Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a city located not just on the map but in the hearts and minds of billions of people worldwide. In Jerusalem people can visit places that they have read about in the Bible such as the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before his arrest, the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus cured a paralyzed man, the City of David where prophets walked and remonstrated the people and the Via Dolorosa, the path of the crucifixion.

Guests can visit some of the holiest sites in the world such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus was killed and buried, the Temple Mount or Haram a-sharif containing the Dome of the Rock where Mohammed ascended to heaven and learned to pray, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Room of the Last Supper and the Western Wall a remnant of the famous Temple built by Herod the Great.

Those interested in history and archaeology will be fascinated by Hezekiah's Tunnel, an ancient underground waterway built in the 8th century BC, the Burnt House, a mansion constructed while the Romans ruled in Jerusalem and burned down during the Great Revolt. There are also fascinating museums such as the Israel Museum home to the Dead Sea Scrolls with biblical texts dating back 2 thousand years and the Tower of David Museum home to multimedia displays portraying the myriad of groups who have conquered and ruled in Jerusalem.

For tourists interested in exploring the modern Middle East, the city is a fascinating mosaic of Israeli and Palestinian cultures. Before 1967 the city was divided between Israeli and Jordanian rule signs of which still exist today and the residents are not shy in discussing politics with those interested in the subject.

Jerusalem also offers excellent local cuisine from the famous hummus restaurants in the Old City to the modern Mediterranean restaurants that have come to dominate modern Israeli cuisine