Day 1
We touched down in Israel around 4:00 in the afternoon Israeli time. I'd never flown into another country before, so going through customs and having my passport checked was a new experience. The first tell tale sign we were in Israel came while we were waiting for our group to gather. Along an eastern wall a group of Jewish men gathered. Dressed in mostly black with their payot (curled sideburns essentially) hanging down, each prayed on their own, facing Jerusalem. Being in Tel Aviv, they all faced east. I appreciated this because it helped me get my bearings.
We loaded onto our bus and met our guide, George. He is a native to Jerusalem, with multiple college degrees and an incredible memory.
Our first stop was in Ramlah, a town south east of Tel Aviv. We celebrated mass at the Church of Joseph and Nicodemus. Named after Joseph of Arimathea who asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and Nicodemus who we hear about three separate times in John's Gospel. Both it is believed came from this area of Israel. Two Franciscan friars and two Franciscan nuns live at and take care of the Church. One of them shared with us that during the Crusade times, it was this church that the pilgrims would start out at.
From Ramlah, we headed north to Tiberias. It took us almost two hours and it was dark, but we were definitely in a foreign country. Arriving at our hotel in Tiberias we immediately went in and had our first taste of what our meals were going to be like during our pilgrimage. Lots of pita bread, humus and other dips, fish and of course, wine.
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