Blogs from West Bank, Israel, Middle East - page 4

Bummer!!! We just found out that our wake-up call is going to be at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow, luggage out at 4:30. Ugh. This is going to be an abbreviated blog. We woke this morning to a beautifully clear day. We visited the Church of the Nativity and below it, the cave-stable of Jesus’ birth. We saw the shrine of the Holy Innocents, the infants killed by Herod the Great. We celebrated Mass at the cave where St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin. Afterwards, we divided into small groups to share lunch at the homes of local Christian families. We waited by the side of the road for our rides. We arrived at the home of Georgette. Her son picked us up and came in and talked to us for awhile before he had to go ... read more

Hebron... read more

I’ll just give it to you straight, the unadulterated list, which I wish someone had spelled out for me (or that I’d listened more carefully). My normal narrative will follow, and reasons for some of these rules should become crystal clear, unlike the waters of the Dead Sea. Do any of the things in the “Don’t” list and you will regret doing so. Don’t do things in the “Do” list and the worst that can happen is you might miss a once in a lifetime opportunity. First,the “Don’ts”: 1. Don’t drink the water. (This one is a biggie) 2. Don’t get water in your eyes. 3. Don’t dunk your head in the water. 4. Don’t splash. 5. Don’t try to swim. 6. Don’t go out over your head. 7. Don’t get water in your mouth. 8. ... read more

Most of the blog readers are familiar with the ideas of surfing the web, and surfing waves, in Hawaii or New Zealand for instance, but how many people have heard of surfing a couch? The concept was born out of the idea that it is the people that make travel a truly meaningful and memorable experience. The couchsurfing.orgcommunity offers members life-changing opportunities to explore more of their world. I first heard of couchsurfing in 2007. After three years of confinement in the tense NYC business banking atmosphere, I was ready to break free and live out the motto - travel is the best cure for close-mindedness. However, having just paid off my college loans, I did not have much of a travel budget. Nonetheless, I was determined to get out to explore. Admittedly, I was initially ... read more

Today started with Mass on Calvary, we climbed some very steep steps from near the tomb to the top of the hill of Calvary where Msgr. Foynes celebrated Mass. Needless to say it was really moving. After mass I knelt and reverenced the spot where the cross stood and there is now a square hole in the stone. Making the sign of the cross afterward was a sensation I’ll never forget and a esture I’ll likely never take for granted again. Next stop was Ancient Esscene community of Qumron, the place is famous for two things, it is probably where John the Baptist began his adult formation in the faith, and also the group who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls, which give us the oldest known complete copy of Isaiah. We then went down a little ... read more