Poll Results

The poll on what I should write about next is closed. It ended up being a tie between Jerusalem and Paris, with a grand total of one vote each. Come on guys! If even one of you votes in the next poll, you might decide what I publish next! Try it.

Three Steps to Enjoy Travel

How to enjoy travel according to a 14 year old (me):


Step 1. Meet People
You can understand another culture a lot better if you talk to a few locals than if you read an encyclopedia (though I would recommend doing both). There are many people in the Middle East and Europe who I would consider my friends. Now, when I say meet people, I don't mean just walk up to a person on the street and expect to become lifelong companions. Instead, maybe ask the tour guides a few more questions than the average tourist. Or strike up a conversation with a shopkeeper about local events. It makes your trip much more enjoyable if you can get a local's perspective.

Step 2. Don't be lazy
You can sleep in another time, folks. For many people, a trip like this is a once in a lifetime event. Use your time here to the fullest. Get up early, stay out late, always be rushing to the next sight. Enjoy yourself! To get the most out of your time, it helps to know what you want to see, so you may want to research a little beforehand. There is always one more thing you can visit!

Step 3. Go outside your comfort zone
Most of the time, people plan vacations to relax. I think that vacations should be a time to try new things; a time to be adventurous. Whenever you think you are too tired, or too nervous, or you don't have enough time, ask yourself "when will I have the chance to do this again?" Another part of getting out of your comfort zone is abandoning technology. Computers and Ipads should be left at home. Sure, bring your phone, but don't use it to check your email five times a day. When my Dad and I were in the Middle East, we joked that there could have been a new President elected in America and we wouldn't know it. I think that it's a good thing to be unplugged from the news for a little while.

Abide by these three simple ideas and your trip to wherever you're going will be a pleasant one.

Email me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com. I would love to answer your questions and respond to your suggestions.

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Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

Today, I’m going to tell you about Westminster Abbey, the most recognizable church in England. If you’ve been following the English Royal Family, you’ve probably seen this place on the news. Most recently, it was the site of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and now-Princess Kate. Even if you don’t care about the monarchs, though, Westminster Abbey is still a beautiful church that is worth visiting. If you want, read my one of my other articles on London by clicking here.

Before Going: 9/10

Reason for Score: I had seen the Abbey a lot on T.V. J

Why you should go:

The three biggest interests at Westminster were the famous graves, the beautiful architecture, and the Royal Family. First, I saw a whole lot of famous people buried in the Abbey.  My favorites were Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, and Rudyard Kipling, who were all buried here. Second, I was really struck by the beauty of the building in general. The architects didn’t spare any expense in designing the building to be as detailed as it is huge. Of course, it helps to have access to the King’s checkbook J. Finally, the Royal Family has had a long history here. Coronations and other royal events have occurred here for almost a millennium.  I remember most watching the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Princess Kate on the news. It was pretty cool to know the Abbey from T.V. before ever even going. I loved Westminster Abbey, and I hope you will too.

How:

It doesn’t really matter whether you enjoy the Abbey with or without a guide. The Abbey is a large place, but it is easy to navigate on your own. I went with a guide only to make sure I saw all of London before I had to leave. It takes roughly an hour to see the Abbey at a relaxed pace, but you could do it more quickly. Because of my aforementioned hurry, I did it in much less than an hour. The point is, make sure to see Westminster Abbey on your tour of London.

After Going: 9/10

Reason for Score: It is a great, historical church where Isaac Newton is buried

Email me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com

 The giant statue of Oliver Cromwell, an English hero

 Me and my guide, John Gowing, outside the Abbey

Can you see the change in the design of the buttresses? This was caused of kings in England. The new king wanted to outdo his predecessor and leave his mark on the church.

Decorative statues that are as big as I am!

