Visiting Israel...

We have just returned from our first trip to Israel. It was brilliant, mesmerising, thought-provoking and life-changing. We chose not to join an organised tour but to go with friends (I don't like being told what to do all day!). We stayed mainly at the 2 CMJ guesthouses run by the Anglican church - one in Jerusalem and one at Galilee. I can highly recommend both. Christchurch Jerusalem is the perfect location for exploring the Old City. The rooms are great, breakfast fantastic. There is even a quiet garden and terrace to recover from the intensity of the city. Breit Bracha, Galilee is also a perfect location for exploring the lake, Capernaeum, Caesarea Philippi, Magdala etc. Jonathan and Alison are brilliant hosts, full of helpful suggestions and tips. Their breakfast is quite simply...amazing. We bobbed in the Dead Sea and did the sunrise walk up Masada - stunning. And the beautiful beaches of Tel-Aviv. The enduring appeal of a trip to Israel however is not just the weather, the beauty and the people, it is how The Bible comes to life. It makes it more real. Visiting the places, imagining the events and walking where Jesus walked is beautiful and profound.