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Pre-Pilgrimage Letter 2
| Trip Date: June 12, 2012
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Greetings!
It is getting closer! We are all increasingly excited about showing you our favorite places in the world! Things are coming along very nicely. The Franciscan University Team and Corporate Travel are doing a great job getting the last details for travel in place. I was asked to make a small correction from the last letter: There will not be a separate letter from Denny Dankowski of Franciscan University in advance of the Travel Documents from Corporate Travel. The Novena will arrive with your Travel Documents by May 31st. If you do not receive this packet in the mail by May 31 please alert Suzanne or Jean by calling (800)727-1999x121. Now then, this letter will focus on what you can do to prepare for traveling and helpful tips on what to bring with you. |
Weather Conditions
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 Many of the pilgrims have questions about weather and what type of clothes to bring. This chart showing Jerusalem's average temperatures, rain and humidity should be helpful. Galilee tends to be 10 degrees warmer than Jerusalem because of the difference in sea level. Galilee is 800 ft below sea level; Jerusalem is 3,000 ft above.
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Luggage and Hotels
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Remember as you are packing, because of the space limitations on the bus in Israel, pilgrims are limited to one suitcase and one carry-on. We will be staying in only two different hotels during our pilgrimage, so you can settle in and only have to pack up and move once between Galilee and Jerusalem. It is always nice to be able to leave your larger suitcase in your room so you can unpack and "belong" for a while. We will be staying at very nice places, the Ron Beach Hotel in Galilee, and Notre Dame in Jerusalem. These are not 5-star hotels, they are pilgrimage facilities, but they are clean, comfortable and well located. There are pictures of them on our website here if you haven't seen them already.
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Clothes and Footwear
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Planning your clothing on the temperature range for the month you are traveling is a good idea. The best plan is to bring layers of clothes: a rain jacket to put over a sweater to put over a shirt to put over a t-shirt. We will have a few early mornings which may be quite cool. You may want to shed the outer layers and leave them on the bus as the day goes on. You will have the same bus during the day, so you can always bring a small carry-on bag that can be left on the bus. That way you can leave or grab a hat, umbrella or cooler clothes from the bus during the day as needed. We would suggest that you bring comfortable walking shoes. Do NOT bring new shoes. Make sure you break them in first. We will not do a huge amount of walking, but we could cover one to three miles throughout some days with lots of ups and downs, uneven ground and steps. Good comfortable shoes are important. Janet and I pack light with fast-drying travel clothes, socks and underwear that can be washed in the sink at night. They are usually dry by morning. Our hotels also have laundry services that will usually clean an item and return it the same day for an extra charge. Since we are limited to one suitcase per pilgrim, packing light is necessary. I have a suggested packing list provided on my website. If you haven't looked over our suggested packing list, it would be a good idea to do that now. You can find it by clicking here. A good hat is also suggested to protect you from the sun and rain and to shade your eyes. As you know from my pictures, I wear Tilley hats. Sunglasses are also a good idea. Gloves might be nice if it gets cold, especially in the mornings and if you hands tend to get cold. A small compact travel umbrella is smart to have in case of rain.  If you plan to swim in the Sea of Galilee-or to "float" in the Dead Sea on the last day optional trip, bring a swimsuit. Towels will be provided. The Dead Sea is 10 times more salty than the Mediterranean Sea. We have been able to swim in the Dead Sea even in the winter since it is so far below sea level and tends to be warm there--even if it's cold higher up in Jerusalem. Because of the rocks in the water, and the hot, hot, ground at the dead sea, a pair of water shoes is a very good idea. Flip flops and thongs are worthless as they get sucked off your feet in the mud. Also, remember not to shave the day before the dead sea swimming excursion since the salty water can sting any irritated skin.
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Further Notes on Dress
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You'll see signs similar to this one at the entry to churches and Holy sites. Shorts are not allowed in holy sites and are not generally worn in Israel. Modest dress is required for entrance to holy sites, which means no shorts, no short skirts, no halter tops. Basically NO KNEES or SHOULDERS showing.
At the Christian sites men must remove hats, and women are not required to wear head coverings. At the Western Wall (or any Jewish holy site) men must wear hats or yarmulkes, but they are provided at the entrance.
Dress is casual throughout the whole pilgrimage-no suits or ties or dresses necessary. Janet and I wear jeans and casual shoes or sandals and comfortable travel clothes throughout the trip. We want our pilgrims to be casual and comfortable and not have to pack too many clothes.
Priests can wear what they wish. Some wear clerics, some cassocks and others dress casual. It is up to you. Priest's wearing clerical dress are generally treated with great respect by the locals.
If you are a runner, it is very safe to run early in the morning or later in the day--whenever or wherever we are. Bring your running gear along and enjoy seeing the Holy Land in a fun and interesting way--by running through the land, along the sea and around the city walls. I hope to take you on a fun run around the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem if you wish.
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Electrical
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I f you plan to use appliances in your room that use 110 volt, please remember to bring a converter/adapter that will drop the voltage from 220 in Israel, to the 110 used by American appliances and allow you to plug into the European-style outlets.
Some of your travel appliances may already accommodate voltages of 100-240 so be sure to take note of yours.
