In November I'll be going to Israel with my mom and dad and their church group and we'll be spending 10 days there. We'll be stopping in New York City on the way there. After this we'll arrive in Tel Aviv and we'll be getting a hotel room in Tiberius. It will take us 2 days to depart the U.S. and head for Israel.We'll be visiting the Sea of Galilee(and maybe try some St. Peter's fish, Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave His famous Serman on the Mount, the ruins of the Synagogue at Capernaum where Jesus may have taught, Tabgha the place where Jesus multiplied the loaves of bread and fish for the hungry crowd and the Jordan River to be baptised on our first day there.On our second day each of us are going to plant a tree in the Northern forest of Israel and we'll be going to Meggido, one of King Solomon's chariot cities and the place where the final battle of Armageddon will take place, Mt. Carmel, where the prophet Elijah called down a pillar of fire from heaven before the prophets of Baal, Mt. of Transfiguration and we'll be going through Nazareth too.On our third day we'll be visiting some of the archeological sites of Israel; the ruins of Beit She'an the largest archeological site in Israel and place where Saul's body was nailed to the city walls and Caesarea capital of the Roman Province and the Crusaders Castle. Included will be the Roman Theater, aquaducts and the port where Paul was taken to Rome. Then we'll go to Jerusalem via Jaffa and get a hotel in Jerusalem.On our fourth day we'll be going to the Mount of Olives and see the old and new city of Jerusalem. Next we'll go on the Palm Sunday route on our way to the Garden of Gethsemane. We'll also be seeing the Rock of Agony at the Church of All Nations, the Pools of Bethesda and go to Caiphas' house. At the end of the day we'll go to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity and after dinner maybe see the Western Wall after dark.On our fifth day we'll go on a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem and visit the Temple Mount area where the Dome of the Rock, the 3rd holiest site in Islam, stands and visit the El Aksa Mosque. Then we'll take a walk down the Via Dolorosa(The Way of the Cross) through the Jewish Quarter. We'll also visit the Western Wall, the holiest Jewish site in the world, and end the day with a visit to the Upper Room where it is believed the Last Supper took place.Our sixth day there will be a free day where we'll be able to choose to visit the mountain fortress of Masada, where the Jewish Zealot made their last stand against the Romans or the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, for a swim. It's fairly warm there even in the winter. On our way back we'll be able to see the Qumran Caves, where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were found. I was hoping we could go to Petra, but we won't be going there because it's in Jordan and that's another country.On our seventh and last day in Israel we'll go to Yad Vashem(the Holocaust Museum), the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book Museum where the Dead Sea Scrolls are being kept. And we will end the tour at the Garden Tomb and Golgotha, where we will have Communion.The next day we'll be heading back home.We're all really excited about going to Israel. I want to try some of the food there. Some of the stuff they serve there are:Hummus-a dip made from chickpeas made with tahini, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. This is an appetizer served with pita bread.(plain Hummus is pretty bland, but flavored Hummus is good)Tahini-a paste and dip made with sesame seed as its base. It can be used as a spread on crackers and bread. It is also the foundation of many good Middle Eastern recipes.Falafel-the most widely recognized Middle Eastern dish. These are fried balls made of chickpeas, onions and spices. This can either be an appetizer or a light meals. You can also make a sandwich out of it with pita bread and veggies.Tabouleh- a salad made of cracked wheat, mint, parsley and other greens.Pita Bread- a light bread that is the staple of Middle Eastern diet as is served with almost every meal. Warm, toasted, stuffed or dipped it is the most versatile food in Middle Eastern cuisine.Baklava-a desert served with syrup made with orange blossom or rose water.Baba Ghannouj-a vegetarian favorite. It is a dip made from roasted, pureed eggplant.(the truckstop here in town actually serves some of this)Turkish Coffee-an essential part of the Israeli breakfast diet.Foul Mudammes-boiled fava beans with spices. This is traditionally breakfast food eaten with pita bread.Turkish Delights-sweet candies called lokum.Labaneh-a homemade yogurt cheese.Shakshouka-a popular spiced egg and tomato dish.Mediterranean vegetable saladMixed Cheese Salad-made with cottage and feta cheese mixed with cucumbers, peppers and onions.Rugelach-small pastries made from rich cream cheese dough and filled with jam, chocolate, honey or nuts.This should be a very exciting trip and I can't wait to go.
I went to Israel as part of a class when I was in college. I had many of the same experiences you are about to have. it was one of the best experiences of my life. actually...it sounds JUST like the tour I was on..what group are you going with?
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