Travel Biography Photo Extravaganza - Part 13.

About This Week's Photo Album - Model Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea.

During the last couple of weeks, I have focused mainly on Jerusalem, particularly the Old City, in my detailed account of my 1993 trip to Israel. There is one more venue I would like to highlight before leaving Jerusalem, which is on the scaled model of the 1st Century city as it was after the Crucifixion but before its destruction in 70 AD by the Roman General Titus.

The model is located at the Holyland Hotel in West Jerusalem, and the exhibition at the time was open to the public. The stone bricks with which the model was constructed are of the same material as the ancient city was built. In other words, the stones used in its construction are of the same limestone as the blocks making up the Western Wall. Hence, with full archaeological authenticity, Model Jerusalem was constructed with the most accurate research.

The Second Temple, Model Jerusalem.

Golgotha, the site of the Crucifixion, is marked, and before AD 70, it was outside the city wall until close to the time of its demise, when a new wall extended north and west, enclosing the site. Hence, Golgotha has been within the walls ever since, and the first building of the church was to be that of the Holy Sepulchre. Since that particular site is at present within the city wall, doubts have arisen over its genuineness. Consequently, Englishman Charles Gordon popularised in 1883 what is now the Garden Tomb, a separate site north of the city, as the burial site of Jesus. However, archaeologist Gabriel Barkay examined the tomb and concluded that it was hewn around 600 years BC. Therefore, it couldn't be "the tomb no man was ever laid" as recorded in John 19:41 of the Holy Bible.

I visited both the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and then the Garden Tomb a year later in 1994. I left the Garden Tomb unconvinced that this was the site of the Lord's burial. But I have known people in escorted Christian tours visit the Garden Tomb and come away excited that they visited the site they thought was the genuine tomb of Christ.

During the second week, I boarded an Egged Bus for the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi on the west side of the salty lake, and the Fortress of Masada on the southern tip of the Dead Sea. An Arab bus from the East Jerusalem bus station, near the Garden Tomb, took me to Bethlehem in the West Bank, where I visited both the Church of the Nativity and the lesser-known Catholic Chapel or Grotto of the Milk, where tradition says that a drop of milk dripped from Mary's breast while she and Joseph fled to Egypt in haste with the baby to escape Herod's slaughter of the Innocents. The drop of milk turned the ground on which it fell white, and a natural white band of limestone authenticates the tale.

The story of Mary's Milk may seem a fantastic tale to the observer, but I also found the story too fascinating to accept as historic. But as I sat alone amidst gentle Marian music filling the church, this was a good spot for meditation, the love the mother has for her child, and how a mother's love influences the success of her offspring as he grows up. It was also an ideal location for someone who is burdened by the world's troubles to pour out his heart in prayer and meditation.

On the other hand, Ein Gedi was a very different environment to Bethlehem. Designated as a National Park, it has two freshwater streams flowing through it towards the Dead Sea. From one of the caves, possibly the one where David hid with his men from King Saul, a waterfall gushes out. I was wearing swimming trunks hidden under a shirt as I stood under the waterfall as it cascaded over me. Such bliss when under the hot Middle East summer sunshine. A hiking trail led out of the oasis and ran along the mountainous desert parallel with the Dead Sea. Along the trail, I came across a group of backpackers who sat around a spring, and for a short while, I joined them. When they decided to move on, I was left alone to continue the walk to the Chalcolithic Temple, a 4,000-year-old ruin.

Finally, a swim, or rather floating on the briny waters of the Dead Sea concludes this week's photo album. But the trip isn't over. Next week, I'll be concentrating on a day out to the Masada site, including a hike up the Snake Path, and the early morning sunrise over the mountains of Jordan across the Dead Sea.

For a link for the Index to the appropriate Biography - Weeks 48-51, click here.

Photos of the Jerusalem Model.

Detail of the new northern city extension.

All these buildings are of real stone bricks.

Facing east towards the Temple.

The Golden Gate entrance to Temple Mount.

Roman Administration Fort.

Looking east towards the Fort.

Herod's Palace near Jaffa Gate.

The Citadel.

Looking southeast towards the Temple.

City of David.

Roman Circo Maxima (Horses and Chariots).

City Residential Area.

Looking South towards the Temple.

The 2nd Temple complex.

Bethlehem.

General view of Bethlehem town.

Lutheran Church, Bethlehem

Town Centre, Bethlehem.

More Town Centre Views.

Entrance of the Church of the Nativity.

Eastern Orthodox Chapel

Close-up of the Eastern Orthodox Altar.

I arrived at the Crypt where a service was held.

After the service ended, I stayed behind...

I was alone at the Star of Bethlehem, the site of the birth.

This is the Manger, where the baby was laid.

The Grotto of the Milk - Interior.

The Grotto of the Milk, the Altar.

Rachel's Tomb is just north of Bethlehem.

Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea.

Ein Gedi, an Oasis near the Dead Sea.

The stream cutting the canyon is the Nahal David.

Oasis views.

A hike along Nahal David takes me to a waterfall.

Wearing swimming trunks and a shirt, I'm cooled off!

 I continue with the hike.

This cave was David's hideaway.

The trail leads into the desert.

These mountains make up the Rift Valley.

I head south.

I arrived at a Spring. There's a group of backpackers.

I thought I had another shot.

The Spring I sat by.

Further on, I approach the Chalcolithic Temple.

The structure is around 4,000 years old.

Temple detail with the Dead Sea in the background.

Palm Tree Plantation, Ein Gedi.

View of the Dead Sea from the hiking trail.

Approaching Ein Gedi Beach.

Watching others bathe in the brine.

Finally, I too had a dip/float.

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Next Week: The Fortress of Masada.