ISRAEL RULES !!
Day 1 - Sinking my Teeth into Israel Dear Journal, We Landed and are a little tired but excited. A great adventure awaits us. The team greets us and leads us to the bus that cuts through Israel's landscape. I can't wait to get off and explore. We check-in to the hotel freshen up and go out to a beach at the Sea of Galilee. A camp fire has already been prepared and that familiar BBQ smell makes my mouth water. We hear some cool stories around the camp fire, sing a few songs as the sky becomes darker we dip our feet into the sweet warm waters of the sea and sink our teeth into the food roasted on the fire. Delicious. I lay my head against the pebbles, stare at the stars and let my thoughts roam.
Day 2 - A Blast from the Past Dear Journal, Today we saw Nazareth, believed to be the home of Jesus. They have reconstructed the ancient village complete with wooden huts and people dressed the part. I feel like a time traveler from "back to the future". Everybody around us is talking Hebrew, an ancient language that sounds a little funny. Maybe that’s the language in which Gabriel told Mary of her role in the coming of Christ. We saw the site of the Annunciation, there is a beautiful Church there now bigger than the ones back home. On the road again. the bus just kept on climbing and climbing. We finally got off at Mount Arbel, it’s a huge cliff where you can see the eagles nesting on the rocks. We continued driving through Magdala before stopping at Capernaum. It is so cool to walk through 2000 year old streets. I mean, thinking about it the Apostles were probably around my age when they lived here and met JC. The guide explains all about the Jewish people living here back then – I am learning so much.
PARTY !!
We climb up to the Mt. of Beatitudes – WOW! What a view. We speak about the Sermon of the Mount, and the guide explains how revolutionary it all was at the time. Must have been like hearing Churchill or Obama speak. We embark on a boat ride, and as we sail to the middle of the Sea of Galilee, a DJ starts playing an assortment of local and 'foreign' music. YES A DJ ON A BOAT ! Engine running, music blasting, folks dancing! This is what I call a party.
Day 3 - Biker's Paradise Dear Journal, We start off the day driving through hardened volcanic lava. up the Golan Heights. Everybody on the bus had their heads pressed to the window looking in awe at the landscape. When we arrive we find ourselves in a abandoned military bunker overlooking Jordan, Syria and Israel. Don't worry mom there isn't any shooting going on these days here at Mount Benthal but we heard some great heroic stories by a retired Israeli Soldier. Israel seems so small from up here, you can see all the way to Tel-aviv. When it was time to head down from the plateau we all got bikes, helmets and gear and started bike riding downhill (optional). We didn't have to paddle at all to gain speed down the winding slope. The cool wind against my face, savored of adventure and the breathtaking scenery around me whispered freedom. Don't tell anyone but I actually yelled YAHOO! Later that day, we visited Beit Shean, one of the most humungous ancient cities I have ever seen. We watched a cool sound and light show that brought the whole ancient city to life. So many layers of history in one place – I wondered if a thousand years from now, our home would be dug up by archeologists. What would they make of my CD collection or Ali-G poster on the wall?
Day – 4 Indiana Jones in the Holy Land Dear Journal, We woke up in the Negev Desert at first light. I'm not one for waking up early in the morning but watching the sun rise from the Masada Fortress was definitely worth it. According to the guide there were some pretty hardcore people living here 2000 years ago. Now to the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea (lowest only in terms of altitude otherwise a great place). The sea is so dense with salt that we floated on the water effortlessly. The minerals are said to be good for you skin so we slapped some black mud all over our bodies can't wait to show everyone the pics. We all looked like coal miners and couldn't stop laughing. After we rested and showered at our hotel it was time to see one of the most talked about cities in the world - Jerusalem. Just walking down the street here is a crazy experience – no one looks alike, Arabs, religious Jews, priests, black, white, and every color in between. Oriental music mixes with rock and pop and further down the road a Christian choir sings gospel music. Suddenly I am faced with a gigantic wall. The Western Wall was lit and people were praying passionately everywhere and tucking papers with their intimate prayers and wishes between the stones. I felt like Indian Jones as we headed underground walking through ancient tunnels. The show at the Tower of David was fascinating but I couldn't shake the thought that I haven't bought enough presents for everybody at home. Lucky for me next stop was Mamila Boulevard, it is a shopping area with an timeless look-and-feel, overlooking the old city center. Needless to say I shopped till I dropped.
Day 5 - A Matter of Life and Death Dear Journal, We went to the miraculous, Pool of Bethesda, strolled past the Stations of the Cross and saw the site of the crucifixion at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Every stone on the pebbled streets has a story. Executions, Prophets, excavations, divine interventions, wars, revolts, miracles… These biblical and historical stories put "Lord of the rings" to shame. Yad Vashem is a WWII museum. It tells the story of European Jewry that was barely saved from extermination. It is hard to put what I have experienced there in words – ill just say it was life changing. To shake off a heavy feeling there is nothing better than seeing the thriving life here. So we went to the shuk or market – YEY! We went to Mahaneh Yehuda Market, I've never seen anything quite so vibrant and alive. The vendors stand behind their fresh colorful goods, yelling for attention begging you to smell, taste and touch. And while you are jumping from one vendor to the other they smile and wave. Spices, vegetables, and souvenirs, all in one harmonious mix.
Day 6 Drive-by - Jerusalem style Dear Journal, We mounted Segways (two wheel vehicles) and drove around modern Jerusalem. Supreme Court, Rose Garden and parliamentary building called the Knesset. I may have to buy myself one of these gizmos when I get home. Speaking of heading home, this is our last day. Farewell Israel, Its been so much fun !