Originally published at National Catholic Register
Let me be clear: I’m no travel writer. I’m just a college student who had the good fortune of traveling to Israel recently.
When I first learned that I would be making the trip, I was ecstatic.
I would be spending a week walking where Jesus walked, seeing what the apostles saw, and praying where millions of pilgrims before me have prayed.
Who wouldn’t be excited?
We walked between the Church of St. Joseph and the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, tracing Christ’s steps on the Via Dolorosa and visiting the site of Golgotha at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We also visited the hometown of a saint.
These holy sites will be the most memorable from my time in the Holy Land, as I am sure that I will return to each of them in prayer.
But beyond the holy sites, Israel has many other fascinating places — from historical landmarks to museums and restaurants — that enriched the trip.
Over the course of the week, we visited dozens of these places to learn about Israeli history and culture. Many of these sites helped provide context for what life was like during the time of Christ and
