Return to Israel


Before I tell about our day, I wanted to give insight into two things.  First, when you view pictures in this blog, please know that they are not in order.  Loading issues.  Second, most of our family and friend heard the news about unrest in Israel because of the targeting of the mastermind of all the military activity for the Islamic Jihad.  We just returned to Israel from Jordan and are far away from the unrest.  Things have settled and may spark a little again overnight or tomorrow, but we are believing this will end in the next day or two.  We are safe and all the places we will be going through the end of our trip are safe.  Thanks for your prayers and concerns.

Before leaving the Grand View Hotel in Wadi Musa, we pointed out a small white building at the top of a high mountain peak nearby.  The place is Mount Hor and it is traditionally thought to be the final resting place of Aaron, Moses’ brother.  We then took the short drive across town to the entrance to Petra.  Our adventure for the day had started.  (Because of illness, Jean remained at the hotel and later joined us for lunch).

Established by the Nabateans, a nomadic tribe that put down some roots, Petra was the major stop on the perfume trail that ran from Yemen to Gaza.  This became a lucrative business for them.  The Romans came and built fortresses along their road to try and take over their business but they continued.  It was only until after the Muslims came that they disappeared never to be seen again.  Flourished for a 1000 years and now gone.  

The valley twists and turns for a mile before you reach the Treasury building.  It is almost another mile to reach where the town once stood.  After Orea guided us down to the Treasury building, we were released to spend the next three hours on our own.  Some walked on and climbed the 200 steps up to the Royal Tombs.  What a sight!  Others rested and checked out the little shops.  A number of people took a short ride on a camel.  It was a wonderful time.

Following lunch, we took the 2 and 1/2 hour ride to Aqaba, Jordan and crossed back into Israel.  It was good to be home.  After dropping Jean and Maureen off at a clinic to get checked, the rest of us were taken to our hotel for the next two nights, Isotel Yam Suph.  What an amazing place, right across the street from the Red Sea.  Tonight we are resting up for tomorrow’s adventures.  And FYI, Jean and Maureen will both be fine.  We are grateful they were able to get help.  

Here is our day:









































Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 13, 2019 at 12:22 PM

    I am glad everyone is safe away from the unrest in Israel a few more days and the trip will be over but what memories you will all have.. God bless Debra Hall (email :halldebra1955@yahoo.com)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Holy City

Image
We departed the desert to head up to Jerusalem.  But before we did, we made one last stop along the Jordan River.  It is a place called Aenon or Bet Aenon and it is the place traditionally thought to be where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  The river is very small and muddy here, and we could have easily tossed a stone into Jordan.  Several churches stand on either side of the river. As we crossed the line of sea level we started to see the Bedouin family camps, goats and camels.  They don’t move around now but are subsidized by the state and provided permanent water.  We crossed a check point as we got close to the city and the bus driver started playing “The Holy City.” We exited a tunnel through one of the hills and to our left was our first glimpse of the Temple Mount with the the gold dome of the mosque of Oman standing where the Temple once stood. (And will stand again!)  We had arrived to the Holy City, Jerusalem. Some had tears. First sto...
Read more

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Image
We know a number of people back home who are playing Christmas music already.  Today that familiar carol was our first stop on our next to last day of touring.  We left early again (7:15) and made our way through the check point into the political West Bank under the control of the Palestinian authority.  Nir could not go with us, so Rami drove us and once inside our Christian Arab guide was Issa.  He did a wonderful job of showing us Beit Sahour, the Shepherd’s Fields.  He took us into the Barluzzi chapel where we admired the mosaics and sang Joy to the World.  We then walked into one of the many caves in the area to see where the shepherds kept their sheep. We then went to the Church of the Nativity and waited in line to see the traditional cave where Jesus was born.  While our wait lasted an hour, it was interesting.  We were immediately behind an African American group who sang a few songs while waiting and immediately in front of an Indones...
Read more

Final Day and Heading Home

Image
This is my last installment for this journey.  In a few hours we all will be heading home and the tour comes to an end.  But the questions, the insights and the memories will last into eternity. We began our morning at the Garden Tomb.  Run by a British foundation, the Garden Tomb area was cited by British General Gordon as being the potential place of Jesus’ burial.  It is located outside the city walls; by a rock formation that looked like a skull; along the Damascus Road; and has a tomb hewed out of the rock.  We always tell people that while the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is historically probably accurate, the feel would be like here. Once we were guided through the garden and went into see the tomb, we retreated to a small chapel where we did a trip review and had communion together.  The testimonies were memorable. Next, the City of David.  Yes Bethlehem is also called the City of David.  That is where he was born. But this City of Dav...
Read more