Mt of Olives

Today is Sabbath.  We put our "do not disturb" sign out so no one would have to clean our room.  We made sandwiches and took water and struck out on an adventure.  We headed toward the Temple Mt and took a right turn exiting the Old City through the Dung Gate.  Yes, that's what it's called.  We walked alongside the Southern wall headed to the East and Mt of Olives.  We were looking for the Garden of Gethsemane.  Not having any idea of the scale of this place, nothing could do it justice except being here.  Even though these sites seem close and easily reached, they are not.  This terrain is up and down, slow going, steep hillsides and valleys.  Our walk up the Mt of Olives was like our driveway on steroids!

south side of the Temple Mt where excavation has uncovered lower rooms

monuments in Kiddron valley and Mt of Olives on other side

mt of olives and of course....a church

looking at Eastern Gate of Temple wall.  Sealed by Muslims who believe a conquerer will come and destroy them through eastern gate so they sealed it up..............they do so in vain!

garden of gethsemane

looking back at Temple mount and sealed Eastern Gate from Mt of Olives

church on Mt of Olives

Temple was 3 times the size of the Dome of the rock.  Everyone could see it!

this is the Lion's Gate back into city.  Yeshua would have been brought this way the night He was arrested