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Strenuous Activities
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There are times when some of the events are more strenuous than others. For example, the walk up to the Church of the Visitation can be challenging to those not prepared to walk uphill for 15 minutes. The Via Dolorosa can also be difficult for some who have trouble with uneven paving stones or slippery surfaces (especially when wet). We will always warn pilgrims in advance of the degree of difficulty so they can decide if they prefer to sit out a given activity.
We've had to deal with several injuries on our trip. They were all due to people not being careful where they walked. The Holy Land may be holy ground, but it is not even ground. It is rough in places and slippery when wet. We will remind you constantly to watch where you are walking and to be careful. We don't want you to spend your days in a hospital!
If there are injuries or illnesses, we can assure you we have access to good doctors and hospitals. We strongly encourage everyone to get the recommended travel insurance which has been indispensable if injuries and illnesses occur.
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Medicines and Other Crucial Items
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It is not uncommon for the airlines to lose a suitcase or two. They are usually delivered to our hotel in short order.
One time a lady packed her medicine in her checked suitcase which was then lost. It created an emergency. So, PLEASE PACK YOUR CRUCIAL ITEMS IN YOUR CARRY ON. It is also smart to have a few items of clothing too, just in case your luggage is lost.
If you have questions about what you can carry with you on the plane, please see the information sent to you by Corporate Travel. You can also check the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov. Any other questions can be answered by calling Suzanne or Jean at Corporate Travel 1(800) 727-1999x121 or the airline on which you are flying.
Motion Sickness? If you have a tendency to get car sick, please remember to bring some non-drowsy formula Dramamine or the wrist bands made to minimize motion sickness. If you get it bad, check with your doctor about the patch you put behind your ear.
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The Internet, Cameras and Video
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Make sure you let your family, friends and parish back home know about the daily Virtual Pilgrimage videos at www.CatholicConvert.com so they can share in the pilgrimage with you as you travel.
All of the hotels have wireless internet available for use in the lobby for a small fee. The wireless availability can be spotty in Jerusalem, however, the hotel staff is very helpful and normally can get guests connected.
My wife Janet and I will be taking pictures and videos constantly during the pilgrimage and also discreetly during the Masses (yes, the celebrating priests have been given a heads up about this). Why do we film the trip? First, I minimize your need to take videos, especially during the Mass. Second, my pictures and videos are taken to produce the nightly Virtual Pilgrimage videos which I upload to my blog. Third, we use the pictures and videos for our final keepsake DVD (usually about 90 minutes long) which you will receive in the mail thirty days after you return home.
Most pilgrims bring a camera or camcorder of their own to document their adventure. If you want to share links to your photo albums online when you return home please let us know and we will add it to the Past Pilgrimages page.
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Alarm Clock
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We automatically arrange a "blanket" wake-up call for each morning. BUT, there are times when a room is missed by accident. PLEASE bring a portable alarm clock of your own as a back up. This is very important - since we are very prompt in the mornings and want to make sure you don't miss anything.
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Money and Credit Cards
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The local currency of Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS) but you will not need to change money unless you want to. Everyone speaks English and will accept US dollars, though they are becoming less appreciated with the drop in the value of the dollar. A few years ago the exchange rate was $1 = 5 Shekels. Today it is about $1 = 3.7 Shekels.
It is smart to keep a handful of small dollar bills in your pocket for bottled water, drinks, souvenirs, etc. Also you will need a few shekel coins in your pocket for restrooms (our American coins are not used in Israel), but other than that you can use dollars and credit cards just about everywhere. There are also ATM machines scattered about in Jerusalem, most of which will dispense dollars or shekels as you choose. One is near our hotel in Jerusalem. Both hotels will change money for you (into dollars or shekels) with a small exchange rate.
If you plan to bring your credit card along be sure to call the customer service number and tell them you will be traveling overseas. Otherwise, if they see charges in foreign countries, they may shut your card down for security reasons.
Be aware that there are areas prone to having pickpockets. We have never had anyone pickpocketed before because we will warn you about places where the risk is highest. Some vendors and little children can get very pushy and come very close. We are very good at protecting you from these situations, and we will talk more about it later.
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Safety
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Janet and I have been to the Holy Land over 100 times in the last 15 years-and just returned a couple months ago. We have developed many friendships and know the country like the back of our hands. The places we will be traveling are very secure, (we feel safer in Israel than we do in Detroit, Pittsburgh, or New York City).
Just last month, May of 2012, we were here in Jerusalem and it looks just like it did last spring while I recorded this video...running around every corner of the city of Jerusalem. Look how peaceful the areas we visit really are. You would watch it just to counteract the mainstream media's fear mongering. See the video here.
We know that many of your friends and family are concerned for your safety. I know it won't do any good to tell them that it is perfectly safe in the Holy Land, but once you get there you will be delighted with how safe, beautiful, friendly and quiet it is in Israel. It is not the way it is presented on CNN! You will have a great time. We are very careful and will never put any one in harm's way.
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You can Expect one more Pre-Pilgrimage Letter
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So far you should have received: Letter #1 which focused on important documents you will receive. If you missed it please let us know so we can get it to you. Letter #2, this one, which dealt with preparation and packing. Look for Letter #3 to arrive soon. It will introduce people you will meet, the airports and Mass in New York, and what to expect when you arrive in the Holy Land.
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May the Lord bless you as you prepare for the pilgrimage of a lifetime!
Sincerely, Steve & Janet Ray
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