Day 25 Thursday

Today was our last day with Pino, learning about Matthew. We rushed through the last three chapters, the story of the passion and the resurrection, so much so I developed a sore wrist from writing so much. It was quite sad to finish up with him... I was soaking up every word he said in the end and loved his patience , wisdom and sense of humour.

We heard of a place outside of Jerusalem we hadn't been to, so after lunch seven of us rushed off to check it out. It was called Saint Peter ( my namesake ) of Gallicantu ( no idea what this means ) ... It was one of the three proposed locations of Caiaphas's House. ... part of the passion story .... Where Jesus was held captive and interrogated before going to Pilate. For those who know the Stations of the Cross at our Launceston church, it is where the High Priest rips his cloak.

church shot of the day : the stained glass roof.

Some interesting places in here in clouded a cell that Jesus may have been held in. You know by this stage of the pilgrimage, I'm only trying to take the perfect photo. ... So here is the best one from this place

Tony Brennan reading in his cell.

We had a talk by one of our guides back in the classroom at 3 o'clock so I had to rush back ... and we only just made it. It meant no rest in the afternoon so I'm afraid I needed to disguise 40 winks by pretending I was studying the plan of the Holy Sepulchre very closely and for a little too long I fear.

We had been here before but our guide showed us all the nooks and crannies that we didn't see ( or know what we were looking at ) last time.

This was on the way to the Holy Sepulchre. Looking for interesting shots again.

Christ's tomb under the "Rotunda" ... I was looking for the BBQ but found none . A lot of candle smoke and frankincense on the burn though.

Very aware that the AFL Grand Final's on this weekend so when one of the hundreds of priests who are looking after the different sections of this church weren't looking , Diane, my partner in crime for taking unusual photos, snapped me taking a mark in Adam's (Ch)apple. 

I may sound a little as religious , or at least irreverent about this place, the definitive church for the death , burial and resurrection of our Lord , but with seven different churches arguing with each other over the care of different sections of this place, it did not impress me nearly as much as it should.

Early to bed .... Exhausted ... Thus wriing this the following day.

15771 ... And everyone an effort.