How do you think five Aussie ladies 'of a certain age' might choose to spend a free afternoon in Jerusalem?
Visiting the Archaeological Park? The Church of the Holy Sepulchre? The remains of the Roman Cardo?
I'm afraid not. We took ourselves off for coffee at the elegant King David Hotel, built on the 1920s and opened in 1931. It's been the venue for state banquets, visits of dignitaries, and even the signing of a peace treaty.
This was how our hotel, the Olive Tree Hotel, looked just before 8 o'clock on Sunday morning, bathed in fog and bitterly cold.
Setting out for St George's Cathedral nearby I was incredibly glad of my thigh-length cable knit socks (under my jeans), my knitted gloves and my dorky-looking Nike (knock off) beanie, all of which I had bought from a stall for the princely sum of 23 shekels (approximately AU$6) the day before.
Inside we were a congregation of two so it was a very intimate Holy Communion service in the side chapel, celebrated by the Rev'd Canon Hosam Naoum, Canon Pastor of the Cathedral.
In case you're wondering, the rest of our group chose to avoid the early morning fog and chill, and enjoy a well-earned lie-in, a leisurely breakfast, and a short walk in the sunshine before going along to the 11am service.
What an exciting place! Music, shouting, bright colours and the ever-present aroma of eastern spices. Occasionally, though, you'll glimpse a quiet side path leading to ... Who knows where?
I love the fact that little has changed here for centuries.
No snow, but with the maximum temperature around 9 degrees and the rain falling steadily we certainly piled on our layers of clothing (5 in my case!) for our first day of pilgrimage in Jerusalem on Saturday.
Beverley and Barbara had the right idea.
The rain held off a few times so we were able to make outside visits to places like the Pool of Siloam and the Garden Tomb (not likely to have been the actual tomb where Jesus was buried, but an excellent example, and in such a beautiful setting).
Here's where I felt coldest - can you tell? - on the roof of the Austrian Hospice where those prepared to brave the elements had an absolutely splendid view of Jerusalem.
Downstairs at the hospice we took a few minutes to thaw out before joining the throng in the narrow streets outside.
A glimpse if some of the beautiful embroidery, cross stitch and quilting we've seen in our travels - I hope my quilting friends won't feel so neglected now ;-)
It was late in the afternoon when our bus disgorged twelve weary travelers at the Olive Tree Hotel after a journey that had taken us from rolling green hills in the north to desert terrain in the south.
This was my first glimpse of Old Jerusalem from the bus. I never fail to be moved by this view - so much history has gone on here!
Believe it or not, soon after I took that shot the rain came down again.
This was the only remnant we saw of Jerusalem's light snowfall by the time we arrived. Selfishly, I guess, I had looked forward to photographing beautiful Jerusalem with a light dusting of white snow.
That's the romantic view of snow held by those of us who live in places where we never have to experience it's inconveniences ;-)