Yeah, it's that big

The Tower of London

The Tower of London:

Before Going: 8/10

I’m going to write about the Tower of London, a massive castle complex in (can you guess?) London.  It is important because it was the residence of the kings of England. The Tower, and the neighboring Tower Hill, is a place where many famous people were put to death, including Anne Boleyn. Besides this rather grim purpose, though, it also holds the Crown Jewels of England. It is definitely one of my favorite parts of Britain. If you're interested in Britain, click here for my other articles

Why you should go:

The three best parts of the Tower of London are the White Tower, the Crown Jewels, and the (nearby) Tower Hill. My favorite of these, the White Tower, is the innermost and oldest part of the extensive Tower complex. I like the small museum inside, containing period weapons and armor. Admittedly, I didn’t see the Crown Jewels because I was short on time. Still many tourists visit them every year and I would suggest going. Lastly, the Tower Hill is the official execution place of London (not anymore, mind you) and is where most notorious criminals were put to death.  There is a small plaque on the ground that lists some of those killed.

The primary reason I wanted to go was to see the enormous medieval castle, which I think is something most of us could relate to. However, there are also plenty of entertaining stories from London’s history that took place here, and it is quite memorable to see where these occurred. The final reason you should go is that The Tower is important to British history, and you all know how much I like history. The Tower was originally built by, if you can believe it, the French kings of England.  Anyone who doesn’t see the Tower of London on their trip to England can’t claim to have really seen England.

How:

I advise going with a guide, just because of the sheer volume of history at the site. Guides can keep you interested with the amusing tales that have taken place in the Tower, and some darker ones too. More importantly, a guide can helped me tie these stories to the specific locations in which they happened better than you ever could have with a guidebook. My favorite guide for all of London is John Gowing, at www.gowingguiding.co.uk. He gave me a great tour of the Tower and a great explanation of its history. I spent roughly two hours at the Tower, but I wasn’t able to see everything fully. You should probably leave 3-4 hours, depending on how long you are in London for. Make sure to pick up a map at the gate, (if they still offer them, I haven’t been there for a while). I loved my tour of the Tower of London, and I hope you do too.

I’ll warn you about the pictures, though. For those of you that have read my Middle East series of posts, I look pretty young in these Europe ones!

After Going (not Gowing): 9/10
Reason for Score: It is a very impressive place and has quite an interesting history

Email me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com with any questions or comments. For more info on this topic, read my other posts on Britain here.

 The labyrinthine Tower of London, with banners still flying for the benefit of the tourists.

 Me talking to John Gowing, our guide for London

The harmless-looking Tower Hill, where hundreds were executed.

Tower Bridge, sometimes misidentified as the famous London Bridge

 The infamous Traitor's Gate, where prisoners were brought in by boat

The White Tower and I

 A detailed model of the Tower and its environs

 The building that houses the Crown Jewels,,, and the huge line

Me at the other side of the White Tower 

A monument to Ann Boleyn, executed so that Henry VIII could marry again and produce an heir

The Golan Heights

I’m writing about the time I went to the Golan Heights, in Israel. This territory is hotly contested between Israel and Syria, and it used to be a warzone. The Heights are still on the news all the time, as a centerpiece of the Israeli-Arab conflict that has been going on for generations. The reason this place is so valuable is because it can look down into both Israel and Syria, and could be the deciding factor in any future war. I visited the Golan Heights, and I will try to convince you to visit them as well.

The Golan Heights, Israel

Before Going: 5/10

Reason for score: I didn’t think it was worth sacrificing good time that could have been used in Jerusalem or somewhere else.

Why you should go:

There are three reasons why one would consider going to the Golan Heights; to see the place that has been on the news so often, take in the amazing views over Israel and the Sea of Galilee, and to understand the Arab-Israeli wars. First, the Golan Heights, and Syrian pressure to return them, have been on the news for a long time. I liked standing in the place that had been at the center of so much controversy. Second, the Golan really does provide amazing views over Israel. I particularly enjoyed the view of the Sea of Galilee, from a former Syrian bunker on the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Haruv. Third, I like the Golan Heights because they gave me a better understanding of the Israeli-Arab conflict. Unless you look down into Syria, or sit in one of the bunkers, or see the minefields, you really can’t say you understand the conflict. Don’t pass judgment on one side or the other until you have stood in the Golan Heights.

How:

There is really no way you can come here on your own (unless you’re related to an Israeli), so I suggest going with a tour. The only way do this is to schedule a trip with a tour provider that will take you into the Heights. I know that Isram World will take you, but you should check to make sure your tour does to.

