The Mount of Olives is where Jesus was betrayed and where he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is also believed to be the place where, on Judgement day, God will redeem the dead so it is covered in cemeteries. They all want to be the first
So I set off to see this and the landmarks all the way up. On the way I found the Church of the Holy Sepulchre so I stopped and got photo's cos I might not find it again.
For breakfast I had bread, kinda like a French stick, and Zartar. Zartar is a powdered plant and is green and quite salty and they usually add sesame seeds. I love it.
Just outside the city walls I came across St Ann's Church. Apparently the acoustics are pretty good and they were singing in there so I stopped. They have an excavation at the back and there are pools. Some for drinking and some were for medical. This is where they say Jesus healed the cripple.
Across the road to St Stephens church, the greek orthodox.
Then the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. This place was very dark and candle soot all over the roof. I seem to remember going to the tomb of the Virgin Mary in Turkey a couple of weeks ago. They claimed she was with Prophet Phillip and died in Turkey?
Right next door is the grotto of Gethsemane where Jesus was betrayed.
Just a bit up the street is the massive church that seems to have a few names. Church of all Nations or the Basilica of the Agony. It is supposed to be built on the spot where Jesus was arrested and the olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane are now called the Silent Witness cos they are over 2000 years old and would have been here then. There is a sign out the front that says there is NO government money spent to restore or maintain the church. It is ALL from catholic donations then it specifies the countries. Then in caps it again says there is No government money.
The Russian Church of Mary Magdelene was closed and they wouldn't let me in. A lot of places here close on certain days so if you want to see everything you have to go back again another day.
Near thye top an old guy let me in to see the Tomb of the Prophets. It dates from 500bc and was the tomb of Haggai, Malecachi and Zacharia and their deciples. The place was really dark and he gave me a candle to see around.
The Observation Point at the top was worth the hard climb. It was a huge effort to get up the steep hill but all worth it for the view.
The long walk back was not well timed. As I turned into the street into the old city I was met with wall to wall muslims. The Mosque must have just finished and they were swarming out. As always they were pushing and shoving so I did the same. Then right at the gate there was a couple of ********s trying to get through in their cars. They have no idea. There were soo many people all going the other way and a small boy behind me was getting scared and they were shoving so I grabbed his hand and dragged him and his mum through.
I eventually made it home but I gotta stop buying T shirts.

Something in common with ALL these religious places is there are people pushing and shoving to get to the front and they are all kissing pictures and statues. eeuuw that cant be too clean.
Tried to get on the wall cam at the western wall today but I didn't work as good as I thought it would so I got some pics here.
Tomorrow I am heading north to Nazareth and the Golan Heights for a few days.