Day Six (Ashdod, Israel)

Day Six (Ashdod, Israel): Wow I dont even know where to start. Today was a LONG day. We woke up around 5:30 as we were pulling into the port in Israel. Went and had a buffet breakfast as usual and then departed on our excursion. They for some reason turned the schedule around so we ended up doing everything in reverse. We started by heading to Bethlehem. On the way there we past by the valley where David slayed Goliath (bare with my spelling I dont have internet as Im typing this). We then got to the boarder of Israel and Palistine. Wow was that a weird situation. We had to switch out tour guides since our Israeli guide wasn't allowed to enter onto Palistinian land. After a good 20 minutes of customs and another 30 minutes in traffic we finally arrived at the Church of Nativity. We were able to see the actual manger that Jesus was layed in and the ground where the spot that he was born on. It was all under this beautiful church that ever 24th of December they have a midnight mass in this church with thousands in attendance. We then spent another hour trying to get out of Palestine. I am so grateful that we had a good bus driver, I was amazed at how easily he got out of tight spots without hitting anything.
Then we made our way to Jerusalem. We ate a good lunch at one of the local hotels and then headed off to the Old city. We made our way to the West Wall (Wailing Wall) and were unable to enter the secure location it was in due to a massive praying setion for rain that the Muslims were putting on. We were able to see it from afar though. Then right behind it in the distance was the Mount of Olives containing over 100,000 Jewish grave stones. What a sight that was. The Jews believe that the Mount of Olives is where Jesus ascended to heaven and where he will return some day so they want front row seats for their graves. Next we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which made this whole trip worth it. When you walk in you go up these stairs to the right and they lead you to this room where the rocks that Christ was crusified on. You then go back down the stairs and see a huge slab of rock that Christ was washed on. It is believed that anything you lay on this rock it will be blessed. So of coursed I layed my ring on it to bless marriage:). Also because I didn't have anything else to put on there. Alot of people bring crosses or roserys to lay on it. Then you walk through this dark hallway that leads you to this massive circular room that contains the tomb that Jesus was put in. People are actually able to go in there but we didn't have the time to stand in the line. I then lit a candle and send a little prayer for my family because I know they would love to go there some day.
So since the traffic was so bad and we were running behind anyways we ended up arriving back at the ship an hour after the all abourd time. We weren't the only group late thought. Its 8:30 now and we were supposed to be outta here by 6pm. As long as we make it to Egypt on time all will be good.
I will post our pics at our next day at sea since we had such a long day today and another long long day tomorrow. After tomorrow we have two day's at sea so I will have plenty of time to get them ready...because I have many!