After Going: 8/10

Reason for Score: It gave me a better understanding of the place that had been on the news so often

A terrain model of the Golan Heights, with the Sea of Galilee

The U.N.D.O.F., or U.N. Disengagemant Observer Force zone, to keep peace between Israel and Syria

A former Israeli bunker

Someone forgot their tank

I think this picture speaks for itself

Looking out over the crystal clear Sea of Galilee

Just hanging out in a Syrian bunker

Looking down into Israel

The Mount of Olives

If I use Mount to abbreviate Mount of Olives, please don’t confuse it with the Temple Mount, which I also use Mount for.

This post is going to be about the Mount of Olives, an experience that I think many people miss out on. The Mount of Olives is really just a hill just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. However, it is very important in the Christian Bible, and the hill is covered in churches that commemorate events in Jesus’ final days. I would still encourage you to go even if you aren’t Christian, though, because there are other things that make the hill unique.

Before Going: 6/10

Reason for Score: I thought my time would be better spent in Jerusalem proper, rather than walking through a biblical graveyard

Why you should go:

My three favorite parts about the Mount of Olives are the incredible views, the famous graves, and the Christian sites. The Mount really does have amazing views over the City of Jerusalem. All of the postcard pictures of Jerusalem and the Golden Dome are taken from here. I don’t think there is any better place to see the legendary Temple Mount, on which the Golden Dome sits, than this hill. The second reason to go is to see the well-known Jewish graves on the hill. Famous Jews have been buried here since ancient times. They choose to be buried here, because, according to the Bible, this is where God will come to judge the Earth. The people buried here will therefore be the first to be resurrected. The final reason to go is the plethora of Christian sites from the New Testament. My favorites are the Pater Noster, where Jesus taught his disciples the Our Father, the Dominus Flevit Church, where Jesus wept upon having a vision of Jerusalem burning, and the Basilica of the Agony, where Jesus was betrayed by Judas and taken to be crucified. The Mount of Olives is a great part of any trip to Jerusalem.

How:

It is up to your personal preference whether or not to go with a guide. I did, but only because I didn’t want to waste any time navigating from place to place. If you do want to have a guided tour, I recommend the Mount of Olives Tour from New Jerusalem Tours, at www.newjerusalemtours.com. They will take you to see the graves, the views, and the churches. If you are going alone, I suggest bringing the guidebook Jerusalem, Israel, Petra, and the Sinai, from Eyewitness Books. They have a great section on the Mount, that lists a lot more of the churches than I have here.

When you are seeing the Mount, you should first walk to the top and then visit sights as you walk down. This will allow you to enjoy the magnificent views as you wander among the various churches and graves. The walk isn’t hard, but you should bring a water bottle just in case. You can really spend as long as you want on the hill, but I saw everything I wanted to within two or three hours. If you want to learn a little about the Mount of Olives before you go (like I did), I particularly liked the documentary Jerusalem: Center of the World. They talk extensively about the Mount and its history, as well as Jerusalem in general. I watched it at least eight times in preparation for my trip.

After Going: 9/10

Reason for Score: It was a great part of my Jerusalem experience

The Mosque (?) of the Ascension, where Jesus ascended to heaven

The inside of the Mosque of the Ascension, with a niche in the wall indicating the direction of Mecca for Muslim prayer

The rock that supposedly bears the footprint of Jesus, where he last touched the Earth

The Our Father, in every language you could think of

The Our Father in Icelandic and Latvian

The Church of the Pater Noster, or Our Father

The grotto in the Pater Noster where the prayer was taught in Christian Tradition

A great view of the Temple Mount over the scores of dead people

The Gates of Mercy, where the Messiah is supposed to enter through to save the world, ...curiously bricked up

The Dominus Flevit (the Lord wept), where Jesus wept after he foresaw the destruction of the Temple

Inside the Dominus Flevit, me silhouetted against the Dome of the Rock

The many domed Church of St. Mary Magdalene, owned by Russian nuns

The breathtaking view of the Dome of the Rock

The real Garden of Gethsemane, with those famous Olive trees

The rocky outcrop where Jesus knelt to pray before being betrayed by Judas

The view of St. Mary Magdalene from the Temple Mount

The Mount of Olives. You can see the Pater Noster in the upper right hand corner, and Dominus Flevit on the left. The grey part is the thousands upon thousands of Jewish graves

