last Supper which was
built by the Crusaders in Gothic style but in the 15th century it was transformed into
a mosque. Underneath the Hall is the location of King David's Tomb which has
separate entrances for men and women.