Day 15 – Ashdod and Jerusalem

Ashdod, Jerusalem

Monday, 30 September 2013

Docked at Ashdod Israel this morning and had a shore excursion to Jerusalem. Another long day, this time with an American guide who now lives in Israel. We didn’t find him too inspiring.

After a long drive to Jerusalem we had a rather cursory stop at Mount Zion, Kind David’s tomb, the room of the last supper, and the Church of Dormition (this is where Mary went to sleep and was assumed into heaven). This was an old crusader church outside the city walls with lots of different shrines to Mary. We finished really quickly so were bused to a shop to fill in time but no one was too interested in souvenir shopping. Then onto a mid-down hotel for lunch but again we were way too early. Delicious hummus and baba ganoush!

After lunch we had a walking tour of the old city which was a highlight for me. 

We went through the Jaffa gate and worked our way through the Christian quarter to the church of the Holy Sepulchre. 

This was multi-layered historically with Byzantine, European crusader and later additions – and multi-faith in that Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Coptics and Armenians all own a part of the church and Arabs have the key!

Then a walk through the Muslim quarter to the Kotel or Wailing Wall. 

There is certainly a uniformity as all the buildings in Jerusalem are either built or clad in the local limestone.

It was great to visit Jerusalem but I think Anthony would have been a better guide – in a day on our own we could have seen so much more!

Dinner tonight was a magnificent BBQ on the pool deck followed by a dance party. Fantastic fruit sculptures and theming – the crew go all out. Anthony and I enjoyed the dancing but the party finished by 10pm!

	Zion gate in Jerusalem entry into the Jewish quart [Map]		Church of Dormition (Assumption of Mary) [Map]
	Detail of Church of Domition [Map]

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