BY CLAY LARROY
Traveling
can be a great way to meet new people and experience other cultures. New
friends are waiting to meet you in places you have only dreamed of traveling. It
can be a wonderful way to see all that the world has to offer. Travel can be a
hobby and an adventure that will lead you to unexpected places. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
Jerusalem remains the primary
destination for most trips to the holy land. The city is a key religious site
for Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the so-called "faiths of the
Book". The Abrahamic religions all derive from a common, ancient and
Semitic tradition arising from this region of the world. As a result there are
few destinations anywhere that can match the convergence of historical,
religious and cultural significance of Jerusalem.
Most tour operators will make
sure that key sites in the city are a part of your experience. In the section
known as the "Old City", you will find the souk, or city market. The
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is the traditional place of the Crucifixion
and the Tomb, still stands, the cornerstone having been laid in 1149 by
Crusaders. Visitors can walk the Via Dolorosa, the original Stations of the
Cross. Others believe the Garden Tomb in East Jerusalem to be the place of the
Tomb. The Wailing Wall in the Jewish Quarter and the Citadel (the Tower of David)
are a part of nearly every itinerary. Inside the confines of the Church of All
Nations is the Garden of Gethsemane. Mount Zion, the traditional location of
the Last Supper is close to the nearby King David’s Tomb. Outside of Jerusalem,
however, Israel is a continuum of archeological and religious treasures. Many
tours take in dozens of sites such as the Sea of Galilee, Qumran and Tiberias.
Bethlehem is just five miles south of Jerusalem. Now in the hands of the
Palestinian Authority, the town is not always open to inspection, but when it
is, no pilgrim will want to miss the location of the birth of Jesus. Nazareth,
the location where Jesus spent much of his early life, is also very common
stopping point on most itineraries. Many tours take in Caesarea, where Peter
began his ministries. Many Roman artifacts such as the old Ampitheatre and
aqueduct remain intact. The Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of
Galilee and the Jordan River provide opportunities for many tour operators to
allow travelers to cruise on the Sea or to be baptized in the River.
The paths traveled by the
early apostles also offer opportunities for travelers to immerse themselves in
a religious pilgrimage. Travelers to Greece will find the ancient city of
Corinth, where the early church received the canonical Letter to the
Corinthians.
In Turkey, one can travel to
the fortified monastery of St. John where tradition tells us the Book of
Revelations was authored. Here are many magnificent churches visited by Saint
Peter and Saint Paul as the Christian religion moved from being a Jewish sect
to a religion of the Gentiles.
On Turkey’s Eastern
Mediterranean coast is the city of Antakya, in biblical times called
"Antioch". In 1963, the Vatican designated the Church of St. Peter in
Antioch as the world’s first Cathedral. Not far away is Tarsus, the birthplace
of the Apostle Paul. Here also is the city of Ephesus where grave of John is
supposed to be at the Basilica of St. John. It is in Ephesus, where Paul wrote
the Epistles to the Ephesians and where St. John the Evangelist is
traditionally thought to have brought the mother of Jesus. The Virgin Mary’s
house is located in Ephesus and is recognized by the Vatican as an important
Christian shrine. It is also in Turkey that legend says Noah’s Ark came to rest
after the Great Flood on Mount Agri (Ararat). Finally, Rome and Vatican City
remain a center for many Christian pilgrims, both Catholic and Protestant.
The high season for travel to
the Mediterranean region generally runs between May and October. The earlier
and later shoulder seasons see fewer crowds and generally cooler temperatures,
as the summer months can be very hot. The winter months are the least expensive
season in which to go and excellent values can be found during the winter, exclusive
of the spike in pilgrimage travel that occurs in Israel during the traditional
Christmas season. Some tour packages include air, while others are priced
"land only". Your travel consultant can assist you with achieving the
greatest possible value with regard to your transportation. Other
considerations will be whether to elect to do a pre or post tour extension if
you choose an escorted tour, giving you an opportunity to spend time on your
own exploring your destinations. Some tour operators reserve the right to
cancel particular tours, or you may decide to change your own plans. Be sure to
determine the policies of the tour operator you choose and to purchase travel
insurance to protect against unforeseen interruptions or circumstances. Again,
your travel consultant is your best guide.
Spend some time reviewing the
materials provided by your travel consultant and be comfortable with what is,
and is not, include in the price of your tour. Consider the issues of departure
taxes, visas, gratuities and meals. You may also want to upgrade your
accommodations. If you are traveling by yourself, determine what the
"single supplement" charge will be, or whether the tour operator can
find a suitable roommate for you.
Tours to the holy land
inevitably mean a great deal of walking. Many of the sites you will visit are
either roughly paved or unpaved. It is a good idea to prepare yourself by being
in as good a physical shape as possible prior to leaving on your trip. If you
or any of your travel companions have any physical impairment, be sure to let your
travel consultant know. Bring comfortable clothing, but pack as lightly as
possible. Your tour operator will provide you with a list of recommended items
to bring, but a good pair of walking shoes, already broken in, is a must! A
hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are also very important must-haves as you will
spend a great deal of your time out-of-doors.
Make sure that your travel
documentation is in order well in advance of your date of departure. Your
travel consultant can assist you with the requirements of the countries that
you intend to visit. You will typically need a passport valid for at least six
months from your planned date of return home. In addition, some destinations
will request to see a return airline ticket. Visas are required of some nationalities
by some countries, so inquire with regard to your particular circumstances and
planned itinerary. Travel documentation is a bit different for Israel than for
some other destinations. In particular, some Arab countries will not allow you
to enter if you have visited Israel. Therefore, have the customs official in
Israel stamp your entry permit rather than your passport.
Finally, safety is always an
issue of concern when visiting the Middle East, especially Israel. In general,
the situation has been much better over the recent past than in the years just
prior to 2006, despite the recent conflict between militant factions in Lebanon
and Israel. If the events in one region appear too unstable for you, shift your
focus to one of the other biblically significant areas. While there are no
guarantees of safety, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the holy land
each year without incident.
With the assistance of a good
travel consultant and a bit of planning, your own, personal pilgrimage can be
safe and spiritually most rewarding.
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
At
the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit. And that center is really
everywhere. It is within each of us.
Black
Elk
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