Wall Walking With Wilma - Day Six

 I do have to say, my wife has "hutspa" or that she loves me very much! I think it must be both, because on this day we were going to walk on top of the walls, yes, the very top of the southern walls of Old Jerusalem. And she went for it. Here she is on her way up, courageously waving to me, while in the same moments I hear her constantly saying, "O Lord help me....O Lord help me..." Along with other comments like "I'm afraid of heights you know!" etc. I had to admit that is was a challenge as you can see it was a flimsy looking metal spiraling staircase going up to nowhere. Something any normal person would be concerned about

We had each made a list of things we wanted to do, and this wall walking thing was on my list. I was delighted that despite a lot of "thinking about it" she decided to join me on this project. She  certainly knows how to make walking on walls a really fun and hilarious experience. For me that is, I'm not sure if it was that for her!

I don't believe she has "Acrophobia" which is described by Wikipedia as  "...an extreme or irrational fear of heights...." because if that were the case she would not be even discussing the possibility of going up on the wall at all. But here she was, a very game lady making her way up a seemingly very flimsy winding staircase. Out in the open air, wind blowing through her hair as she ascended higher and higher.

I remembered cats who had climbed trees and then frose and would not come down due to the sudden fear of heights, or falling or being attacked by an angry bird...anyways I was worried Wilma might freese on this staircase on her way up to the top of the wall. What would I do? Call the fire department? Not in this situation, it would have to be a military helicopter and a guy being winched down to pluck her off the stairs....! That would not be good!

Now I was panicking and rushed to meet her there on the stairs to "talk" her up.  

We made it, and here you can see she is kind of "faking" a relaxed look. I know she's trying to be enthusiastic but I can see the doubt in her face. Her heart is probably still racing somewhat but I think with my overwhelming ability to bring calm to a situation, and of course a dependance ot the awsome power of her own prayers, we can go on...I think...carefully of course.

Here are some photos I took as we made our way along, taken from the top of the wall.

Clockwise from the top left: The first one is simply a photo to the west, towards the general area of downtown Jerusalem. I thought the architecture was interesting. Second is the church of the Dormition built on the mount Zion hilltop, outside and south of the Old Jerusalem walls.  According to tradition, Mary the mother of Jesus moved to and lived on Mount Zion till her death. Next, just east of Mount Zion is the St. Peter in Gallicantu church on the location where Peter denied Jesus three times. In the basement is a stone prison where Jesus was held for a few hours before he was taken to Pilot. This church is located above, west of the original City of David and the Kidron Valley to the East. The last photo is looking East along the wall we will walk and over to the Kidron Valley, the Mount of Olives on the horizon. This was the scene of Christ's agony and his arrest in the Garden of Gathsemane. It is also the place where Christ ascended to heaven. The sides of the hill are covered with cemeteries as they hope to be first in the resurrection of the dead.

By the time we were done, we were hot and tired. But we had one more surprise...When we came off the wall we were near the entrance to the wailing wall from the south side. As we came around the corner and approached, this is what we saw!

Walking the wall was a challenge, but we did it! Wilma's heart-rate was back to normal, there had been no nausea, heart or panic attacks, even dispute the fact some further prayers had been uttered as we encountered other various types of stairs that were considered difficult to negotiate, along the way.

We entered the Wailing Wall area and took the time to pray prayers of "praise and thanksgiving" for having survived the ordeal.