My visit to Israel and The Holy Land

A journey to Israel is a journey to a place where the past and present call out to travelers in astonishing ways. This land and it’s history lie at the very center of the consciousness of Western civilization. Israel is amazingly dramatic and diverse, the more so when you realize the entire country is the size of New Jersey. When you find yourself in the silent, haunting desertscape near the Dead Sea, spotting ibexes on sheer cliffs that are dotted with caves like those in which the Dead Sea Scrolls lay hidden for more than 18 centuries, it can be hard to believe that less than 60 minutes away is the 19th-century East European ghetto world of Jerusalem's orthodox Mea Shearim quarter. A few blocks away from Mea Shearim you'll find the labyrinthine medieval Arab bazaars of the Old City.

My Journey: Visiting Israel and The Holy Land is a unique experience like no other. From the moment we landed in Tel Aviv to our arrival to Jerusalem, history and biblical stories surround you. We stayed at the David Citadel Hotel overlooking the walls of the Old City. This was a great location to visit the old city and use as a base for day trips to Masada and the Dead Sea. From Jerusalem you can also visit the town of Bethlehem, Nazareth and near-by Sea of Galilee. Back in Jerusalem we visited the hills overlooking the Old City including The Garden of Gethsemane and the ancient Olive Trees dating back thousands of years. In the Old City we visited the West Wall or Wailing Wall of the Jewish Temple. Walking the streets of Jerusalem where Jesus carried the cross to his death touched all of our party. While in Jerusalem don't forget to visit the Holocaust Museum,Yad Vashem. Traveling southeast toward the Dead Sea and Masada reminded me of the rolling sea bottom of an ancient ocean. Traveling along the shore of the Dead Sea, 1300 feet below sea level was amazing. The waters of the Dead Sea have high levels of salts and minerals sought after worldwide. Later we had a chance to take a swim in the Dead Sea. At was a very unique experience. As we arrived to the southern end of the sea, Masada came into view. The ruins of the palace built by King Herod between 37-31 BC, is atop the mountain retreat. How did they achieve such a feat so long ago?
Our next day trip started with a visit to Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity. The experience of passing through the checkpoint into Palestinian territory was of interest to all. Once we arrived at the church complex, all concerns disappeared. The complex mainly comprises of three churches, Armenian, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic. The Grotto, birthplace of Jesus Christ, was under the Greek Orthodox Church and required a wait if you wanted to visit the Grotto. After our visit of the churches, we did a bid of shopping and a hosted lunch. Departing the Palestinian territory, we headed north heading to Nazareth. Traveling across the famed Jezreel valley, the site of many ancient battles, we drive into the hills where Nazareth oversees the valley below. Nazareth is famous as the site of the Annunciation and the childhood home of Jesus. A visit to the Basilica of the Annunciation is a must. From there we travel east to the Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias . Many sites around the lake are full of history surrounds Jesus’ travels in the area. Have lunch at one of the many restaurants and enjoy a fresh fish of the day. At the base of the lake is the Yardenet Baptism site on the Jordan River. If you have time, travel onto the Golan Heights and enjoy a great view of the Sea of Galilee before heading back to Jerusalem.
Our party extended our visit in the Holy Lands by visiting several historical sites in Jordan. After crossing the Jordan River into Jordan, we headed north to the fortress, Ajlun, built by the Arabs in response to the Crusader incursions into the Jordan region. Well preserved and worth the visit. From there we traveled east to Jerash, home to one of the best preserved and most original Roman cities in the Middle East. The Roman city is large and many structures have been excavated and restored. Our tour traveled on to Amman, where we spent the night. A part of the cultural experience of our adventure included a dinner in the home of a Jordanian family. The following morning we headed South to Petra. After traveling across the Jordanian desert, we arrived in Petra. Petra is one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites. Its marvelously preserved rock tombs and temples once encircled a thriving metropolis. The path into the city is through a narrow passageway called the Siq. The first structure you see after emerging from the Siq, is the Treasury known by movie goers in the Indiana Jones movie “The Last Crusade”. You could spend more than one day visiting all the corners of Petra. Our day is complete after we continue our drive to the city of Aqaba on the Red Sea. After a quick visit of the town, we call it a night in preparation of returning to Tel Avi