Israel 2013

Israel is a small country, but big in history and religious sites. We rented a car for a few days and drove to the Golan Heights, first. We saw the Agamon Hula Bird Sanctuary, Banias Nature Reserve, Nimrod Fortress and finished with a horseback ride around Mt. Bental. Then we drove via Bet She'an to the Dead Sea. We participated in an archaeological digging program at Tel Maresha, visited Masada, Ein Gedi and the erosion crater of Makthesh Ramon in the Negev. Finally, we arrived in Jerusalem. Even non-religious people can easily get overwhelmed with so many religious sites on one spot: Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Mt. of Olives, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount with the Dome of Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israel Museum shows the history of the Jewish people. We also recommend to take the Biblical City of David Tour and the Western Wall Tunnels Tour.

Index pages:

Number of images: 242

Alpaca Farm

Guest house

Guest house and alpaca enclosure

Alpacas

Feeding an alpaca

Alpaca

Bethlehem

Security wall between the West Bank and Israel

Security wall gate to Bethlehem

Pedestrian crossing on the Westbank side

Entrance to the Milk Grotto Chapel

Inside the Milk Grotto Chapel

Church on top of the Milk Grotto

Roof of the Milk Grotto Chapel

Shepherds' Field

Church of the Angles

Shepherds' Cave

Church of the Nativity

Inside the Church of the Nativity

Altar inside the Church of the Nativity

Descent to the Grotto of the Nativity

Birthplace of Jesus

St. Catherine's Church

Israel Museum

Main walkway of the museum with Knesset in the background

Model of second temple era Jerusalem

Female IDF soldiers

Museum at night

Herod's coffin

270,000 years old human art work

Jewish sarcophagi

Roof of the Shrine of the Book

Old City of Jerusalem

Jaffa Gate

East New Imperial Hotel

View from the Citadel onto the Imperial Hotel

Jerusalem light rail at Jaffa Road

Old city wall with view to the Tower of David and the Church of the Dormition

Old city wall with view to the Tower of David and the Citadel

Rampard and Tower of David

Rampard stairs

View from the Rampard on Dung Gate, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Mount of Olives

Al-Wad Road

Damascus Gate

Lions Gate

Golden Gate

Tour guide in front of a crusader statue near Jaffa Gate

Street in Jewish quarter

Jewish family

Western end of the Via Dolorosa

Soldier at the western end of the Via Dolorosa

Western end of the Via Dolorosa

Via Dolorosa

Ecce Homo Convent and The Nuns Ascent

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

View from the Church of the Redeemer onto a rooftop promenade and the Hurva Synagogue

Hurva Synagogue

Cardo Maximus

Street in the Armenian quarter

Roofs of the Muslim quarter and cupolas of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Roofs of the Muslim quarter

Soldiers at the Zion Gate

Military police

Female soldiers

Citadel

Inside the Citadel

Inside the Citadel, Tower of David and King David Hotel

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Cupolas and tower

Cross on top of the main cupola and nearby El-Khanqa minaret

Entrance and tower

Entrance and immovable ladder

Site of Jesus's crucifixion

North of the crucifixion site

Stone of Unction, where the body of Jesus was cleaned

Tomb of Jesus

Two tombs

Northern corridor

Church of St. Helena

Mount Zion

Church and Monastery of the Dormition

Church of the Dormition

Rooftop near the Church of the Dormition

Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu

Panoramic view on the Jewish quarter, Temple Mount and Mount of Olives

Temple Mount

Wooden ramp to the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock

Dome of the Rock

Portrait in front of the Dome of the Rock

Dome of the Rock

Window of the Dome of the Rock

Golden cupola of the Dome of the Rock

Dome of the Chain and Dome of the Rock

Portrait in front of the Dome of the Rock

Portrait in front of the Scales of Souls and the Dome of the Rock

Scales of the Souls

Al-Kas Fountain and Entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque

Entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque