Jerusalem

After seeing Haifa on our own we opted for a tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. We traveled through farmlands and headed first to the Eastern Bank to Bethlehem. We had to drop our guide off since she was Israeli. After we entered through this cement wall we picked up an Araab Christian guide fo our time there. We waited in a long line to see the Church of nativityy through a small door and touched a silver star on the floor and left., but when we left the line w was many times more so we were lucky to only wait 45 minutes.

We then shopped at the chosen place and proceeded to leave for the Mount of Olives to view the old city. We picked up our guide and continue through horrid traffic. We enjoyed a windy Mount of Olives and then off to luch and into the old city through the Jaffa gate. I was sure this little boy with coffee was looking for me:) We toured many things BELIEVED TO BE AUTHENTIC!

We ended our tour with the Wailing wall and saw such sights, smells, peoples and religions. So much to keep in our hearts... we left throught the dung gate...not a comment on our status.

Yesterday we docked in Haifa and found so many facts we did not know before coming. This is a city built around the Carmelite orders…there is an entire mountain and communities dedicated to this religious order. Also a wonderful German town dating hundreds of years back to a group of Christians who came and settled to be near where they thought Jesus would return. We join them in waiting for His return.
Haifa also has a claim to the cave that Elijah hid in and there are stories and sites dedicated to that also. The beaches here are beautiful and the harbor immense. They say only second largest…we go tomorrow to Ashdod the largest. We are docked across from a US navy vessel and enjoy the American flag of the stern.
We rode a free tour bus around the city then hailed a cab and returned to see the BaHai gardens and capture the great views from atop Mt Carmel.
I saw some of Abbie’s favorite books in Hebrew at the book store and captured theses wonderful animals in the mall. I know she would love to have riden them.
We ended the day by the pool listening to a wonderful guitarist…(I have two cds alreadyJ) Tomorrow is a long day into Jerusalem and Bethlehem so we are making an early night of it.

Athens and beyond

Dan and I have followed the connection between the Bible and so many of the sights we have seen. We imagined being Paul and standing in Athens by the statue to the Unknown God and hearing him say or saying ourselves, “I know this God you have built and alter to…”. We read of the travels by ship as we passed Sicily and islands as we neared Rhodes. As we sat (not on the toilet seats) beside the Library façade that has been reconstructed we closed our eyes and listened to the bustle in the ancient city of Ephesus. (true the bustle was many tourists from many lands, but use your imaginationJ) The city ruins are so wonderful and there is so much still buried. They were so progressive and yet so many centuries ago. We thought of Mary with the disciple John in the small house above Ephesus with the wonderful view of an ancient harbor and the memory that Jesus asked John to care for his mother. The artifacts that have been left by very religious people remind us of our hearts and it is not hard to feel the identity with those who walked before and search our hearts for the truth that is here for us.
We are grateful that we do not need to have a secret mark to show we are Christians, but intrigued to see the mark in cement in Ephesus. The Greek letters for Jesus are found in this symbol and it is found often as you walk the ancient streets. As you think from Rome and each port of the bloodshed by Christians and courage to stand for what we believe.

Rhodes

Rhodes was incredible! It is a beautiful example of the preservation of the old. The city is still very much intact and walking the street of the Knights is walking on the oldest stretch of cobblestone in maybe the world. (It is said to beJ) The stones stand on their edge and are very difficult to walk on. The city still bustles inside and the hardest work of the day is to sit at a café with coffee and watch the people or one of the many cats.
We love this Island, the views, the pace and the wonderful way the old did not feel absorbed into the new. We visited a city and old port site and in its ruins one felt very close to the life that must have been. Walking the steps and even entering their courtyards and houses. The Olive trees line the fields and blue morning glories climb the walls.
Our ship seemed somehow out of place in this place.

We were wisk away by Dan's cousin Taffy and shown the city by special commentary. Best of all we spent a well needed catch up time over food and drink. We were enjoying this magnificant view of the Acroplis and then shopped the Plaka and lets say the streets were made of marble shall we? or could that be rain:)

All in All a gift from God to be with Taffy after the passing of her sweet husband and the need to give a universal hug and shed a few tears. Many prayers for her days ahead and for peace.

Well, we saw Rome by on and off bus to all the sites….but it rained, thundered, lightening so bad that we stayed on board and looked. We did get off at the Spanish steps and Trevi fountain. Spent a couple hours under umbrella, ate great lunch at Vitti’s and of course had a three scoop Gelati, Mocha, Chocolate and Cream.
Friday, AM we took a tour of the Vatican and St Peters Church. Sistene Chapel was amazing. Then onto the ship and the real trip begins. A great ship and so much to see and do, we are getting acquainted and finding our way around. We just passed by Sicily and rounded the Italy boot. We are on our way across to Athens. Dan’s cousin Taffy will meet us there and give us the personal tour.

The Trip begins...

This is the Day...bags packed and off to Rome 6:10 Ferry. The routine...change sheets...clean kitty litter...do all the dishes...OH Yah WORK. Come home and off. See you in Rome!

The bags are packed and looks like we are all ready to go... join us there is room in the suitcase. We will update when we can. We go to Rome for three days and then onboard the Celebrity Equinox on Friday. We will have internet then...so it will be after that you hear more from us.

Countdown to Rome

14 days to take off...bags out and the packing begins.