HOLY LAND - WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS (CONT'D)

This olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane is supposedly 2,000 years old. It's been shored up to prevent damage from curious onlookers.

The Franciscan Friars who have been in Holy Land for 800 years tend to the olive trees in the garden.

The Church of All Nations aka The Church of Agony is built over the site in the garden where Jesus prayed to His Father in Heaven on Maundy Thursday. The four writers of the Gospels are featured in its facade.

The Al Aqsa Mosque compound within which the Temple Mount is is one of the most contentious places in the World. It is about 14 hectares in size and today the Israelite authorities do not allow Jews or Christians to pray there except on specially approved occasions for fear of trouble erupting in Jerusalem. The Golden Dome of the mosque is visible from around Jerusalem.  

The Wailing Wall runs along one of the walls of the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Orthodox Jews "wail" there for the Temple of Solomon to be rebuilt as a sign of the glory of Israel. Petitions are inserted into the Wall. One of the original walls of the temple ruins abuts this wall. 

On our way to the Dead Sea for a mud bath and soaking in the extra saline waters (15% salinity?), an activity considered therapeutic for the skin and hair. Beyond the sea is the Golan Heights, Syrian territory which Israel annexed in the Six-day War in 1987, and is now occupied territory. No marine life exists in the sea because of the salinity but minerals in its waters have resulted in a thriving industry in Dead Sea salts or other minerals used for cosmetics, etc. It is 30 m below sea level and is found at the end of the River Jordan.