Jesus loves you; everyone else thinks you’re an annoying tourist.

Jerusalem

I wish I could remember more about the death of Jesus. I should know my gospel stories back to front having gone to both a Catholic primary and high school. 

The knowledge would have come in quite handy when walking the Via Dolorosa, or as I remember it; The Stations of the Cross.

For those of you who didn’t benefit from 12 years of Catholic education, this is the path on which Jesus carried his cross.

The path leads you though the Old City to various Churches that have been built on the different stations.  After following the path you end up at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, constructed on the area where Jesus was crucified.

As you could imagine the place is teeming with tourists and pilgrims. It’s quite a spectacle. 

There is a team of Franciscan monks who's job it is to keep the faithful under control. They have a sort of harried look about them, and have a hell of a time keeping snap-happy tourists out of the way of the official religious goings on inside the church.

Like the rest of Jerusalem, this place is totally fascinating. 

On the Via Dolorosa

Monks lead prayers through the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Out side the church.

People praying on the slab that Jesus was anointed on, after his death.

People queue to get into the site of Jesus's burial.

Tourist shops outside the church sell all kinds of amazing stuff.