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It is possible to cross over to Israel from Jordan at the Allenby Crossing/King Hussein Bridge. It avoids a long detour south to Aqaba although you do have to be careful with timings. Unless you pay extra for the VIP crossing you have to wait around for a bus to take you over the frontier and then they charge you on the bus if you have a suitcase so make sure you have enough change! When you get to Israel you join several passport/security lines. There's a shuttle bus to take you straight to Jerusalem or you can pay extra for a taxi. I opted for that and was rather bewildered to be asked to get out of the minibus that I had got in at the crossing as soon as we were out of the restricted area. I was then transferred to a taxi for the remainder of the journey.
I hired a taxi to take me to Bethlehem, St George's Monastery and Jericho from Jerusalem. I also hired another taxi to take me to the Church of the Pater Noster and I walked down from there via the Church of St Mary Magdalene and the Garden of Gethsemane back into the old City. It's well worth visiting the Dome of the Rock despite the limited access.
The Church of St. John the Baptist was a real highlight. The Church was founded in the 5th century, probably around 450-60 under the empress Eudokia. It is possible the church was built due to the presence here of the relics of John the Baptist, which were sent to various cities in the 4th century including Jerusalem.
Everyday there is a ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the opening and closing of the Church. The custody of the door and the key for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is entrusted to two Muslim families because the religious sects that have chapels within the Church could not agree on who should have control of the entrance door!
Mishkenot Sha'ananim is a pretty residential neighbourhood, just outside the Old City of Jerusalem.
I hired a taxi to take me to Bethlehem, St George's Monastery and Jericho from Jerusalem. I also hired another taxi to take me to the Church of the Pater Noster and I walked down from there via the Church of St Mary Magdalene and the Garden of Gethsemane back into the old City. It's well worth visiting the Dome of the Rock despite the limited access.
The Church of St. John the Baptist was a real highlight. The Church was founded in the 5th century, probably around 450-60 under the empress Eudokia. It is possible the church was built due to the presence here of the relics of John the Baptist, which were sent to various cities in the 4th century including Jerusalem.
Everyday there is a ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the opening and closing of the Church. The custody of the door and the key for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is entrusted to two Muslim families because the religious sects that have chapels within the Church could not agree on who should have control of the entrance door!
Mishkenot Sha'ananim is a pretty residential neighbourhood, just outside the Old City of Jerusalem.