Lenten Pilgrimage to Jordan and Israel, 2010

TUE, FEB 9
Depart Dulles International Airport 9:55 p.m., Air France connecting in Paris to Amman, Jordan.

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WED, FEB 10, DAY 1: ARRIVE QUEEN ALIA AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO
AMMAN
7:10 p.m. Arrive on AF #3886, Transfer to Ramada Hotel, Amman

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THU, FEB 11, DAY 2: PETRA [map]
After breakfast, full-day tour to the Red Rose City Petra. (See information here and here and video here.)Upon arrival you will begin an unforgettable trip on horseback to the
Siq and by foot walk through the Siq to the Treasury. The local guide
will give a brief history. The Nabateans carved this capital of theirs
from the living rock of the surrounding mountains in Petra. Among other
monuments to visit today are Pharaoh's Castle, the Triumphal arch, the
Amphitheater and Monastery. Return to Ramada Hotel, Amman for dinner and overnight

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FRI, FEB 12, DAY 3: MT. NEBO / MADABA / SCHNELLER [map]
After breakfast drive the King's Highway to Madaba to visit the unique Byzantine Mosaics map of the holy places. Continue to Mount Nebo
with its spectacular view of the Holy Land. Lunch in Madaba. This
afternoon we meet with Fr. George Kireh, visit the rope garden and tour
the school at Schneller. We will have Dinner at the Schneller School
with locals. Overnight at the Ramada Hotel, Amman

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SAT, FEB 13, DAY 4: JOFEH / BAPTISMAL SITE / JERUSALEM
Jofeh Rehabilitation Center in the Jordan Valley, visit the Baptismal site, continue to Hussein Bridge (Allenby) to cross the River Jordan into the West Bank [read description of the process here]. Meet our guide Canon Iyad Qumri, and visit Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Dead Sea. Welcome by Bishop Suheil Dawani. Dinner and Overnight at Saint George's Cathedral Guest House in the cathedral complex, Jerusalem

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SUN, FEB 14, DAY 5: HORIZONS OF JERUSALEM / HOLY SEPULCHER
Introductions. Walk down to Damascus Gate to get the feel for the distance and our surroundings. Sunday Eucharist at Saint George's Cathedral. Lunch at Saint George's Guest House. Afternoon: Mt. Scopus, view the Judean desert, Mt. of Olives, City of David, Church of the Resurrection (aka, Church of the Holy Sepulcher). Dinner & Overnight at Saint George's Guest House

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MON, FEB 15, DAY 6: SHEPHERD'S FIELD / BETHLEHEM / HOLY SEPULCHER [ map]
Depart Jerusalem for Bethlehem and the Shepherd's Field. We visit the Nativity Church Peace Center. Lunch in Beit Sahour (Shepherd's Field). Visit SUNBULA.
Founded in 1996 is a Jerusalem-based non-profit organization committed
to promoting social justice and economic empowerment of the
marginalized. Its mission is to support Palestinian women's
cooperatives and disabled people's self-help groups by providing
marketing and sales opportunities for their products. We enter through
Jaffa gate to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues: A Palestinian Perspective. Dinner and Overnight at Saint George's Guest House

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TUE, FEB 16, DAY 7: WESTERN WALL / DOME OF THE ROCK / NAZARETH
We depart for the Western Wall near El haram Esh Sharif (The Dome of The Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque) with Dr. Ali Qleibo,
artist, author and anthropologist. Born in Jerusalem and educated in
the USA his books and artworks have taken him all over the world. His
book Before the Mountains Disappear is an ethnographic
description of everyday Palestinian life. The book provides a narrative
vista rich with anecdotes from personal experience into the manners and
customs of modern Palestinians. St. Anne's Church and the pool of Bethesda. Then to Nazareth [map] to visit the Church of St. Gabriel and the Basilica of the Annunciation. Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth

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WED, FEB 17, DAY 8: SEA OF GALILEE / JORDAN RIVER / CAPERNAUM / BEATITUDES
Today we depart for the Sea of Galilee-Lake Kinnereth. Stop at the Jordan River from the Northern side for the renewal of Baptismal vows. We then visit Capernaum where we see the Ancient Synagogue and St. Peter's House. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Lunch is by the Sea of Galilee, followed by a visit to Tabgha (Heptapegon) , The Loaves and Fishes Church and the Chapel of St. Peter's Primacy. We drive via the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem, on the way we will stop at Wadi Qelt to get the feel of the desert and view the Mt. of Temptation and the Old Roman Road. Ash Wednesday service at Saint George's Cathedral. Dinner and overnight at Saint George's Guest House

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THU, FEB 18, DAY 9: BETH-PHAGE / DOMINUS FLEVIT / GETHSEMANE
Depart for Bethphage and Dominus Flevit Church on the Mt. of Olives walk down the Palm Sunday Road ending at the Garden of Gethsemane. Farewell dinner in Jericho at the
Qumris'. Overnight at Saint George's Guest House

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FRI, FEB 19, DAY 10: WAY OF THE CROSS / EMMAUS
Early this morning we walk and pray the Way of the Cross. Later we
depart for Emmaus Nicopolis. We celebrate the Eucharist at the ruins of
the Byzantine Church, Lunch. Free Afternoon - Dinner and Overnight at
Saint George's Guest House

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SAT, FEB 20, DAY 11: RETURN TO USA
4:30 a.m. transfer to Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv for our flight that
departs at 8:15 a.m., Air France connecting in Paris to Dulles
returning 7:15 p.m.

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Ayelet tours produced the following 8-minute video, prepared specifically for Jewish congregations. To view it, click here.