Ashdod, Israel

We did two ports in Israel. Ashdod- we did a day in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. I wasn’t prepared for Bethlehem at all. When you pass the Gaza Strip it feels very unsafe. I don’t think I did proper research to understand what this means. We were traveling along and the streets looked clean and nice and inside the Gaza Strip it is dirty and smells like cat pee. We visited the church where Christ was said to be born. It is so busy and commercialized. Pay for the toilet one $ or Euro per person. Then we went to lunch a beautiful spread in a nice big hotel. Then we visited Jerusalem. I enjoyed walking the steps Christ took to Calvary, but I was not prepared for all the businesses and crowds going all directions. I wanted to experience a deep Christian feeling and with all that is going on it never happened to me. Also, while we were walking Christs steps the Muslims prayer came across the loud speaker, our guide says it happens five times a day. If you are trying to find that peace with Christ here in my experience there is just to much going on here. It is such a same for the Jews also not to be able to enter the Temple Mount but once a day. They devote their lives to studying and praying. I am glad I got to experience this and see with my own eyes, but I couldn’t feel any deep religious feelings with all the hustle and bustle of it. I was expecting it to be a place of silence and deep thought but it is loud and busy. People going in all directions and selling stuff everywhere. Haifa- we did a day in Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. This tour was very nice. We visited the church where Mary was visited by Gabriel and the church where Joesph lived. In these churches silence is asked for so it is easier to feel connected. The were both beautiful churches. We went to the Sea of Galilee and visited Peters house and the Church from the fishes and loaves. We seen the town of Cana and then a visit to the Baptismal site on the Jordan. Lunch was in a school cafeteria with the kids. It was cafeteria food. This day was amazing. The churches demand your silence so it is easier feel connected. Of course while we were at the church of annunciation (Mary’s church), we did hear the Muslim prayer again.

Our excursion to the Dead Sea was a 5/5 but the port without an excursion would be nothing. Expensive taxis and far away from most things. Well worth booking excursion

I ever expected to visit Israel but I took this opportunity to do a 10 hour RCCL tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It was very well done and I am glad i did it as I do not think I will ever go back to Israel separately.

Visited: Apr 22, 2018

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Did the ship tour to the Dead Sea and Masada, which was fantastic. Only disappointment was that we didn’t get a chance to go down to Herod’s Palace from the summit of Masada.

Visited: Dec 02, 2019

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One of our favorite ports. We have always wanted to visit Jerusalem and the important cultural, historical and political sites. Visiting the Western Wall was a very moving emotional experience.