Pilgrim Pete: Day 28 Sunday

The last full day of this pilgrimage starts today. The prospect of saying goodbye to all these people is forcing me in to denial big time. We'll deal with that tomorrow.

For now our last day started with a bit of a sleep in and eventually assembled at 9 for a trip to one of the four possible places of the ancient town of Emmaus... remember the Road to Emmauas story, post ressurection where Jesus appeared to two disciples walking away from Jerusalem. The church was called the Benedictine Abbey of the Resurrection. I took some good shots in the crypt below.

The mass was another matter. With the procession of nuns, brothers and priests singing beautifully was the priest swinging the thurible - incense burner - at 180 degrees and smoke was pouring out. I nearly fainted so half way through the mass I had to leave and experienced the rest outside ... Where the birds and the church singing intermingled nicely.

In the afternoon, the time was our own , so I spent time Skyping the family, who I am really looking forward to seeing in a few days, washing clothes, relaxing and then going for one last walk around the Old City. In the late afternoon we had a sending off ceremony in the cosy sit-in-a-circle Salle di Sion room

We all graduated , according to Sr Bernadette, because we were delightful. We were given graduation certificates then a celebratory meal. The only difference between the meal and other delicious meals we have had here was that we didn't have to pay for the wine.

After tea, I helped with the dishes .... As always. .... I need to say this to avoid having to do the dishes for the rest of the school holidays ... A threat made by my daughter April earlier today, for not doing any for the whole of September.

Here I am helping Armani, a Social Work student at the Bethlehem University ( see Day 6 I think). She seemed to love taking some of these photos ... Once she worked out which way to face the camera.