Day 26 Friday

Up very early today. 5 am in fact. The group was taken on an experience of the Way of the Cross up the Via Dolorosa ( our street ) and beyond, all the way up to the Holy Sepulchre. We witness groups doing this many times a day along our street, stopping at various points where there are signs on the wall to do so. It is thought that Jesus walked this trail on the way to Calvary, which he may have done but not on the streets we walked upon. The roads in Jesus' time would be a few metres under ground. But it is tradition. One spot in particular that seems what one guide has referred to as a 'popular' holy space is the mark on the wall half way along the Via Dolorosa where you place your hand in the exact same spot where Jesus  leant against the wall after a a fall. Can you see me rolling my eyes.

Suspending belief in the legitimacy of the path, the main thing is to remember that it was in this city that these events happened, and with that frame of mind, I was able to enjoy and attain meaning in this experience. I particularly felt my Mum's presence on this journey this morning... She is with me experiencing these things too I'm sure and I know she would be loving it.

No photos again during this time of course as we don't as a rule photograph prayerful times, but a photo from yesterday may help talk a bit later about a fellow I saw again this morning 

Do you see this fellow in the 'Jesus' clothes. Barefoot, wearing only this white garment and carrying a blanket, this man named James is famous for travelling the world and for the last four years walking the streets of Jerusalem relying totally of "God's providence" as a fellow pilgrim calls it. ... Other people's generosity. ... To be fed and to sleep at night. More about him later.

After Breakfast, Fr Edward ... The priest from Kentucky. ... And I went back to Bethlehem, by public transport this time, to buy a mosaic or a piece of art work for Ed to take home with him for a reminder of his trip in the holy land. The bus only went to the check point , where we had to go through a number of mysterious gates and walls to get into the Palestinian territory of West Bank.

No photos allowed here .... We found out later... Oops

The space on the other side had taxis everywhere offering to take us anywhere we wanted to go...

Luckily we were meeting our guide from two previous trips, Elios, who was taking us to see a couple of " friends " ...  actually they were cousins ... who could help Ed out. The first place was a small shop front and work room where a mosaic maker was working on his trade.

Despite this man's work being a little out of Edward's price range ... and miles out of mine ... we were not able to leave without Ed feeling obliged to spend far more than he wished to. It was partly my fault as I happened to say , I like that one and that ended up with Edward buying it. It' s along story and has been told, differently, many times already by both of us.

Our next stop was different also as it was a dealer in antiquities. This man's grandfather was the man who first received some scrolls found near the Dead Sea by a shepherd in payment for a new pair of shoes. When he had some tests done in America it was confirmed to be authentic writings from 2000 years ago. This man somehow convince the shepherd to collect and supply ... Price undisclosed by the grandson ... as many more of these scrolls found in clay pots as he could and when these Dead Sea Scrolls were made more known he became slightly rich and was given the rights to be the exclusive dealer in ancient artifacts of the region (?) . He was allowed to keep one of the pots but two others are in the Israeli museum and one in the Vatican. Here is a picture of Edward next to the pot.

Edward bought a olive tree carved statue from this place and was a lot happier with his purchase. I had no influence here. ...  he was pleased to say I'm sure.

After skyping my beloved wife , I ventured out with Sr Gabrielle and Fr Ed once more up to shop in the Christian Quarter to make a special purchase ... Which we missed out on ... And it was here that we saw the Christ guy again. Well I just had to strike up a convo with this guy and we ended up have a chat and a coffee with this fellow for some time. He is quite a nice chap actually and not as insane as some may think him if they saw him from afar. You must ask me about him some day as I am too tired to type about him tonight.

Finished the night with a social evening ... Singing , dancing , stories, poetry and joke telling, food, drinks, fundraising , games .... I wasn't able to finish writing the song I had stated to farewell each of my fellow pilgrims , which was a bit disappointing , but I was able to tell my hunchback of Notre Dame joke which went down well.

Bern telling a story while Daryl eats cake.

11949 today, but Fr Mike, who only downloaded a pedometer app for his phone yesterday managed 22000 !!! On his first day!!!       Beginners  luck.