Holy Land & Jordan Pilgrimage 10 days

Asia
Afghanistan
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
China
East Timor
Georgia
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Territories
Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
Tadzhikistan
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Turkmenistan
United Aarab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen

Created: 01.07.2013

Day 1 � LOS ANGELES/TEL AVIV - We depart today from San Francisco to connect with our overnight flight to Tel Aviv. We are served complimentary beverages, in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. DAY 2 - TEL AVIV - Upon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met and transferred to our hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 3 - TEL AVIV/TIBERIAS - We begin our pilgrimage with a visit to Jaffa (Joppa) the city of Jonah, where Peter had his house-top experience at the home of Simon the tanner. We then proceed to Caesarea, capital of the Roman Procurators of Judea before continuing on to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah called on God to defeat the Priests of Baal. This afternoon we visit Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus and the place where Mary received the message from the Angel that she would conceived and bear a son and call him Jesus. We celebrate this event with Mass at the beautiful Church of the Annunciation. Finally we visit Cana, the town of Jesus' first miracle and have an opportunity to renew our marriage and vocational vows before proceeding to our hotel along the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. DAY 4 - TIBERIAS - This morning we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, then visit Tabgha and the Church of Primation. We pray at the Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the beautiful Sea of Galilee. This afternoon we make the exciting drive to the summit of Mt. Tabor for a magnificent view of the plains of Esdralin and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor. Finally, we stop at the River Jordan to renew our Baptismal vows before we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 5 � TIBERIAS/AMMAN - Today we cross the border into Jordan where we are met by our local escorts. We visit the beautiful ruins at Jerash, one of the Decapolis Cities, perhaps the best preserved and most complete provincial Roman city anywhere in the world. We also visit the archeological dig at Tel Safut. Finally we spend some time at the Jordan Archaeological Museum. Dinner and overnight at our hotel Day 6 - AMMAN/PETRA - This morning we depart Amman and travel south tracing the steps of Lawrence of Arabia along the famous Kings Highway. We stop at Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land but was forbidden entry. We will see the rich collection of 3rd to 7th century mosaics. We continue to the wonderful Rose City of Petra, the awesome city the Nabataean Arabs carved out of the rock during the four hundred years before roman rule. It could be defended by a handful of men because access was limited to the narrow fissure known as the �sig.� We will travel that same way and the way Indiana Jones entered in search of the Holy Grail in the Stephen Spielberg classic The Last Crusade. We can either walk or travel part way by horseback. Dinner and overnight in Petra. DAY 7 - PETRA/JERUSALEM - This morning we drive north to the Allenby Bridge to cross back into Israel. We visit ancient Jericho at the excavated Tel; see the ruins of the ancient city, Elisha's Fountain, Mount of Temptation and the Jordan Valley. We continue to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Afterwards, we make a stop at the clear yet salty waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Finally, make our thrilling entry into Jerusalem and conclude at our hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 8 - JERUSALEM - Today we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of Pater Noster, the Church of Dominus Flevit - where Jesus wept over Jerusalem and where we celebrate Mass. We then proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. We drive through the Kidron Valley passing the Tombs of Absalom, Zecariah and St. James. Visit the Pool of Siloam and the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu (Caiaphas' House.) This afternoon we enter the Old City through the Zion Gate on the way to the Western (Wailing) Wall where we have time to pray. Visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. Visit the Church of St. Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, Lithostrotos, Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man.) We then carry the cross as we pray the Stations of the cross along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.; DAY 9 - JERUSALEM - This morning our excursion begin in Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity that commemorates the birth of Christ. We visit Manger Square, the Manger and proceed to Shepherd�s Field where we celebrate Mass in the beautiful grotto church of the Franciscan�s. Afterward we visit the New City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the Upper Room, the Tomb of King David and Dormition Abbey. This afternoon we visit the Model City of Jerusalem in Jesus' time, Ein Karem and the Church of the Visitation where Mary visited Elizabeth, the birthplace of John the Baptist. We pass by the Knesset (Israel Parliament.) We return to the Old City for a brief free time for shopping or personal exploration before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight DEPENDING ON FLIGHTS, WE MAY CONTINUE TO THE AIRPORT TONIGHT FOR AN OVERNIGHT FLIGHT HOME. DAY 10 - JERUSALEM/TEL AVIV/U.S. - We transfer to the airport for our flight home with the unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing that we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians bring new meaning to our Scripture reading because of such a memorable pilgrimage.