1964

Greetings and Merry Christmas!

I’m late getting my cards done -- but just discovered I could borrow a duplicating machine, so that will speed up the message somewhat as compared to the handscrew method.

I resigned from my London job in early April, and for a last-fling trip coming home, took a tour of the Holy Land and other areas of interest in the Middle East -- through four countries to be exact -- Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. We flew from London to Beirut where we stopped a few days, taking excursions to various sites in Lebanon-- Sidon, bait-edDin, the Dog River, and the Cedars (a skiing resort!) into Syria, stopping to see Chevaliere (Crusader castle: Incidentally, we got an absolute bellyful of Crusader castles on this trip -- they’re everywhere), (just a revolt there shortly after we left), the Syrian desert to the ruined city (gorgeous!), and then down to a city with wonderful bazaars, beautiful mosques, and of course the places associated with the life of St. Paul.

Then we proceeded into Jordan -- via the ruined city of Jeresu - to Jerusalem, our headquarters for seeing the places associated with the life of Christ and various other sites. We also had a swim in the Dead Sea, a look at the caves where the “Dead Sea Scrolls” were found, climbed down onto the walls of buried Jericho, and viewed the Promised Land from Mt. Nebo, as did Osea and his followers. We thought Osea had made a mistake, because the area he had just come from looked more fertile, but were told that once the heat started the situation would be more or less reversed in favor of the “promised land.”

Our tour ended in the Jordan side of Jerusalem, but about half our group continued on into Israel for further touring. Israel is more interested in showing its brand new features, but from our point of view we were more interested in seeing sites of biblical and historical interest. Our tour there covered Aere (Richard the Lion Hearted and more Crusaders!), Tiberias, Mt. of Bestidude, Sea of Galileo, Nazareth, etc. - various sites in the area associated with Jesus’ life. I also took a tour down to camel market of the bedouins of the Negev and Ashkelon.

In summary, this was the most exciting and intriguing trip I’ve taken. The impact of actually being in the very places one knows from the Bible cannot be described. And the Arab world is absolutely fascinating. I used to think Lawrence and such types must be a bit goofy; now I see what it was all about there is definitely something about the Feat that “gets you.”

I stopped over briefly in Greece treking down St. Paul some more (Neapolia and Philip and a few more Greek Islands were also added to my collection (Kee Koni and Hydra) and on land...then back to London whence I reorganized and got myself back to the U.S. on the S.S. “France” - a very comfortable ship with delicious food and such gracious staff.

For real anti-climax, now, I’ve been bogged down at home ever since in household repairs, renovations, painting, etc. to the point where I feel there was a great deal to be said for the bedouin tents of the Arabian deserts. Though there is much left to be done I can’t stick it much longer so hope to get away soon. Plans very vague and miscellaneous yet. But I switch from this growling note just in time to wish you a happy Christmas and New Year before I fall off the bottom of this page… and may your house never get into the crumbling state mine was!