The End of a grand Voyage!!

Eitan Blumberg- our guide

Avi Miller- our driver

Leslie and Jack

Mary Ralph and Charlie with their wares from Petra

The group over looking the Dead Sea on top of Masada!

On our ride back to Tel Aviv we all had the time to reflect on our thoughts about this incredible trip. We all came with our very own expectations and I do believe we all left with not only a sense of calm but a wonderful feeling of our faith in Jesus!

Shalom!

Sunday- Jerusalem to Petra

We were up bright and early for our journey to Petra. First off we are in Jerusalem and need to catch our flight to Eilat in Tel Aviv.  It is about an hour drive to Tel Aviv but it is a work day so we have to allow for traffic.  As I write a high speed train is being built to transports folks between to the 2 cities and Ben Gurion Airport.  We are going to a small regional airport for our hour flight to Eilat.
From Eilat we are met by another Israeli driver and guide to drive us to the Jordanian border, known as Arava Border Crossing.

I wish I could show some photos but it was forbidden!!! There are land mines in the no-mans zone, so, no photos. Lots of barb-wire and completely desolate as you walk across to the other side. 
As we arrive, the customs area is comprised of wooden buildings and many areas to go through- really very old fashioned.  After completing our forms we now meet our Jordanian guide and a Toyota van. Far cry from our Mercedes Luxury coach. We are now crammed in and off we go to  Wadi Rum, this is the site of the filming of "Lawerence of Arabia" and recently, "The Martian.", The area is also known as The Valley of the Moon.  It is here that T.E. Lawerence passed through during the Arab Revolt of 1917-18 and this is where the Seven Pillars of Wisdom was penned in Lawerence's book.

Before our walk to the rock formations we had lunch at the outpost.
A typical Bedouin-lunch but no in a tent. Stone tables and plastic chairs!!

After Wadi Rum we are off to Petra which is about another 2 hours away with a stop in the mountains to have a view.  Thank goodness we did, as the next day was a sandstorm and you couldn't see a thing.  The Valley is absolutely breathtaking and we finally arrive at the Movenpick, Petra.  The hotel is right outside the gates of going into Petra so it is a walking day for us. After another buffet dinner we are off to bed for an early morning tour of Petra- walking, then back into the Toyota van to Eilat and the border crossing.  This is also where Avi and the the Mercedes meet us to drive us to tel Aviv because the sandstorm closed the airports- so drive we must.  We did miss Avi and the Mercedes.  

Writing amongst the pillars

The Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Nabatean City of Petra is situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea and it was important crossroad between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phonencia. The most spectacular sight is coming through the rock formation and seeing the Treasury which is the most famous archaeological site where ancient eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture.
As you round the corner from the Treasury  you come upon the amphitheater and the dwelling of the Bedouins.They still live there up in the hills and run the concessions and the selling of wares, also the camel rides, donkey rides and horse rides, plus buggy rides.

Mohammed 10, our driver- forty dinars to get a ride- 50 dinars to get off!!!

The Treasury

The view from the hills

On the ride back to Eilat- Goat herders crossing the main highway.
This is wild, the goat herder has a cell phone!

After our border crossing we are now on the ride to Tel Aviv.  This is about 4-to 5 hours.  We are going through the Negev desert in southern Israel and it's largest city is Beersheba and it ends at Eilat and the city of Aqaba.  This is also an area where there is a lot of growing of fruits and vegetables and it is also the largest of   Israel's land mass.

This day is the day of transportation. From Petra to Tel Aviv.  Mary ralph and Charlie had a flight to the states this evening.
Leslie, Jack and myself spent the night at the Norman for our next day flights. The only mode of transport we did not take that day was a boat nor a train.

The Journey of Jerusalem

Saturday was our day of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  We started our journey in the Garden of Gethsemane  at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  It is located across a busy street from the Old City ( Holy City) of Jerusalem. We started our walking journey here and ended up at the Western wall ( Wailing Wall).

