More views of the minarets and Islamic-style architecture surrounding the Temple Mount complex.

I organized a visit to the Kotel Tunnels tour which began with an explanation of elaborate diorama depicting various stages of Solomon's 1st and 2nd temples.

Looking down into the ongoing excavations of the Kotel Tunnels, which revealed an additional 1,050 feet of retaining wall under the Old City.

This retaining wall makes up the 1,600 feet of the Western Wall supporting the Temple Mount, the sight of the second temple, destroyed in AD 70.

Each stone is chiseled with great precision. A chiseled outer edge frames every stone hewn in the Herodian style. Some of the larger stones making up the base are as large as a mini-bus, 44 ft long and weigh 570 tons.

Looking down at the shaft of stone wall which is buried beneath the current street level.

They call this "market street," because it is believed to be the main street used during Herod's time.

This one patch of stone street paving is original, dating back to the creation of the temple 2,000 years ago

I took a two hour tour up to the Mount of Olives

Several churches along the hillside commemorate the events that are believed to have led to Jesus' arrest and ascension into Heaven.

The Mosque of Ascension -- medieval chapel on Mount Olives where according to tradition, Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after resurrection. Why, there is even a footprint in the stone to prove it. ;-)