TURKEY GREECE & HOLYLAND – JUNE/2021

Depart S Francisco to Istanbul.

Arrive Istambul. Meeting with our representative at the airport and transfer by bus to our hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast . Full day tour of the city. In the morning, visit Santa Sophia, the most significant monument in Istanbul. From there, visit the Topkapi Palace, where the sultans lived between 1478 and 1856. We continue with the famous Blue Mosque and the Roman Hippodrome. We end the day with free time to shop at the Gran Bazaar. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast . Transfer from the hotel to the airport in time to board our flight to Izmir. Arrival and departure on our bus to Ephesus, the best preserved Greco-Roman city in Asia Minor since the 1st and 2nd centuries. The Temple of Artemis – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World -, the Temple of Hadrian, the Roman Baths, the Library of Celsus and the Odeon. Visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, and today it is a pilgrimage site. Then we will give way to Kusadasi, the “Island of the birds”, which opens us with beautiful views of the port of the bay. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast . Departure for Izmir, the third city of Turkey. We will take a short walk along its boardwalk. We continue to the airport in time to board our flight at 13:05 to Athens. We will make a stopover in Istanbul. Arrival in Athens around 5:55 PM. Meeting with our representative at the airport of Athens and transfer by private bus to our hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Departure towards the Argolis region. Route through the Corinth Canal which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. We will visit the archaeological site of Corinth. We will then go to the Homeric City: Mycenae. Visit its famous ruins, which include the Lions Gate, the walls, the site of the Royal tombs and the tomb of Agamemnon. Back to Athens where, in the afternoon, we will make a visit to the city that will lead us to know: The Constitution Square, the Parliament, the National Library, the University and the Academy, passing by the street Herodou Atticus, we can see the Royal Palace, guarded by Evzones, along towards the Acropolis, we can see the famous Olympic Stadium, the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s arch, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erecteum and the Parthenon. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Early departure this morning from the hotel with our Bus to the port of Piraeus to embark on the ferry that set sail at 07:25 to go to the famous Greek island “blue and white” Santorini. It is quite different to all the Cyclades Islands or any island of the Aegean. Santorini, every detail is beauty. Shaped half moon and on the inside, where once was the great volcano, there are another series of smaller but very beautiful islands. Arrival on 15:00. Meeting with our representative and transfer from the port to the hotel nearest road access. All hotels are situated in pedestrian areas with frequent stairs next to the caldera of Santorini, you’ll have to walk the short distance between Station Road and the hotel door (Distances of 25-35 meters). The rest of the day free. Overnight. (dinner is not included).

Breakfast. Morning free to enjoy the privileged location and breathtaking views of the place, from the hotel there is pedestrian access to shops and local restaurants. In the early afternoon, meet at the same point with our representative and transfer to the port to embark the ferry back to Athens. It will set sail at 15:30, arriving at Athens, on 23:45. Dinner on board. Arrive and transfer by Bus to the hotel. Overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport, in time to board our flight to Tel Aviv. Meeting with our representative at BEN GURION airport and departure by bus to Nazareth. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Visit to the Mount of Beatitudes, where we will do our personal meditation. Visit to Capernaum, celebration of the Holy Mass, on the ruins of the house of San. Pedro, visit the ruins of the old Synagogue. We continue to Tabgha, to the place of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, then we embark to make a journey through the Sea of Galilee, and already out to sea, we will do the corresponding readings. We will visit the Primacy of Peter, where Jesus tells his disciples that they are returning from fishing “Boys, bring some of the fish that you just caught”, there is a rock where Jesus had prepared the fire, and he was waiting for them, he asks him there to Pedro, do you love me more than these? We will go to the Jordan River to renew our Baptismal promises. Dinner and overnight..

Breakfast. Visit of Nazareth the place where the Son of God was incarnated in the Blessed Virgin. After visiting the entire Basilica, we will go to the Sagrada Familia grotto, and continue to Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle. Opportunity to renew the Sacrament of Marriage, for those who are married. We continue to climb Mount Carmel, to meet the Grotto of the Prophet Elias and contemplate the Bahaí Temple and its beautiful Persian Gardens. Back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Departure to Mt. Tabor and ascent by taxi to visit the Church of the Transfiguration. Bordering the Jordan River we will arrive at Yardenit, where the baptism commemoration site is located. Renewal of our Baptismal promises. Traveling through the Jordan Valley we will pass through Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Upon entering Jericho, there is a sycamore that reminds us of Zacchaeus, there, we will do the corresponding reading. We will arrive in front of the Mount of Temptations to remember the biblical passage. We continue to Jerusalem making a stop at the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the planet, it is 400 meters below sea level and its waters, more than waters, are salts and are said to be medicinal. Arrival in Jerusalem. In a high part of Mount Scopus, we will make a toast, as we have reached the Holy City. In Bethlehem, we will be very happy to thank God for allowing us to reach the place where, 2000 years ago, our Redeemer was born. We visit the Basilica of the Nativity. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. This day, we begin our pilgrimage to Mount of Olives, the place of the Ascension of Lord. To the Cave of the Our Father, to the Chapel of Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Continuing towards the Garden and the Basilica of Gethsemane where Jesus died and a few meters away is the Grotto of betrayal where Judas delivered him. We continue to visit the Mount Zion, the Cenacle, the place where Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Priesthood and the Eucharist, we will visit the Abbey of the Dormition of Mary and the Church of St. Peter in Galicanto. In the afternoon we continue visiting the Tomb of King David. Continuing to the Wailing Wall. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Very early today, departure to do the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross, visiting the Church of the Flagellation, the Chapel of the Condemnation, until reaching the Holy Sepulcher. We continue to Ain Karen to visit the Church of St. John Baptist and the place where the Blessed Virgin visited her cousin St. Isabel. Tonight we will have our farewell dinner and delivery of Pilgrimage certificates. Overnight

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer by our private bus to the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv to board our flight back to San Francisco.