Jan. 25, 2016 flying home on Turkish Air- great service on the plane

Early Sunday morning we boarded our plane for the flight to Constantinople  (Istanbul). I may have mentioned in my first blog that we were flying business class and the reasons why.
Just like the flight over, we had a very short layover/transfer time to get off and then get on the plane to San Francisco.

We again missed the chance to visit the Turkish Airlines lounge- hopefully the next time we will have a longer layover- not only to go to the lounge but not to have to race from one end of the airport to the other to catch our plane.

We found the gate for the flight to SF and had to go through security to go to the gate. My wife was able to go to the waiting area but I got selected for a second hand search. Had to wait 10 mins in line for the search of my body and my carryon and  then was allowed to go to the boarding area.

Our plane was on time so we started boarding. I believe our plane was one of the jumbo Airbuses which had multiple entrances to the plane depending on the seat class.

We got on board and were immediately greeted and seated and given a drink.
We had the same nice roomy and comfy seats like on the way over.

Once the plane was up and going the fasten seat belt light was turned off and appetizers and meal service started.

After dinner the lights were dimmed and we started watching movies. Later we had the flight attendant make our bed and we slept until 3 hrs before landing.

Our bed went back to seat position and the flight attendant handed out the breakfast menus and then started serving the appetizer. It was so generous I thought it was the main meal.

Breakfast

After breakfast coffee

views of San Francisco

Our plane arrived on time and we got off and headed to customs and food inspection.  At the luggage area we were paged and notified one bag was delayed and would be on the next flight to SF. Once it arrived they would deliver it to us at home.

First time we did not have to go to lost luggage and open a claim. The paperwork was already for us and we just signed, got our other bags and continued to Customs.

Our trip was over and although we were glad to be home I really enjoyed every aspect of the trip. I can see why some people go back on a second pilgrimage.

Our delayed bag was delivered the next day!

Jan. 24, 2016 our pilgrimage is over and time to fly home plus my thoughts

It seemed like the tour would last longer than it did. Because we were so busy everyday the days flew by.

Our flight was at 9am and since the tour operator expected a long wait to go through security we were to be up and in the lobby at 4:30am with our luggage.
We were surprised with a box breakfast that we had to eat at the hotel- cheese, bread, cucumber, olives and an apple.

The ride to the airport was about 45 mins and we went into the airport and security line. Our luggage had to be unlocked and we were questioned one by one and then allowed to go to the check in desk and get our boarding passes and check our bags.

All of us went through fine and we sat by the snack bar until it was time to go through security and wait to board the plane.

I really enjoyed the experience, the lectures and seeing the Churches and places I heard about my whole life during Church services, Sermons and Holidays.
Seeing the places reinforced the things I learned and heard in Church.

It is one thing to see the events in Icons but another to be in that place like Canna where the water was turned into wine or the Shepard's Field where an Angel announced Jesus's birth.

The most light hearted moment was Greek dancing on the little boat on the Sea of Galilee.

The most awaited moment was wading in the Jordan River. Due to lack of time we did not go to the Dead Sea and I did bring my bathing suit to go in.

I really liked the visits to the St. Gerasimos's Monastery and the Holy Cross Monastery as they were away from the urban setting and very peaceful.

Of course it would not have been possible without Metropolitan Nikitas who was our Spiritual guide and leader and Yiannis our guide and Mohammed our wonderful driver.


Next post will be about our flight home.

Jan 23, 2016 Last day before going home- Church of the Ascension, Monastery of the Ascension, Mt. Zion, Monastery of the Cross and a last visit to the Old City

view from Mt. of Olives viewpoint

Today is Saturday and Shabbat.

When we went down to breakfast the elevator stopped at every floor because of Shabbat. Breakfast- no hot food or hot coffee due to Shabbat.

We got on the bus for our last tour today early- 7:45 am-  and our first stop is the Mt. of Olives to visit the Church of the Ascension. Before we got off the bus Yiannis warned us to stay away from the vendors as they use the excuse of selling things in order to pickpocket.


We went into a courtyard and saw a small 8 sided building which was a chapel with a footprint of Christ in the middle.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-chapel-of-ascension

Once we all listened to Yiannis explain about the chapel we went across the street to the Monastery of the Ascension (convent) to visit the Church and venerate the icons and view the beautiful iconography on the walls and ceiling.

There is a story why the Church is below ground - see the link below.

http://monanalipsiholyland.org/en/history.html



Currently there are several nuns from Orthodox countries at the Monastery along  with Monk Achilleos who was away at the time of our visit.

Stopped at a viewpoint to get out and take some photos. Saw some interesting things here so we took pix.

Back on the bus to go to Mt. Zion where we will visit a Catholic Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, room of the Last Supper and the symbolic Tomb of King David.

The Catholic Church- Church of the Dormition-  had a representation of the Virgin Mary in repose.

http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Dormition.html


We went to a building that had a hall that was supposed to be where the Last Supper was.
http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/LastSupper.html

On Pentecost a Liturgy is celebrated in a room next to the hall.

We then walked to the symbolic Tomb of King David. Men and women had to go into separate entrances.

http://www.seetheholyland.net/tomb-of-king-david/

10:20 am- back on the bus for a visit to the Monastery of the Cross (Holy Cross) which I first heard of today. None of the other pilgrimages that I heard about made the visit here. It was a short bus ride from Mt Zion.

http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/CrossMonastery.html

http://www.seetheholyland.net/monastery-of-the-cross/

Yiannis and the Metropolitan said not many tour groups visit here because it is a bit out of the way. Once we heard about the Holy Cross and visited the room with the Icons we realized that this is an important place to visit.

We first went into the courtyard to the gift shop and snack bar. Our guide and the Metropolitan encouraged shopping at all the Church gift shops as our purchases help support the Churches and Monasteries.

I was starving by now and bought a croissant from the snack bar.

Once everyone was done shopping we went into the Church and then into the Room of the Holy Tree. Here the icons depict the story of how the Holy Tree was grown to become the cross on which Jesus was crucified. I never heard about the Holy Tree or how it came to be.

Holy Tree Icons on wall

The story was displayed outside the Church telling how the tree was planted and it  watered and how it was fashioned into the Cross.

http://www.saintdemetrios.org.uk/the-story-of-the-precious-wood/

Under a table with a red cloth was the hole where the Holy Tree grew- I was able to put my hand in and touch the ground.

After Yianni's explanation of the Holy Room icons everyone had some time to go into the Church, see the monastery and take photos.

We now got  back on the bus and Yiannis explained that those who did not want to have free time in the Old City can stay on the bus and go back to the hotel.

We were driven back to the Jaffa Gate and given instructions on how to walk back to the hotel or we could take a taxi.

Inside the Jaffa Gate was one of the few sit down restaurants we saw the previous day when we were in the Old City and we decided to have lunch here at the Samar Restaurant. It was small inside but it had a good menu and the food we saw being served looked good too.

We ordered beef kabobs, fries, vegetable and coke for $41.00 for the two of us.
The lunch was great- one of the best I had on the whole trip. It was relaxing since we were not in a rush to get back on tour.
After lunch we strolled through the Christian Quarter looking at all the shops and taking the street that would lead us out of the Old City and to our hotel. It took us about an hour to get to the hotel.

 this shop was a short distance from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Owner was Greek speaking.

 street scene

 street scene

 Damascus Gate

Damascus Gate

Shabbat was over a little after 6pm and we had a wonderful dinner with our group enjoying a nice hot meal.  Afterwards everyone took photos of our group and exchanged phone numbers and email addresses.

Yiannis then explained the program for tomorrow- getting up, luggage downstairs etc. I will detail that in the next post.