Well, I figured I had better start getting my stuff together. I'm planning on having a post per day (of the trip), so we'll see how that goes. I'm going to transcribe my notes and include some pictures I took. This IS a pilgrimage, so religion WILL be present.

Israel - The Holy Land - Day 1 - Nov. 4th and 5th (lost a good portion of the day heading east)




DFW was a snap as usual. During check in, when I asked the guy to make sure my luggage was checked all the way to Tel Aviv, an army guy checking in next to me told me I was gutsy. He said he wouldn't be heading over there, and he wore a uniform. Later, while I was waiting for my flight to New York, I figured I wouldn't be heading over there in uniform either. I don't feel like it was particularly gutsy. I figured God would take care of me - if it was my time, I'd be going whether I was in Tel Aviv or here. Anyway, I had plenty of time for breakfast at Chili's. It was a 3 hour plane ride up to JFK, and I had a seat by the window. The lady sitting next to me did NOT like to fly and seemed a bit ADD. She literally could not seem to sit still.

JFK was a lot more hectic. We met Fr. Mike at the baggage area - ours was checked through, of course, but it was convenient. El Al security required a second check of everything, plus a bunch of questions. I gave mostly truthful answers - Peter's Way gave us our prayer books at the airport, and I had friends watch my luggage while I went to the bathroom in DFW, but that would make them antsy, so I didn't point those facts out. It was a LONG, LONG flight in a middle seat from JFK to Tel Aviv - something like 10 hours. I sat between my roommate, Sophia, and a nice girl who was headed home. She slept quite a bit and was really sweet. My best sleep on the whole flight was between breakfast and landing - naturally.

We met up with Fabricio, our guide, and Samir, our driver. Fabricio is Italian and Samir is Arab - both Christians. We traveled from Tel Aviv to Joppa (Jaffa, Yafo, all the same city).





These two pictures were taken on the drive.

Once we reached Jaffa, we went to the church and waited while Fabricio made sure they were ready for us. I snapped some pictures outside the church.



This is a view of Tel Aviv from Jaffa. Tel Aviv is a modern, all Jewish city, while Jaffa is an ancient city with a mixed heritage. The water you see is the Mediterranean.



This is a fantastic piece of sculpture called the Statue of Faith. It depicts Jacob's dream, the sacrifice of Isaac, and the fall of Jericho. Fabricio noted it was a wonderful depiction of Israel itself - a dream, a sacrifice, and a war/victory.



This is another view of the contrast between Tel Aviv and Jaffa. On one side you have the all Jewish city of Tel Aviv and on the other side you have a mosque.



This monument was put up to remember the restoration of the Jewish Yishuv in Jaffa at the beginning of the 19th century. (Yishuv - Jewish residents before the creation of the new State of Israel in 1948)

We had Mass at St. Peter's Catholic Church. It is located in the same general area where St. Peter, our first Pope, healed a disciple named Tabitha (see Acts 9:36-41). Sometimes her name is rendered as Dorcas. Both "Tabitha" and "Dorcas" mean "gazelle" - Tabitha is Jewish while Dorcas is Greek. This is why there is sometimes some confusion - it depends on which translation you are reading. Here he also had a vision (see Acts 10:9-20) where the angel told him to eat - including foods considered 'unclean'. When Peter protested, he was told "What God has made clean, you are not to call profane." From this vision, he went to the house of Cornelius in Caesarea - the vision became clear to him - all people, not just the Jews, have recourse to salvation.



As often as I can, I try and take pictures of inscriptions so I can remember where I am!



Franciscan Coat of Arms

The church of St. Peter's is built on top of the spot where a former Crusader church sat. It is taken care of by the Franciscans. We had a lovely Mass.



A beautiful rendition of the Holy Spirit over the altar.



Somehow my family always sits on the St. Joseph side of any church - at least when there is a statue of him in sight. He's my dad's patron saint for various reasons - fathers, workers, head of the family. Mother Mary's statue was on the other side of the church. (One of the women who helped teach my RCIA class when I first came into the church told us to be wary of any Catholic church that did not recognize and honor the Holy Family in some way. The family is supposed to be the first church for Christians, and Catholics in particular. Not recognizing the Holy Family means not recognizing the importance of family in general.)



An old-fashioned type of pulpit carved from olive wood. These types of pulpits were used so the priest could be seen and heard by everyone during the homily - especially important in the days before microphones and speakers.



Another image of the Holy Spirit - this one above the priest in the pulpit - a sign of prayer that God might inspire the priest to give a homily of holiness.

After Mass we drove up the coast to Netanya where we checked into our hotel.



So far the best room of any pilgrimage I have taken!

We had a small balcony, but it was dark by the time we checked in. We could hear the waters of the Mediterranean, but had to wait until morning to really see our view. We could just barely make out the water breaking on the sands of the beach. I'll have pictures in the next post.

It was a long day, and I was ready for bed!