May 1, 2011

Galilean Decapolis City

Tourism: Off the beaten path

By Tim Bergren

Way off the beaten path, within spitting distance of Syria, lies a largely untouched archeological site. Hippos (aka, Sussita) was one of ten Greco-Roman cities known as the Decapolis. Continue reading

Apr 25, 2011

Tourist Geeks on the Galilee

The Jesus Boat Tour

By Lisa T. Bergren

So…yeah. It had to be done. I’m the experiential sort and after visiting the Jesus Boat Museum, I actually wanted to get out on the waters of the Galilee, to get a better scope of broad expanse of the lake, Continue reading

Apr 19, 2011

The Jesus Boat Museum

Yeah, They Really Call It That

By Lisa T. Bergren

In 1986, after a prolonged drought, the waters of winter receded and the spine and planks of a two thousand year old boat–“the Jesus Boat”–was discovered on the shores of Lake Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee. Continue reading

Apr 11, 2011

The Basilica of Agony

AKA The Church of All Nations

By Lisa T. Bergren

One of the holiest experiences I’ve had as a spiritual traveler was more than twenty years ago, in Jerusalem. On Palm Sunday, with pilgrims from around the world, we joined a procession from Bethany, down curving, steep slopes of the Mount of Olives. With us were short, Greek nuns in black habits, as tough as they were wide. Continue reading

Apr 3, 2011

Peniel-by-Galilee

Sea of Galilee, Israel

By Lisa T. Bergren

Our group checked into this YMCA hostel—once the private villa of a 1920s benefactor—and after the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem, and high, dry Masada, sighed in relief as we spied the lush grounds with winding sidewalks and blossoming flowers. Continue reading

Dec 21, 2010

The Church of the Nativity

Birthplace of Jesus Christ

By Lisa T. Bergren

Despite what every crèche set showcases, it’s likely that Jesus Christ was born in a cave, carved out of a hill, rather than in a charming wooden stable. St. Justin (160 AD) was the first one to identify the Bethlehem cave as the birthplace of Christ, Continue reading

Nov 18, 2010

The Pulse of Jerusalem

Living Like a Local

By Lisa T. Bergren

I pour bitey, new wine (kosher, of course) for myself while my husband does a taste test on Israeli vs. Palestinian beer (FYI: Palestinians win). We’re in the garden of the guesthouse, our favorite spot to feel the pulse of Jerusalem. Continue reading

Oct 11, 2010

Sepphoris/Zippori, Israel

A Dip Among the Ancients

By Lisa T. Bergren

This place—also known as Sephoris, Sippori, Zippori—“the ornament of all Galilee,” as Josephus once called it, was a major city just over the ridge from Nazareth. Continue reading

Aug 23, 2010

The Wall

Crossing the Border from Palestine to Israel

By Lisa T. Bergren

Think crossing the Israeli border is easy? Think again. We began our day as we did many others in Jerusalem, all packed up, water bottles filled, cameras stationed around our necks. We walked through the winding streets of the Old City, through the Damascus Gate and over to the bus station, where our guide made arrangements for our group of twenty-two to be dropped in Bethany. Continue reading

Jun 25, 2010

Herodion

Palace for a Paranoid Ruler

By Lisa T. Bergren

So…Herod the Great looked at a mountain and saw the basis of another amazing fortress palace to add to his lot. You can almost see him there, taking it all in, like a modern day luxury hotel tycoon, thinking, Yes, yes, I’ll put a palace there. Continue reading