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Jerusalem: First Impressions

©David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D.,
Professor of Biology and Chemistry
University of Cincinnati Clermont College,
Batavia OH 45103
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This page has been accessed  Counter times since 13 July 2006. 
13 July 2006
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These are the first pictures and impressions of Jerusalem as we were driven from the Tel Aviv airport to Jerusalem, and the next day, on a walking tour of Jerusalem:

You can tell the Israeli settlements by several traits:  cookie cutter replication of modern archetecture and built on the (militarily advantageous) hilltops:


Htichhiking is common in Israel:  ultra orthodox, women, soldiers.  They hold their arms diagonally down, and get a ride within a few minutes.


Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem at sunrise.  The construct includes a lovely theater, and a view of the Jewish cemetary:
 

But in the distance, off to the South, the Israeli Wall slices through Palestinina neighborhoods:


Descending from the Mount of Olives, we arrive at the Garden of Gesthemine, with its 2000 year old olive trees from which Jesus may have picked olives..
 

At the foot of the Mount of Olives, a Russian Orthodox church is respelendent in its golden turrets.  Also, the Golden Gate wich is said to open at the point of the apocalypase.  The grain mill was designed and built to attract Zionist Jews in the late 19th century.
 

Into the Old City of Jerusalem: famous old hotels, a lecture from an expert in the Armenian Quarter, and the Tower of David:


In the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, charactisteristic crosses are inbedded into the walls, ancient stables become dining facilities for monks, and beautiful courtyards grace the Armenaian Quarter.


As we leave the Armenian Quarter, we see ancient Roman remains, and modern Israeli occupying forces (they do NOT like their pictures taken...):


At the Western Wall, today seems to be THE day to perform bar mitzphahs.  Women stand along the upper walls and uvulate and throw candy while the men (and not for long "boys"), engage in ancient rituals and wonderful ancient music:


Church of the Holy Seplechure:  Here, Jesus was taken off the cross and laid down.
Church of the Holy Seplechure

Street scenes in Jerusalem:
 

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