Today is our last day in Israel. After breakfast this morning we pick up our car which we left in a parking lot during the entire time we've been in Jerusalem. After a trip to Jaffa, we will fly back to Amman. Today is Friday, the Muslim day of prayer so there will probably be demonstrations. We will therefore not go to Amman, but will return to Madaba where there are no demonstrations as far as I know. King Abdullah is trying to placate the demonstrators. The vendors in the Amman are unhappy because they are losing so much business. (See article from The Jordan Times "Downtown merchants protest demonstrations".After our trip to Bethlehem we walked around Jerusalem. We went to the Zion Wall and more churches and also talked to a lot of people. We stumbled upon the Latin Patriarchate. I was unsure of exactly what this was. The Roman Catholic priest told me it was the Patriarchate and also the Cathedral. Pretty soon we were sharing stories. He was born in Palestine during the British Mandate and had served at the Patriarchate for many years. He had welcomed and dined with Mother Theresa and also the last popes who all had made visits to the Holyland. It was fun seeing all the plaques on the wall. He gave us a tour of the Cathedral, started in 1862 and finished in 1872, about the same time as Saint Mary's Church in Newport. We also talked with Armenians. And an Australian traveler from Brisbane who works in Bristol, England. So many people with so many stories, so many viewpoints.
After leaving prayers at many churches and on paper notes tucked into the Western Wall, it is time to fly to Jordan for our final 4 days. I am really happy I came to Israel and want to come back. And yes, I think everyone should come here. We leave praying for peace in Jerusalem and everywhere else.
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