Late last year and running into this new year, Michelle and I took a trip to Israel but it was more than just a trip or a vacation as it was a pilgrimage. As Christians, we wanted to learn more not only about the Biblical times/people/places and Israel’s history, but more importantly about Jesus’ walk here on earth. This was such an amazing experience for both of us both spiritually and emotionally that we will forever cherish our time there and always yearn to go back. The people we met on the trip were wonderful and we will remember our time with them and hope to cross paths with them in the future.

Our time over there was 8 days which was both enough and not enough time. It was not enough because there is such a deep history and culture there that 8 days hardly scratches the surface. You would need a couple weeks to really start to feel like you are knowing what truly makes Israel, Israel. Not only that, but the food is fantastic and to be able to experience all the flavors and spices, 8 days just isn’t enough time! It WAS enough time in the other sense in that our days were long 10+ hour days of on the go learning, walking, and experiencing. By the end of each day, you were pretty beat both physically and mentally, but we would not have had it any other way.

Some top memories for us was when Michelle and I got baptized in the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, the same sea where Jesus performed many miracles and asked many of the twelve disciples to follow Him. Overlooking the Valley of Armageddon on Mount Megiddo where the battle of end times will be held. Another was sitting quietly on the stone floor where Jesus was beaten and flogged in the barracks of Pilates palace, was humbling and moving. Swimming in the Dead Sea at 1400ft below sea level was both fun and weird, as you float almost on top of the water since it’s so dense from minerals and salts, and won’t be soon forgotten.

Now being back home and going over the hundreds of pictures together to make this post brings us back to those busy streets in Jerusalem and dusty walks through the ruins at Herod the Great’s cliff fortress, Masada. We smile at the thought of one day going back to this amazing country so filled with rich culture and layers built on layers of history. We could not possibly post all of the pictures we took, but we will include our favorites and most memorable.

Tel Aviv, Israel a view from our hotel overlooking the Mediterranean

Ronnie and I first morning in Israel!

St. Peter’s Monastery, Jaffa

Tel Aviv

St. Peter’s Monastery, Joffa

St. Peter’s Monastery, Jaffa

Inside St. Peter’s Monastery. Check out the pulpit on the right. It is to portray an olive tree! Very cool!

Roman theatre near Herods palace

This theatre faces the Mediterranean Sea

Herod’s personal sea-side pool that was filled with warmed fresh water brought in from inland springs. Cush, right?

Behind us is a 2nd century Roman hippodrome

Beautiful mosaics were everywhere

Large seas crashing on what was once a dockside building

SONY DSC

The sub-floor of a BC steam room. Steam would enter here from another room, head the ceramic pilars, stone floors, and then heat the room. Steam would develop from water on the floor, rise up to the arched ceiling, condensate and flow back to the floor to start over again. Very neat!

View on on top of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea

Masada.

Masada

View of the Dead Sea from the top of Masada

Masada

Ornate tile at Masada

Masada

Masada

Masada

Masada

Flash Floods are quite common after a rain storm.

Flash Flood Photo: Mr Jim and Mrs. Nancy

Flash Flood Photo: Mr Jim and Mrs. Nancy

Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea.

Floating in the Dead Sea.

Floating in the Dead Sea. Photo: Mr Jim and Mrs. Nancy

Floating in the Dead Sea. Photo: Mr Jim and Mrs. Nancy

Morning Walk.

Dead Sea

Dead Sea

En Gedi

Jesus’ Baptismal Site

Jesus’ Baptismal Site

Jericho

Jericho

River Jordan Baptismal Site

River Jordan Baptismal Site

River Jordan Baptismal Site

Before getting baptized in the River Jordan

Baptized!

Baptized! Photo: Mr Jim and Mrs. Nancy

Baptized! Photo: Mr Jim and Mrs. Nancy

Waiting on some folks. Photo: Mr Jim and Mrs. Nancy

Exploring the streets of Tiberias

St. Peter’s Primacy on the shores of the Sea of Galilee

Shores of Galilee

Shores of Galilee

Sea of Galilee

St. Peter’s Primacy on the Sea of Galilee

Mount of Beatitudes

Israel Feline!

Boat ride on this old buck!

Looking at Tiberias

Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee

Ronnie and I with the tour hour, Dr. Don Wilton!

“Anchor Aways!”

Ancient Boat believed to be from the era of Jesus.

Mount of Beatitudes

Another affectionate Israeli feline

Israeli feline

View of the Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes

Bet She’an.

Bet She’an.

Bet’ She’an.

Bet She’an.

Bet She’an.

Bet She’an

Bet She’an

Bet She’an

Bet She’an

Valley of Armageddon

Mount Megiddo

View of the Valley of Armageddon from Mount Megiddo.

Mount Megiddo

Mt. Carmel

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Temple Mount, Jerusalem

Temple Mount, Jerusalem

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem.

Dome of the Rock, Jer

Church of Nativity, Bethlehem

Church of Nativity, Bethlehem

Church of Nativity, Bethlehem

Manger Square, Bethlehem

Temple Mount is behind us, Jerusalem

Western Wall, Jerusalem

Western Wall, Jerusalem

Western Wall, Jerusalem

Western Wall, Jerusalem

Ruins of Jerusalem

Tunnels underneath the Western Wall.

Tunnels underneath the Western Wall.

Cistern under Jerusalem

Old City Jerusalem

Pomegranate Juice

Pretty Doors are everywhere.

Camel ride!

Camel ride!

Camel ride!

“You ride donkey like Marry?!”

View of Old City Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

Western Wall & Dome of the Rock

Me.

Mount of Olives

Garden of Gethsemane

Garden of Gethsemane

Church of All Nations

Church of All Nations

Church of All Nations

Church of All Nations

Another Pretty Door

Gethsemane

Kidrom Valley

Slums

Israeli feline!

Pool of Siloam

The bread is amazing in Israel.

Via Dolorosa

Via Dolorosa

Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus took carrying his cross

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Yet another door.

Workers in the Arab district repairing street stones

He was the most handsome feline I met.

Muslim Quarter in Old Jerusalem

Found some kids to play soccer!

Garden Tomb

Coming out of the Garden Tomb