Parties make the world go round!: The Christmas Tour

December 26, 1953

Thursday the 24^th we left Istanbul early in the morning for Jerusalem. It was a rough trip, and we almost didn’t get through. We almost had to spend the night in Nicosia on the Isle of Cyprus where we stopped for an hour to refuel. That was the first place we have been since leaving the states where all of the signs are in English. Guess what they did when we landed! Before we could get off a little man came on board and sprayed us with DDT!

(This makes me think back in my childhood days when they used to spray the neighborhoods - for mosquitos, I think. They would come around in an Army jeep and spray this thick stinky stuff, during the summer, that would get in your house if you left the windows open. I am thinking that we never got advance notice of this, because I can remember being home when they sprayed and running into the house. I also remember standing in a closet with the door closed, but I'm guessing that the spray still got in because I could smell it. I can only imagine what health conditions we have now because of this....)

Airport in Nicosia

We landed in Jerusalem late in the afternoon. We had to stay in different hotels because at the last minute Admiral Hughes came down and took over our hotel. They took us to a hotel that was about a mile from Bethlehem and right on the Israeli border. All of us had dinner here. There was a combo which played American music here too and they played the last song I ever expected to hear in the Holy Land – Dixie. Pete, our tour conductor, didn’t like the hotel so we moved to another one in Beit Jala – “The City of Beggars”. We had no heat or water and we nearly froze. Besides we couldn’t even brush our teeth much less wash. But then it was just another experience. Yesterday they moved us down to another hotel in Jerusalem – the Assaure. It was very nice and we had a little stove in our room. There was also a tub on our hall, but by the time I got to take a bath, the water was cold. Have you ever tried to take a bath standing up? ‘Tain’t easy!

Hotel in Jerusalem

Thursday night while we were waiting to go to church, we had some dried watermelon seeds which the people eat like peanuts.

On the way to Bethlehem we traveled on the road that Mary and Joseph took part of the time. We went to the midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity. It lasted for four hours so we didn’t stay for all of it. While here we saw the place where Christ was supposed to have been born and the manger that he was put in. These were down in the church.

I was simply amazed by the fact that practically everyone here spoke English. The main thing that they talk about is the war between the Arabs and the Jews. On most of our trips we rode right beside the border. There were soldiers and policemen all over the place. In fact we had a policeman with us most of the time. You are not supposed to take pictures of the people or military installations. It seems that the Jews have taken them and used them for propaganda.

Christmas Day was spent sightseeing. We really saw a tremendous amount in two days, but then there is a lot to see. The Holy Land was just like I had always imagined it, but I was surprised at the lack of vegetation – there are rocks everywhere. There are also cement blocks staggered in the roads as barriers to slow down the enemy.

(I'm amazed that she was in the Holy Land at Christmas. What an amazing trip and time to be there!)

The things we saw Christmas Day: Garden of Gethsemane. Here is the Church of Agony or the All Nations Church. This is built over the spot somewhere where Judas betrayed Christ. Across from this is the wall of Jerusalem. In it is the Golden Gate where Christ entered the town on Palm Sunday. At one end of the wall is the village where Jesus made the blind man see. Virgin’s Tomb or the Church of the Assumption. We lit candles and saw the Tomb and the well of the Holy Virgin.

The Garden of Gethsemane

Then we went to the Dead Sea. On the way we passed Mt. Sinai and the Good Samaritan Inn. We drove through the mountains of Jericho. The Dead Sea is the lowest place in the world. It is 47 miles long and 11 miles wide. It is 1300 ft. below sea level and is 1300 ft. deep. It is very salty. Here we ate oranges with some Arabs – wonderful! Across the Dead Sea we could see Mt. Arab where Moses sold the Promised Land. Near here is the place where Lot was captured. It was nice and warm and sunny here.

The Dead Sea

River Jordan – somewhere along here is where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

The River Jordan

Jericho – we came back by here. Here we saw people getting water from the pool of Elisha and carrying it off on their heads just like all of the pictures but we couldn’t take pictures of them. Across the road was old Jericho where the “walls came tumbling down”. We saw one little spot where they had been excavating and uncovered a part of the wall. We could also see the Mountain of Temptation where Christ was tempted. We also supposedly saw the tree where Jesus saw Zacarias and told him to come down.

Mother at the walls of Jericho

Bethany – just outside Jerusalem. Lazarus’s tomb is here. This is also were Mary Magdalene washed Christ’s feet. There are some medieval arches left and one is believed to have been the home of Lazarus.

Lazarus' Tomb at Bethany

In the afternoon we visited the old city of Jerusalem. We went in through the Damascus Gate. Here we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Moslems are in charge here and we saw the man calling the people to pray. All people pray here though. This is the place that the Catholics believed to be Cavalry where Christ was crucified and buried. Here we saw the Stone of Unction where the body was laid and also the tomb.

Damascus Gate in Jerusalem

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

There is another spot outside the walls and St. Stephens Gate where the Protestants believe He was buried – the Garden Tomb – next to hill – Golgotha – which was bought with the 20 pieces of silver. Cross stood here. We saw this this morning.

Then we went back to the hotel for Christmas dinner. I don’t like the way their things taste particularly, but I enjoyed it. Afterwards they gave all of us a present. Mine was a pair of earrings – the Crusaders Cross in an olive wood box. Hilde gave me a medallion that just matches them.

This morning we started out early again.

Mt. Olive – Place of the Ascension. Christ used to come up here because it was peaceful and quiet.

St. Stephens Gate – went into the old city and the Moslem area. We went to the Mosque of Omah. Here we had to put on slippers again. This was very ornate but beautiful. There is the top of a mountain inside – Mt. Uriah, I think. This is where Abraham was about to sacrifice his son to the Lord and also the place of ascension of the Prophet Mohamed. Not far from here is the place where Jesus was found talking to the learned men at the age of 12. The Mosque of Omah and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher are both in danger of falling because the Jews made direct hits on them in 1948. This has not been published.

The pool to wash your feet before entering the Mosque of Omah

Wailing Wall – where the people did their chanting and praying for forgiveness of their past sins.

The Wailing Wall

Then we went up the Via de La Rosa – the way of the cross and through the Damascus Gate. Everywhere people are trying to sell you something. We also saw some beggars.

Leaving Jerusalem - flying over the mountains

Now we are on our way to Luxor. We have flown over the Red Sea and saw Mt. Sinai where Moses received the 10 Commandments.

We landed in Luxor late this afternoon. We came into town in a car just like “modern conveniences”. On the way we saw such things as palm trees, natives in their native dress, men riding camels and burros, women carrying water jugs on their heads, men sitting in the road, mud houses, etc. It’s entirely different from anything we have seen yet. The weather is nice and warm too – just like spring. We sho’ do like it.

We are staying at the Winter Palace (still there) which is right on the Nile. When we came in the sunset on the Nile was gorgeous. The meal here was the best yet. All of the waiters wear white dresses with red, green, or maroon belts. All of the staff are in native dress and it is very colorful.