Walking where biblical history happened
By Carol Bontempo, 10-time traveler, Wheaton, Maryland
As a junior in high school, I had the opportunity to spend a summer in Spain as an exchange student. This exciting foray into another part of the world truly whetted my wanderlust, but it had to take a back seat to “real life” as I finished school, married, raised my children, and established my career.
But once I retired, it was time to get out and see as many places as I could. My first trip with OAT was to Australia, and since then, I’ve seen every continent except South America (next on my list!), and traveled to such fascinating places as Egypt, Africa, Southeast Asia, Northern Mexico, and several trips to Europe. Wildlife and local culture are among my particular passions, but I especially enjoy the history I learn about during my trips—I always want to see and find out more about things I don’t hear on the news every day.
That’s why it was so exciting to visit the Holy Lands with OAT, and to share it with Catherine Rowley—my good friend and 12-time traveler from Fredericksburg, Virginia. She and I have a lot in common, and we often travel together. Plus, we share a strong interest in the Bible and its people. So we really looked forward to our pre-trip extension visiting the Holy Lands of Jordan, our main trip to Israel, and some time at the Sinai—and it was one of the best trips we’ve ever had.
A view of the Treasury in Petra, taken during a pre-trip extension to Jordan.
I am a visual learner, so I got to understand a lot by seeing the varied geography and landscapes of Israel in particular—the lush green hills of Galilee, the lovely seacoast, the harsh deserts of Judea and the Negev, the life-giving River Jordan, and the important Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. I was able to realize the distances between these places, most of which would have been traveled on foot or by donkey in ancient times. I’m drawn to places where something important in history actually happened, so it was really thrilling to sit on the Mount of Beatitudes and read the Beatitudes, to sail on the Sea of Galilee while reviewing the relevant scriptures about it, and to walk the hilly streets of Jerusalem, which in many ways retain much of their historic character. To see where things in the Bible really took place—like the Sinai Desert where Moses walked—was amazing.
Carol takes a refreshing dip in the Jordan River. “It was quite chilly and cold!” she shares.
More recent history is also important, of course, but I was hesitant to visit Yad Vashem—the memorial to Jewish victims of the Holocaust. However, I decided to go with the group anyway. It was a troubling but very moving experience for me, and I’m so glad I changed my mind. It gave me a better grasp of the struggles of many of my Jewish friends and their families.
In addition, I greatly appreciated being able to have such open and honest discussions with the people of Israel. I learned so much from our Trip Leader—a very knowledgeable young man—along with many local people, such as a Palestinian journalist from the West Bank whose views were quite different from those of the Israelis. As a champion of women, I was encouraged to see the emergence of small enterprises for minority women, when we stopped at a Bedouin village where we learned about the women’s embroidery project—an effort supported by the Grand Circle Foundation. Being a needleworker myself, I truly appreciated their beautiful work, and bought several pieces.
Enjoying a view of the Sea of Galilee from their boat.
Besides seeing all of these significant places, learning ancient and modern history, and sampling the marvelous ethnic foods, Catherine and I were fortunate to travel with a nice group of people, and to encounter many of the local people—from the camel drivers in a small village to the vendors in the bustling markets of Jerusalem to the large family who gave us a delicious meal while we sat on their floor in one of the remote cities. And I even had an unexpected meeting with a favorite fellow traveler from a previous trip to Russia. She was on an OAT trip that was leaving the hotel in Tel Aviv shortly after we arrived, but we had a brief and sweet reunion in the lobby, reveling in the craziness of such a random moment.
During a visit to an Israeli olive farm, the farmer’s wife prepares lunch for Carol’s group.
I love so many things about travel, but most of all, I love the way travel enables me to learn more about different people and places. The world really is an adventurous place—there’s so much to see and do. Sometimes we can see how we might be able to help meet other people’s needs, while also becoming more aware of the blessings and privileges we enjoy at home. At the same time, we come to realize that people are people all over the world, and that we have so much in common with other cultures. The more places we go, the broader our view of the world becomes, and the more we want to see—especially with OAT and Grand Circle, who really do give us the best in learning and adventure.
Learn about the histories of the Holy Lands on our Israel: The Holy Land & Timeless Cultures adventure.