Garden of Gethsemane

Going into the Western Wall

Dome of the Rock where we could not go in because we are Muslim

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

This started the walk of Jesus from the time of his betrayal by Judas until his crucification .  In the Holy City we did the walk of the 14 stations of the Cross.  The city was full of people on their  pilgrimage and one group even carried the cross for all 14 stations. I believe they were from Mexico.

Along the way we stopped at one of Eitan's favorite places for lunch and the best hummus I have ever tasted. Everything was prepared in a very tiny kiosk at the top of a flight of stairs.  This whole area is full of souqs for shopping. Between the religious walk, the call to prayers from the muslims, and the souq it is a most interesting area.  All contained in a wall and guarded on the outside by soldiers .

A very interesting fact, Jerusalem is divided into 2 sections-one in Palestine and one in Israel. The area in Palestine is named zone C where everyone can travel freely.  But when you go to bethlehem you are in Zone A and Eitan ( our guide) and Avi ( the driver) was not allowed to go with us.  We had to have a muslim driver and guide. This is all in the West Bank. It is unbelievable how this country is divided and where the boundaries lay.  Right in the middle Israel.

Back to the Hotel and dinner at  Workshop in the Old Railway Station.  A very upscale restaurant and excellent food. We get there after sundown and the Sabbath is over so the shops are starting to open as are the restaurants.

Tomorrow morning we leave for our trip to Jordan- wadi Rum and Petra

January 18-19

I have skipped a couple of days writing the blog because we have been extremely busy. Upon our arrival in Jerusalem, we checked into the Kind David Hotel.  This is where all the Presidents  and Movie Stars stay and us, of course.  It is a lovely hotel right in the middle of Jerusalem. 

For dinner that evening we went to the new Waldorf Astoria which is about 3 blocks away.  We ate in the meat room.  Everything there was Kosher and and the dining areas are separated by food types.  After having a lovely meal we were going to walk back the King David (KD), but it was touch chilly so Mary Ralph and myself decided to take a taxi.  Our driver, Shlomo Itach, was very nice and in a blink of an eye MR said she needed a suitcase and we u-turned, waved at Charlie and Jack and said out the window we were going shopping. This is like 9 pm at night.  We are nuts!!!!  Shalom takes us to the shopping mall which is about a 20 minute ride away and extremely busy and lo and behold after he accompanies us into the mall MR gets her suitcase, which says Beverly Hills Polo Club.  Very appropriate for her. Shalom is now our new best friend.

The next morning  which is Friday we are off bright and early to the Dead Sea and Masada.  This is about an hour and half ride to Masada.  Masada is a natural fortress in the Judaea Desert overlooking the Dead Sea.  King Herod built his castle on the top of the this majestic hill and it is also the sight of where the  Jewish rebels and the Romans fought till the end and the rebels killed everyone in their  and them themselves so they would not be captured!! Live Free or Die!!
Beautiful ruins overlooking the Dead Sea!

From rocks to the beach we go to the Herod Hotel on the Dead Sea.  Eitan has arranged for us to swim in the Dead Sea.  This is the lowest spot on earth and a natural health spa. It is a salt lake and is 1,388 ft below sea level and the deepest part is 1,237 feet deep.  It borders Jordan and Israel and is completely landlocked.

I will let the photos take care of itself.

The Mudders!!!

From the Dead Sea is is back to Jerusalem to hurry and change because it is Shabbat and we have a dinner at the home of Rena and Emanuel Quint. This is a traditional Shabbat dinner with a formal dinner table set, multiple courses, singing and prayers.
We started with salmon, then chicken soup, then beef and vegetables, salad and finally dessert.  We also had the 2 loaves of challah bread.  Thank goodness we walked back to the hotel as we were stuffed.

