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My mother's travels in Asia:
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One week in IsraelPlanning our trip:My mother Siri often talked about to visit Israel, but she was afraid of the violence there. She never find any friend who wanted to join her either. But in 1978 she decided to go, she said something like: will I survive this? I have done some research to find out which places she visited. A great help was the post cards she sent to her family and friends. I also had to consult my neighbor Eva to understand some of the details. I found that Siri visited these four places: Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Masada and Jericho and maybe even more places which I don't know yet. Map over Israel: Siri stayed in Jerusalem and its surroundings one week.
IsraelMy mother didn't have so much money, but she was keen on to find cheap travels. She was 52 years old when she did this exciting journey in Israel. Brave of her to get here alone. Here are the 48 years old negatives from my mother which I have scanned and written some information to. Gethsemane:
She found a hotel, Astoria just outside the city walls. From the hotel she was staying at to Gethsemane it was 1.6 km by feet, straight through the old city. Mom, who is used to walking, probably didn't take a bus here. She told me that it was so beautiful in the park here. This is maybe the first morning in Israel, the nearest gate in the city wall is the Lion Gate. When I look at Google maps I found that the hotel has been replaced by a new bigger hotel. The church in the background is the Church of all Nations. 
Gethsemane has beautiful gardens and is placed on the East side of Jerusalem old city. We see the impressive city wall of Jerusalem in the background here.
The church we see in the background is the Church of All Nations. The church is also on one of the postcards she sent home, she wrote: “The trip went well and now I have been to Gethsemane.” The mountain behind is the Mount of Olives, which makes you better understand the origin of its name. In Sweden we call it "Oljeberget". After reading a bit about religious history, I now know that it is supposed that this is where Jesus was captured before his crucifixion. The Mount of Olives is a 3000-year-old burial site. Eva tells: "Gethsemane is an incredibly beautiful place on the slope of the Mount of Olives. The name of the garden also means oil press."
Siri's map with notes:
In Siri's notes from the trip to Israel and Jerusalem I found this map were she had done some notes. She has marked out the Via Dolorosa, David's tower, Herod's gate, Omari Mosce, the Western Wall etc.
I can't find the Omari Mosce on Siri's photos, maybe she never was able to visit it.
This also appears to be in the Garden of Gethsemane. Via Dolorosa:
Now it's time to follow the photos according to Siri's description in the postcard to a friend.
Siri says: Ecce homo arch:
Mom has really not made it easy for me now when I try to write about this trip. Almost no notes about places and years, she makes two trips to Israel a few years apart. But I think the photographs have now ended up in the right place for each trip. These three photographs are from Via Dolorosa. The second station along Via Dolorosa, Jesus is made to bear his cross here. 
I have now learned that there are 14 stops along this Via Dolorosa route, in history it has been many different paths. This is the third station, Polish Catholic Chapel, Jesus first fall.
Somewhere outside of Jerusalem old city. Gethsemane:
Now Siri is on her way to Gethsemane again. Perhaps the church was closed at her first visit. 
Siri narrates: "Jesus serves everyone." First stop on today's excursion. Probably inside the Church of All Nations. It is located in Gethsemane just outside the city walls of Jerusalem on the East side. |
Siri rests by the wall and enjoys the view before she walks back to the hotel.
Garden Tomb, Jerusalem:
On the stone is written: 
A rock-cut tomb discovered in 1867. Some believe that Jesus was buried here. It is located north of the Damascus Gate in the city walls of Jerusalem. Siri has written a note: "Jesus' 2nd tomb, 1700."
Masada:Today starts a 220 km long guided bus tour, only the bus need 4 hours. She will visit, Masada, Dead Sea and Jericho's ancient walls. 
With help of my friend Rolf I now know this is at Masada. The wires are for the cable car that take the tourist up to the hill where the ancient Masada town is placed. Defeated by the Romans 73 AD, they built a ramp up to the hill, at least what I saw in a movie. Maybe traces of this ramp we see here today. 
Nearby area but no idea what it is. 
Hot day and water to drink is important to survive.
Dead Sea:
Siri says:
Jericho:
Siri visits Jericho on the way home from the Dead Sea. 
I could recognizes the round part of a wall from the internet. This Jericho tower that was built about 8000 BCE, impressive.
The ruins stands above the surroundings even today 8000 years later. 
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Are we still in Jericho or is this another place ? 
Photos that I will return to later when I have figured out where it is. 
It look s like Jericho when I compare with Google map's views. 
After a long day the bus take Siri and her new friends back to Jerusalem. Jerusalem:
Siri stay on a hotel on the West side of Jerusalem old city. Just a few hundred meter to the city and she visited it many times. 
In the background to the left is the gate to the Tower of David, it's on the West side of Jerusalem old city.
Siri tells: Siri visits Jerusalem several times, her beloved city as she writes. Calvary:
A procession along the Via Dolerosa. The Via Dolorosa is the path that Jesus carried the cross on his way to the place of execution. 
Inside the church where the procession probably ends. Siri watches with great excitement. But I have never perceived her as particularly religious, it was probably more the history that made it exciting for her. I think it is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The 13th station, Stone of the Anoiting. Eva tells: "Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Gravkyrkan. The pictures that are from inside the church are definitely the Church of the Holy Sepulchre." |
Siri in front of the Western Wall. A part of the city wall of Old Jerusalem.
Last pictures from the trip. Siri found this trip incredibly interesting, so exciting that three years later she is setting off on a new trip here: Siri visit Israel 1981. The END
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