We left Calgary on February 14, how romantic am I for planning it like that? Our bags were packed and I was beyond excited for this trip.
While on the plane we found a map of London, England and started mapping out the route of what we wanted to see and do. Tim thought we should just take a taxi to the city center but that was crazy expensive! He said, "But in China they are super cheap!!." Sorry honey, in England they charge more just because they can! Around $20 got us 2 all day passes on the tube (don't forget to mind the gap!). Making it through customs was a bit of an ordeal because they questioned us thoroughly and looked through each page of our passport. On our way out we could the trainer say, "I think they are safe to go"
Tim doubted that I would be able to navigate us to all of the sites and due to his American ways assumed that we would never be able to make it to all the destinations on the list. Good news is that everything is super close and easily with in walking distance.
I couldn't deny Tim this classic photo!
Buckingham Palace
Picadilly Circus
Big Ben
Wesminster Abbey
We then headed back to the airport and excitedly boarded the plane to Israel.
Once in Israel I was too afraid to leave the airport so I made Tim sit in the airport until our tour group arrived. Only about a mere 6 hours! We played a lot of ticket to ride on the iPad.
We found a tour group from Utah, asked if they were the Mormon Heritage Group and they assured us that they were so we boarded the bus. As they started doing a head count the tour guide realized that they had a few extras... and that was us! oops! We dashed off the bus because we new our real tour group had to be close. Good thing that a member of our real tour group lost her luggage or the bus may have left us!
First stop: Joppa This is where Jonah left on a ship bound for Tarshish but never made it as he was swallowed by a whale!
The view from our first hotel was beyond amazing!
Day 2: We started by going to Caesarea. King Herod the Great built this magnificent port city. The Apostle Paul was a prisoner here for 2 years. Caesarea was also the site of some of the most horrific crusader battles with the Muslims. The moat and some ruins of what was once a huge Crusader fortress still remain.
This is the place where someone like Pilate would sit to watch the plays.
The above stone proves Pontius Pilate's existence. Prior to this archeological discovery, there was no proof.
Netanya Academic School is the Center for Strategic Dialogue, which Sponsors the House of Joseph/House of Judah Dialogue Center. The late Dr. Joseph Ginat, a for University of Utah professor and Israeli architect, was on the faculty at the college and facilitated many conversations between Jewish and Mormon scholars. During his time at the University of Utah, Dr. Ginat learned of Orson Hyde's visit to the Holy Land in 1841 and his dedication of the land for the return of the Jews. Dr. Ginat, an advisor to Golda Meir and other Israeli prime ministers, worked hard to ensure that the story of Orson Hyde was told in Israel's schools' history books. Dr. Ginat headed the effort to develop the Orson Hyde Square at Netanya Academic College. The Square features an olive tree planted to honour each of the modern prophets of the LDS Church.
These palm trees were planted, one for Orson Hyde, and all those who have followed him in dedicating the land for the return of the Jews. i
These graves gave the LDS church proof that they were in Israel pre-1948 when Israel became an independent state and proclaimed that no new religions would be allowed to be established in the land.
The Baha’i gardens were absolutely stunning. They believe that God reveals universal truths through all religions and that all prophets were sent by God to preach the same message.
After this picture was taken some girls got on each others shoulders to get an orange from a near by tree.... the laugh was good but they did get in trouble and it wasn't even worth it because the orange was super sour! Oranges at a hotel in Jerusalem were just about on crack they were so good! I don't know what happened to that poor orange!
Mt. Carmel is where Joshua had his duel with the priests of Baal. Mt. Carmel also looks out over Armageddon.
Church of the Annunciation is the traditional site where Mary received her visit from the Angel Gabriel. The first floor is rather plain to represent Mary's modesty and humility. The second floor is decorated with many elaborate mosaics and paintings and represents Mary's glory.
Many different countries donated painting/murals/sculptures on how they viewed Mary.
We definitely had to get pictures with Canada and China.
The inside of the steeple is like an inverted lily; a lily signifies virginity.
After teaching his first sermon, Jesus was rejected and his life was threatened. The traditional mountain from which the people sought to cast him is today called the Mount Precipitation. From here Jesus could see all of the Old Testament lands in front of him and as he stood on the precipice which overlooks the entire Jezreel Valley which separates Gaalilee to the north and Samaria to the south.
I loved the olive trees planted everywhere.
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