Switzer Iaquinta HL 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: 28.02.2017

Monday, January 29 - Day 1 - DEPART ??? Today we depart Pittsburgh to connect with our overnight flight to Tel Aviv. We enjoy in-flight movies and dinner and breakfast aloft. Tuesday, January 30 Day 2 - TEL AVIV - We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv this afternoon and board our motor coach for the short ride to Jaffa, the city of Jonah, where Peter had his rooftop experience, where we ride through the quaintly restored area.  We will celebrate Mass at the Church of Peter here and then transfer to our hotel in Tel Aviv near the Mediterranean for dinner and overnight.  The balance of the afternoon is free.  Wednesday, January 31 - Day 3 - TIBERIAS - We depart our hotel for Caesarea along the Mediterranean and visit the Roman and Crusader remains.  We continue to Mt. Carmel, where we visit the site of Elijah's confrontation with the priests of Baal. We drive on to Nazareth and walk through the local bazaars.  Following personal prayer time, we celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation, where the Word became Flesh!  Before moving on to our hotel on the shores of the Galilee for dinner and overnight, we drive to the village of Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle, where our married couples renew their wedding vows.  Thursday, February 1 - Day 4 - TIBERIAS - This morning we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to the seaside village of Kibbutz Ginosar to view the historic archaeological discovery of ???The Jesus Boat.???  On to Capernaum, where we see the remains of the village synagogue and the new church built atop St. Peter's house.  Next, we drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, where we have time for personal meditation in the beautiful gardens followed by Mass.  Here we visit Tabgha and the Franciscan Church of St. Peter's Primacy, where Jesus made His appearance after the resurrection.  Next, we see the Benedictine Basilica of the Loaves and Fishes. This afternoon we drive to Mt. Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, where we have a time of personal prayer.  Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Friday, February 2 - Presentation of Lord - Day 5 - JERUSALEM - This morning we visit the Jordan, where we renew our Baptismal promises. Next, we visit the ruins of the ancient Roman City of Sepphoris near Nazareth where some believe Joseph and Jesus plied their carpentry trade.  We continue south through the Jordan Valley visiting Jericho and view the Mount of Temptation.  We travel to Bethany and visit Lazarus' tomb and the Church of Martha and Mary where we celebrate Mass. Finally, we make our thrilling entry into Jerusalem before arriving at our hotel for dinner and overnight. Saturday, February 3 - Day 6 - JERUSALEM - This morning we visit the place of the Ascension and pass by the Church of the Pater Noster. We view the beautiful City of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives.  We then walk down the hill to Dominus Flevit Chapel, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem and on to the Garden of Gethsemane, where we have time for personal prayer and celebrate Mass at the Church of All Nations. Following lunch, we continue to the New City passing by the Knesset and Hebrew University.  We visit the Shrine of the Book to view the Dead Sea Scrolls.  We visit the Model City of Jerusalem in Jesus' time and Ein Karem, where John the Baptist was born and Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to utter the words of the Magnificat.  Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Sunday, February 4 - Day 7 - JERUSALEM - Today we drive to Bethlehem, The House of Bread, to visit the Church of the Nativity that commemorates the birth of Christ.  We visit the Manger, Crusader's Cloister, and the Grotto of St. Jerome, where we celebrate the Christmas Mass.  We then return to the Judean wilderness first visiting the excavations at Qumran, the home of the Essenes connected with John the Baptist and the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Weather permitting; we have an opportunity to swim in the salty, yet clear waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest place. (Swim lockers not included.) On our return to Jerusalem, we pass by the traditional site of the Inn of the Good Samaritan.  Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Monday, February 5 - Day 8 - JERUSALEM - This morning, drive along the Kidron Valley stopping at St. Peter in Gallicantu (The Cock Crows), where Jesus was held in the house of the High Priest Caiaphas.  We enter the Old City through Lion's Gate, where we visit the Church of St. Ann (Mary???s mother) and the Pool of Bethesda.  We visit Pilate???s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, Arch of Ecce Homo and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion.  We prayerfully walk the Stations of The Cross along the Via Dolorosa concluding at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We celebrate Mass in the Old City today.  This afternoon is free for rest, shopping or personal adventure. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Tuesday, February 6 - Day 9 - JERUSALEM/TEL AVIV/AIRPORT ??? This morning we go to Mt. Zion to visit the tomb of King David, the Church of Dormition and pray in the Upper Room.  We enter the Old City through Zion Gate making our way to the Western (Wailing) Wall.  We also see the Cardo and the remains of Hezekiah's wall. We travel to Abu Gosh, one of the traditional sites of Emmaus, where Jesus appeared on the road on the first Easter Sunday.  We celebrate our closing Holy Land Mass here.  Afterwards we celebrate our farewell dinner nearby before we head to Ben Gurion Airport for our overnight flight home. Wednesday, February 7 - Day 10 - USA - We arrive home today with unforgettable memories to cherish always.  Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians bring new meaning to our Scripture reading and celebration of Mass.