THE TRIP HOME

Tuesday, September 17. We had to have our luggage out in the hall by 7:00. We got to breakfast at 6:40 and continued our good-byes. The bus left 7:40 and we got to Ben Gurion Airport at 8:30. It turned out that the gate did not open until 9:30. Jane insisted on buying a large sandwich to eat on the plane even though lunch was to be served aboard. We boarded 11:30. We had booked Economy Plus seats for the return trip. Once on board, we ate the sandwich just to get rid of it. We were in the air at 12:30. They served a big lunch at 1:15, a sandwich three hours later, then breakfast shortly before landing Newark. The plane was 90 minutes early. It was 4:00 p.m. EDT there (11:00 p.m. IDT).

Jane and Darrell became separated after debarking as Jane tried to get a wheelchair but there was none there for her. We found each other in the immigration line. We had to claim our luggage, then recheck it again, but that went fast. Then we went back through security to the gate designated on our boarding passes. That gate was changed to a second gate, then a third, then a fourth. We finally boarded at 7:15.p.m. and took off on time just before 8:00. We touched down at Washington Dulles at 9:00 and texted Joseph that we had landed.

We could not find our  checked bags at the designated carrousel. Then a text from United popped up saying our bags had been put on an early flight, so thet were at a different carrousel. Joseph showed up at the first carrousel at that point and helped us find the bags. We did not get to his house in Culpeper until 11:15. We were exhausted and decided to spend the night there. We got to bed at midnight.

Wednesday, September 18. We got up before 8:00 and had a nice breakfast with Joseph and Julia. We got home just before noon.

Impressions. Although it was taxing for us at our age, we certainly enjoyed this trip and are glad that we took it. Even before the trip, though, Darrell had been skeptical about the authenticity of many of the sites identified with Jesus and, for the most part, the trip only confirmed his skepticism. But most such misidentifications were made centuries ago by well-intentioned people doing the best they could with the limited resources available to them. Their mistakes generally went only to the locations of the events, although it may be that even a few events (e.g., Veronica) were added as well through an overabundance of zeal.

In traveling between areas controlled by the Israelis and those controlled by the Palestinians, we saw less difference than we had expected. There clearly was less development in the Palestinian areas. The Palestinians we encountered were very friendly, but for the most part they worked in the tourist industry and had a vested interest in keeping the tourists happy. We are sure that even the friendly Palestinians we met in Bethlehem were not happy about all the Israeli settlements in their area or about the high walls keeping them out of Jerusalem.

.Since they took control of the city in 1967, the Israelis have been excavating sites at a expeditious pace. The Palestinians, as well as some other archeologists, accuse them of bias in their identification of discoveries, destruction of Muslim ruins (to get at older ruins below), and working primarily with tourism in mind. We are not qualified to judge, but there is no doubt that the Israelis have made remarkable discoveries. We have never before seen excavations on such a scale or with such productive results.

As they increase the attractions for tourists, the Israelis should be more mindful of the infrastructure needed to support them. Already there is no place for tourist buses to go after they drop off their passengers around the Old City. The buses play musical chairs or whack-a-mole for an insufficient number of illegal spaces, impeding traffic and inconveniencing tourists and residents alike. Granted that space is limited and expensive in that area, a central parking area, even some distance away, is desperately needed.

Our choice to travel with Tabernacle Tours turned out to be an excellent one. We are sure that no other group, or even a private guide, could have been as solicitous of our needs, or more compatible to travel with. We strongly suspect that Pastor Keller assigned people to keep an eye on us throughout the tour. Whenever we faltered along the way, someone was immediately at our side. taking an arm, finding a place for Jane to sit, or otherwise offering to help.

We were somewhat concerned that, this being a religious group of a different denomination than ours, there might be too many prayer sessions, possibly with incompatible beliefs. We need not have worried. The opportunities for meditation among these holy sites were most welcome. The joyful singing and dancing on the “Jesus Boat” on the Sea of Galilee was inspiring.

We realize that there are many more things to see and do in the Holy Land. We barely scratched the surface. But we are satisfied with what we were able to do in our limited time and at a manageable pace. One more thing off of Jane’s bucket list!