A close up of the famous graves

The stones on the graves are a symbol of respect

A postcard worthy Jerusalem

Waiting to meet God

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The Holy Sepulcher-Jerusalem

Most people I’ve talked to don’t know that the Church of the Holy Sepulcher exists. It doesn’t look nearly as impressive as St. Peter’s or Westminster’s Abbey. However, this small church inside the Old City of Jerusalem is the holiest location in the world for all Christians, and it is truly an amazing place. The church isn’t owned by any one Christian group, but is shared between six of them. The sharing is not always peaceful, though, and the different sects fight each other for control. In fact, the competition is so fierce that a Muslim has to open the gate every morning to prevent any one faction from possessing the key to the most sacred place in Christendom. The church is fought over in this way for a reason. It is built over the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. I’ve been there, and it was one of the most powerful experiences of my entire life.

Why you should go:

You don’t have to be very religious to be moved by seeing this place. It was only when I was there that I realized that the Bible isn’t just a story. It happened at real places that you can visit. There are three major holy places in the church that I thought were especially meaningful. One of these places was the Stone of Unction, where Jesus was laid to be prepared for burial. It was pretty unbelievable to touch a place where Jesus had been. The second was the Rock of Golgotha, or Calvary, where Jesus was crucified alongside thieves. By far though, the most touching part was when I touched the altar in the Tomb of Jesus Christ. The Tomb is the single most sacred site in all of Christendom. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is over the place where these events really happened. No matter how religious you are, or whether or not you go to church, it will deeply affect you to see where Jesus Christ died and rose again.

How:

You might want to go with a guide, just for a brief explanation of what’s what. If you do, I recommend the Holy City Tour from New Jerusalem, at www.newjerusalem.com. Their tour of the Church is very good, and they’ll show you a lot of things you might otherwise have missed. The best guide New Jerusalem has is Alon, and you would be wise to try to get your tour from him.

I still like to go back after the tour and spend a few quiet hours in this sacred place. There is nothing better than spending an afternoon wandering the maze of holy places in Christianity’s most sacred site. It will be at least an afternoon, though, as it does take a while to see the church in its entirety. The church has an enormous amount of things to see; even more than I’ve described, and it is hard to navigate through. Still, the main reason it takes so long to see is the lines. Devout pilgrims crowd the holy sites at all times of year, and you’ll need to leave extra time to make sure you see everything you want to see. Make sure you have enough time to pay homage to this hallowed place.

My favorite guidebook for all Jerusalem is Jerusalem, Israel, Petra, and the Sinai from Eyewitness Books. The book does a good job explaining the Church and everything within. It also has a great map of the Church that covers two pages. The church is set up on multiple levels (because it is built into the hill of Golgotha/Calvary), and you need something to help you navigate through it. The book helped a lot with my visit to the Holy Sepulcher.

Don’t be afraid to go if you’re not Christian.

In all honesty, there were probably more Jewish people on my tour than Christians. As long as you are respectful of the sanctity of the site, the worshippers really don’t care if you visit. This is a very important place, and it can help you understand the Christian religion and its 2 billion followers.

If you liked this post about Jerusalem, consider reading about the Mount of Olives.

Email me at michaelworldtravel@gmail.com with any questions or comments.

The rather blank exterior of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The entrance to the Church, opened onto by an alleyway

The Stone of Unction, where Jesus was laid after death

Paying my respects to the Stone

The Chapel of St. Helena, where the cross that Jesus was crucified on was supposedly found.

The altar over the Rock of Golgotha, or Calvary, where Jesus was put to death

Me touching the Rock of Golgotha through the small hole under the altar. Strangely enough, this ended up being picture #666.

The small Chapel of Adam, beneath the traditional site of the crucifixion. The crack in the stone is said to have been caused by the earthquake that followed Jesus' death

The dome of the church, centered over the Tomb of Jesus. The Tomb is the structure seen at the bottom of the picture

The front of the small shrine built to house the Tomb of Jesus Christ, the holiest place in the world

Me entering the Tomb

The most sacred site in the world, the Tomb itself

The outer section of the Tomb. The table contains a piece of the Tomb that broke off.

Christians traditionally believed that Jerusalem was at the center of the world. This stone basin marked the exact center of maps.

The mysterious wooden doors in the floor of the church... are they hiding something?