Reverend
Carol plans to return to Jerusalem next year. Would you like
to join her?
Once
again we will be staying at St. George’s College in Old Jerusalem,
except when we are in Nazareth.
There we will be staying in a Guest House called St. Margaret’s
Guest House. St. George’s
College specializes in what they call “courses” rather than
tours, which focus on elements of our Christian faith.
However, they are not difficult courses, but just right for
the average Christian to get a good look at the country, its history
and issues of the present time.
It can rightly be called a pilgrimage, for we will be
following in the paths of Jesus and his disciples.
The
trip will require us to check in to the college in Jerusalem on June
2, 2006, so we are ready to begin the next morning.
With the assistance of our travel agent member of the
congregation, Betty O’Brien of Ask About Travel, we are making the
final arrangements this month. We
have set aside 16 places for you and need to have names by the
middle of July. After
that the college is free to give the spaces to other people.
The price is being determined and will be between $2100 to
$2300 for the land arrangements including accommodations,
transportation, admissions and meals.
The air arrangements are flexible, so people can make stops
before or after the trip if they choose.
Betty is looking for a short Mediterranean cruise before the
course begins for anyone who wants to cruise since they are going as
far as the Mediterranean. I
will stop over somewhere on the East Coast for a few days on the way
over to adjust to the time change, and will go to the 2006 Episcopal
General Convention on my return.
There
are several questions that have come to your minds when you hear
about this trip. The
first always has to do with safety.
When I was there in 2003, I felt as safe in Palestine as I
did in New York City! That
means there was not enough to worry about to keep me from enjoying a
dream of a lifetime. There
has been very little violence there in the past year and none
directed at tourists or pilgrims.
Further, since we will be the guests of a part of the
Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East, we will be under
the guidance of a well-respected Palestinian organization.
We should not judge by the situation this summer.
There are likely to be some protests and other discord this
summer if the Israelis leave Gaza as they have promised to do.
The situation could be entirely different a year from now.
The best thing to do is to plan as if all will be well, but
get the cancellation insurance, and decide closer to the travel
date. Then if the
political situation changes, we can change our plans.
The
second question is about the accommodations.
The 22 rooms at St. George’s College are comfortable double
rooms with private baths, and individually controlled air
conditioning and heat. The
college has its own dining room, a comfortable commons room (lounge)
as well as a chapel, lecture hall and library.
It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and on the grounds of
St. George’s Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of Jerusalem.
When we go to Nazareth, we will be staying in St. Margaret’s
Guest House, with comfortable double rooms with private baths around
an interior garden.
At
St. George’s we will be only two blocks from the walls of the Old
City of Jerusalem. The
American Consulate, the United Nations and the YMCA are within a
block. The American
Colony Hotel is one block away for those who enjoy an evening drink
at the end of a long day.
The
food of Israel is some of the best of the Mediterranean; with many
specialties you will remember from Greek restaurants, like shish
kabobs, falafel, hummus and pita breads.
Olive trees grow everywhere, and citrus fruit and watermelon
are delicacies.
