My adventure to the Holy Land

I thought I would be better at this whole blog thing, but I guess I was wrong. I even had stuff to blog about, but life got in the way. So, I will have to catch you up on my adventures.

I had the opportunity to do a two week travel study tour to the Holy Land. It started in Cairo, Egypt and ended in Jerusalem, Israel.

Some of the highlights include:

• TRAVELING DILEMAS

• Our group was meeting in New York and flying to Paris and then on to Egypt. My friend Jamie and I took a flight California and then a flight to New York- it was cheaper. Our plane would get into New York with about 2 ½ hours to kill before meeting with the group. Luck was not on our side. Our flight to New York from California was late taking off; then we took a longer route to avoid a major wind storm; then we diverted to Atlanta to refuel, and finally landing in New York with 40 minutes before our flight was scheduled to leave. I was a complete wreck and a stress case. I had no idea what to do. We arrived in New York and RAN to catch the air train to go to the correct terminal (after getting our bags from the baggage claim). We arrived and found Air France (the airline) workers packing up for the night. It as 10:30pm their time. I frantically tried to find someone to help us. He didn’t think we would make it, but as luck would have it… our plane was delayed an hour. THANK GOODNESS!! We met up with our group finally – after making a short stop in the restroom to fix ourselves to be somewhat presentable after running through the airport will our luggage - and tried to have a good laugh!! I have never been so happy as when I sat on that plane… heading to Paris.

• My trip didn’t start out great- with almost missing my flight- so why would it end easy? Our flight home from Paris to New York arrived in New York late. (Of course- just my luck) We checked our bags with only 30 minutes before our flight left for SLC. We stood in the security line for 20-25 minutes…and ran to catch the plane. They held the plane thankfully. So, I made the flight with 5 minutes to spare. I have never been so stressed traveling in my life!!

• EGYPT

• Spending somewhere between $50-$100 on bottled water. We had to be careful in Egypt because of the Nile, so we would buy bottled water to drink (obviously), brush our teeth, etc.
• We could only eat vegetables that were cooked and fruit that could be peeled. It’s a good thing I packed some snacks from the US.
• I’ve never been so HOT in my life!!
• I got to see the Valley of the Kings. We got to go into 3 different tombs…including King Tut’s.
• Saw the 3 Great Pyramids of Giza. Our guide worked his magic and got us the last tickets to be able to go into the biggest pyramid. (Cleops’). **they only allow 200 people a day to go in**. We hiked up into the very middle of the pyramid where the sarcophagus room was. We were the last people there, so we were able to spend some extra time. We sang, “I am a child of God”. It was incredible.
• Saw the Sphinx. I thought it would be bigger than the pyramids, but it is smaller (still large though).
• I got my picture on a camel!!
• We were able to take carriage rides along the Nile in Luxor before catching a flight.
• Got up at 1:00AM, loaded the bus at 1:30AM, and made our way to where we would start our hike to Mt. Sinai. Most of us rode camels two-thirds of the way to the seven hundred stairs at the last leg of the journey- others hiked the whole thing. I had planned to hike the whole thing, but that morning I was just plain tired and had no energy. Climbing the seven hundred steps was enough of a hike!! At the top we found some rocks and awaited the sunrise. It was breathtakingly beautiful!! We reluctantly had to leave the beautiful sight and made our way down the mountain.
• Experienced a 3 hour change in borders.
  

• JORDAN

• Visited Petra
• Saw the famous treasury- as seen in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. One girl had the music from Indiana Jones playing as the treasury came into view, and it made it even more exciting.
  

• ISRAEL

• Went snorkeling in the Red Sea
• Stayed in a Kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee **Swam in the Sea of Galilee
• Went to Nazareth
• Went to Meggido (where the battle to end all battles is prophesied to occur). Trekked down into the shaft and tunnel of the ancient water system.
• Went in the Mediterranean Ocean! - Okay well I stuck my feet in. Some people were getting stung by jellyfish, and I didn’t care to have that adventure.
• Saw the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. **Saw the original Isaish scrolls on display at the Israel Museum (it was the 60th anniversary of Israel so the originals were on display)
• Swam in the Dead Sea- every little cut I had stung, but once all the salt was washed off my skin was nice and soft. The coolest thing was floating.
• Saw the Western (Wailing) Wall and the Dome of the Rock.**It was amazing to see so many people expressing their beliefs.
• Hiked through Hezekiah’s Tunnel- the water was very cold! We all wanted to do it again, but there was no time.
• Toured the BYU Jerusalem Center.
• Went to Bethlehem and sat in a shepherd’s field.
• Walked around the Garden of Gethsemane
• Went to Bethany and saw Lazarus’ tomb.
• Visited the Garden tomb. This was the greatest experience of all!! We did this our very last day. We were able to take some pictures and walk into the tomb. There was such a sweet peace there!! I could have stayed there all day basking in the spirit.
  

• THINGS I’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER

• Being sick in Petra
• Staying up late with my friend Jamie- when we should have been asleep. We always had to be up by 6:00 – 6:30 AM.
• The desserts- I got the “most desserts consumed in one evening” award!! And I’m proud of it!! ☺
• The friends I made – even though I don’t have communication with most of them anymore
• Riding a camel- it HURTS!!
• The feelings I felt at all the different sites. – I can’t remember what most of my pictures are or what certain places really looked like, but I’ll always remember how I felt.
• There are so many things… I think you get the idea.