How about Jerusalem during Christmas?
One can never have enough of Israel and Jordan. Two places on my bucket list that I got to a bit belatedly, thanks to my family’s plans of doing a Christmas visit to these holy places.
Jerusalem, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, and Haifa— now they all seem so familiar after being toured around the cities and taking photos at the requisite tourist spots. The weather was a cool range of 7-12 degrees in December and perfect for shawls and jackets, but bearable to walk around the hills and valleys.
The trip also makes you connect to your Christian roots and catholic education as you recall the lessons in school and make the readings come to life. Gethsemane? I remember the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, and you sing along while the guide takes you to the gardens and the oldest olive tree — about 2,000 years old! Yes, as old as BC and AD on our calendars, before and after Christ.
As I was posting photos on Instagram, not a few friends asked for our itinerary and which travel agent we used; you can actually choose from many tour agencies but specify if you want a Christian or a Christian Catholic version. They will include a knowledgeable local guide who is also of the same faith.
I think Christmas time is a good time to visit even if a priest told me the lines would be long. But how many times can you actually visit Jesus’ actual birthplace? That for me was worth the two hour wait in line and a crowded flow into a grotto to have just ten seconds with the “child in the manger “. All kinds of nationalities were there, it was like the United Nations of Christianity.