Homework for the Holy Land

I do all the travel planning for myself and the Spousal Unit™--investigating where we will go, stay, how to get there, etc.  In the process of doing so, I get a pretty good sense of what there is to do and see in the area or while we are traveling.  An afternoon spent noodling around the world wide web, checking out various sites and lodgings gets my travel juices flowing.

 When we stay with friends or family, I tend to less world wide webbing as I anticipate our loved ones will provide guidance about the area.  I particularly appreciate their recommendations on what tourist traps to avoid and which we should get sucked into.  Eating out at some of their favorite places make for memorable experiences.  In those situations, I really love the "push me around" travel.

 Tomorrow I head out on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with 20 other pilgrims from St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in West Des Moines, Iowa. My Friend Jeanie™ is a Deacon at St. Tim's.  We will be part of a tour group and that's something I don't think I've done, other than shore excursions on cruises, since high school.  I have been reminding myself I can and should be on my best behavior over the next 10 days.

 I've read the itinerary for the trip multiple times.  It's only been over the past week or so that I decided I should put some effort into this and tool around the world wide web--and the Bible--to check out the significance of the sites we'll be visiting.

 I must admit, I'm feeling rather overwhelmed.  The Scripture I've been reading all resounds with the familiarity of having sat in the pews over the years.  Those references are taking on a new solemnity and somberness in anticipating of being in locations held holy by Christians, Jews and Muslims.  I'm hoping to keep my heart, soul, heart, mind, eyes and ears open.

 Similar to the Italy trip this past summer, I plan to blog every day, internet connections and energy permitted.  I'll post the link on Facebook, if you'd like to follow along.

 ps--The Spousal Unit™ was not interested in this trip, so he's staying behind.  Rather sweetly, or so I thought, he said he was a little nervous about me going to a part of the world that seems to be in continual degrees of turmoil.  That meant a lot to me. 💓

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What a Difference a Year Makes

Image
  A year ago, we had sold our Minnetonka home and were awaiting closing. We were wintering in Florida.  We were hoping to find a new home (single level living) before we returned to Minnesota. Alas, the hope was misplaced, given the lack of inventory.  During the past year, I learned that:    About 14 million mortgage borrowers refinanced their homes between 2020 and 2021. Rates were at all-time lows during the pandemic, sinking as low as 2.65%. Given that mortgage rates are now in the high 6 to high 7 percent, more owners, even those who had an interest in moving, were hesitant to give up their historically low (probably never to be seen again) rates.  To whit: lack of inventory. I've previously chronicled how emotionally difficult the move ended up being, far surpassing what I anticipated and hanging on longer than I bargained for. We moved into an apartment, and I'll admit that this past summer, it felt pretty good.  Our entire family, grandchildren...
Read more

Wrap It Up and Put A Bow On It

Image
  A few of the local trees are beginning to show the first inklings of fall, leaves fading from green to early shades of yellow.  And it smells like late summer--a distinctive smell I recall from childhood, a scent that followed me home from school on those first few weeks when you raced home in a hurry to change out of the Catholic School uniform into shorts because it was still warm and light enough to play outside until dinner.  The shadows on our deck are growing longer.  The squirrels scamper around with nuts tucked between their jaws.   Yep, it's time to wrap summer up and put a bow on it. We had such a blissful summer, leisurely hours spent with those we love, wedding celebrations for family and friends, reunions and reconnections, time spent on the road and in the air.  Primarily for myself, but also for your reading pleasure, I thought I'd recap May through August. Following our return drive from Florida April 28, we flew to Chicago for the we...
Read more

Cro-A-Ti-A Day 7

Image
                                                                             The Final Kastela Yesterday My Friend Jeanie, bonus grands Eleanor and MaggieRose, McB and John and I started at Kastel Gomilice, then headed out down what, for the other 6 Kastelas, is a seaside path to Kastel Sucurac. It was not meant to be. Turns out past Kastel Gomilice there is a large harbor area so that the path ends and it's up to the busy street to make your way to Sucurac.  A hot, not so shady, very unscenic busy street.   Proof that we found Sucurac. Bonus Grand Eleanor, me, My Friend Jeanie, Bonus Grand/Goddaughter MaggieRose We looked, in vain, for a street that would lead away from said street back to the seaside.  When we finally found what appeared t...
Read more