We have also taken advantage of the price breaks available to passengers traveling with Turkish Airlines in the low season. We will therefore land in Istanbul before proceeding to Tel Aviv, the starting point of our Israel, Palestine, Jordan spiritual adventure.
From Tel Aviv we will proceed north along the ancient Via Maris with Tiberias our final destination for the day. Our day will be marked with stops at Caesaria Maritima, two stops in the Mount Carmel range, and a visit Mt. Tabor before settling in on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. After two glorious days immersed in Galilee, we move to Judea through the Jezreel Valley and reach Jerusalem by way of Megiddo and Samaria.
Once we get to Jerusalem, we will spend four days of prayer and visitation in the heart of the great monotheistic religions. Jerusalem leaves an indelible mark on the hearts and souls of all who come to know her. Never does anyone leave Jerusalem behind. The memory of Jerusalem and the satellite towns and regions around her remain vividly present in their entire spiritual splendor.
On the fifth day after our arrival in Jerusalem we move to the quiet region of Jericho where we get to appreciate the jeweled gate of entry of the Israelites into the promised land. This is also an important site where we get to say goodbye to the great prophet Elijah. We met him at Mt. Carmel on the first day. Now we leave him just two days before our departure. It is also the gate on entry that Jesus took into His public life though His Baptism in the nearby Jordan River. We will celebrate that event in our own lives by renewing our baptismal vows.
We spend our last two days in the quiet of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, on the shores of the Dead Sea and a visit to Petra before leaving from Amman to return to Los Angeles.
You are cordially invited to join us.