Rena is a holocaust survivor from Poland and her story was quite interesting.  Just to give a small hint of her survival she passed as boy until she no longer work along side her Dad before he was sent to the camps.  She ended up she thinks about 10-12 years of age in New York, by way of Sweden and was adopted by a family there and lived in Brooklyn. She married Manny who was an attorney and they stayed in the States until the late 80's and then moved Tel Aviv when Manny retired from his law practice. Rena is a very high spirited lady who also gives tours for National Geographic groups and the society of the Shabbat.

Going into Jerusalem

On our way to Jerusalem  we did stop by the Sea of Galilee in the town of Ginosas.  A boat was discovered about 20 years ago in the mud by two fishermen and it has been  deduces it was from 2000 years ago. This boat is made of 12 different types of wood.

As we leave the Sea of Galilee area we are on Highway 90 which takes us from Israel into The West Bank Area.  There are no checkpoints except going intoArea A which is Jericho,

Needless to say we saw Jerricho from afar.

To our left is Jordan and the River Jordan where stop at site where Jesus was baptized .  When all had our water bottles to get  our water. 

After this visit we are off to Jerusalem and a visit to the 911 Memorial.

Thursday- I have no clue where we are going because we have messed up the schedule

The only thing I know for sure for Thursday is we are leaving the hotel at 8:30am.  From there, I have no clue where Avi, our driver is taking us.  We have changed the schedule so many times it cannot be reprinted in time.  This is great being a member of the too much fun club!!!

We have been staying a spa Hotel  (Mizpe Hayamim) and the folks running around in robes and slippers has been an experience . They grow their own food, raise sheep and ducks, bake bread and make soaps.  Very earthy and very green.  The food was wonderful!!!

Back on the bus for our ride to Jerusalem.  This is do by following the edge of the Sea of Galilee and stopping at the Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha ( the site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes) and Magdala.  

Mandala was just unearthed by Father Juan Solana from Mexico.  This is a site of grand proportions and the home of Mary Magdalene.  The town itself is called Migdal.

All of the above photos was from the Church and Women and the dig!


This sign on the left is a sign going into Jerricho, which is in Zone A.
More on that later

Cuantos Shekels

Cuantos Shekels!  This also means it is Wednesday, January the 13th.  After our breakfast in the Dairy Room of our hotel we departed promptly at 8:30 am for our deluxe motor coach ride to the very most northern part of Israel, where you can see Lebanon and Syria.  More on that later.

Our first stop was Banias. This is where Jesus gave his disciples the keys to Heaven . Jesus also proclaimed " upon this rock I will build my church: an the gates of hades shall not prevail against it" Matthew 16:18

 It is also the city of Caesarea Philippi, named after one of King Herod's son, Phillipi.  This is also where the Temple of Pan is located in the caves and the place of the pagan Gate of Hades.  Pan was  myth of a goat and man and quite ugly. He hid in the reeds and made a  flute out of the reeds ( Pan Flute) to lure the maidens to their death.  He liked the ladies!!

This area also has the water running down from the mountains and the rocks.  Water is most important in this region.

Mary Ralph bought a deck of Holy Land Cards, so we would have 2 decks to play bridge.  Upon opening them she saw that the back of the cards were all the same- screwed again she said- Jack came to her aid and told her to turn them around to see all the different scenes on the cards- just not the back.  A blonde moment!!!!

From Banias off we off to Golan Heights!! I will let the photos tell you the story!! You are very close to Syria and the UN Forces were at the mountain top! ( 2 of them).

After our lunch Pizza and a chocolate croissant and a beer we are off to the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum.  This spot is gorgeous and very peaceful, and the miracle of the Loaves and Fishe

The above is from Banias

Across the way is Lebanon

This sign made us feel good!

Look at the top- the one radar on the right- lookout to Syria

 Holy Cow

Just about sums up the Golan Heights!

Time for Pizza

My new ride!!!

Charlie and Mary Ralph

Jack and Leslie

The Sea of Galilee at Capernaum

Saint Peter

all the ruins from Capernaum

the Greek orthodox church

We are staying at a spa- everything is robes and slippers

I am off to bed- more tomorrow with more conversations from dinner!!
I don't want to lose the blog which I have done.