ISRAEL-BETHLEHEM-FRI. OCT. 23, 2015

We had a very nice welcome into Jerusalem last evening and today we should be in Bethlehem and at the Western Wall or often called the Wailing Wall.  Here we hope to insert our special requests by inserting small slips of paper into cracks in the wall.

We had an early start and went to the Herodium Palace.  Archeologists have excavated several levels of King Herod's Palace over the years.  A bath house and a very complete cistern and tunnel system for water were also located under various levels.  It is very common for the next time period that decides to build, to use recycled stones or blocks and that is why you may see Byzantine structures along with more ancient or more modern ones.  It does make the job of archeologists more difficult but interesting. The latest excavation in 2007 discovered the remains of what is thought to be King Herod and also a royal theater.  The tomb seems to be badly broken but King Herod was not well liked so who knows what might have happened.

Bethlehem was our next stop, but we had to drop our guide off at one of the borders since Israeli folks can not guide in Bethlehem.  There were all sorts of red signs indicating A, B, and C and those meant folks from Israel could not go in certain areas and Palestinians can not be in certain areas and some need a permit and you name it.  It all seemed rather confusing to say the least.  Anyway, we met Gabriela our guide and she took us to Manger Square and then we walked to the "Traditional" places of where Jesus was born and also to where the manger was to have been.  The word traditional is used fairly freely but I guess it does give you an idea.  It would be a bit difficult to preserve something for 2000 years.  

The star marks where Jesus was probably born in the cave.

This is probably the spot where the manger was which is indicated by the little altar.

 This was also in Bethlehem.

We visited what was most likely the site where Jesus was interrogated and thrown into the dungeon.  It is below a church of St. Peter and the Rooster or at least that is what it translated to.  Jesus had told Peter you will deny me thrice before the cock crows.  Peter did deny knowing Jesus three times before dawn, so this church is appropriately named.

The Western Wall or what is often referred to as the Wailing Wall was our next stop.  The women go on one side and the men on the other.  There is also another fence blocking folks from just meandering down to the wall.  The wall is actually a supporting wall that was next to the temple but it was all that the Jews had at the time and it is still considered very important.  We had to get there before sunset so that we could take photos or to put a special request in one of the cracks of the wall.  It was very interesting to be part of.  The women are supposed to leave the wall by backing up and not just turning around.  This is because you are not to turn your back on God.