I’m now sitting at home after the successful visit of Mr. Tony Blair to the Fauzi Azar Inn and Jesus Trail. Thinking about today’s excitement, stress and relief, I can describe this long anticipated visit as a tornado storm that hit the Fauzi whose long-term results are yet to be seen.

We were preparing for this visit for the last week, making the inn as beautiful as it can be and writing a program where everyone will know what to expect. I was getting ready and preparing the message I wanted to deliver. As the date came closer, I got more and more anxious and must confess that I didn’t get much sleep the night before.

Working six years transforming the Fauzi Azar Inn from a small seed and PowerPoint presentation to what it has become has been challenging with its ups and downs. Having Tony Blair, the former Prime Minster on the UK, visiting my creation, the inn, offered a rewarding reassurance to the time, energy and resources I have invested in the process.

The visit itself was like a storm. It started after a thirty-minute delay with Suraida and I waiting at the street entrance to the Fauzi. We received signs from the security person standing 10 meters ahead of us as Mr. Blair and his entourage were getting closer and closer.

Finally we saw crowds of photographers leading the way and Mr. Blair himself in flesh and blood smiling and coming to approach us.

We became part of the eye of the storm, loosing track of place and time while surrounded by dozens of photographers, Blair’s staff and personnel, people from the Nazareth municipality including the Mayor and his deputies, police staff, high-level security, Fauzi Azar Inn guests, volunteers and staff and special friends we invited for the event.

From the second we shook hands with Mr. Blair we were on the mission of staying in the storm’s eye while many others trying to get the same spot for themselves. Mr. Blair was acting naturally keeping both Suraida and myself next to him and at the same time interacting with the crowd – waving, smiling, shaking hands and exchanging a few words with some of them. The eye of the storm was moving up the stairs where Mr. Blair cut left to shake people’s hands, and I was trying to follow the rhythm by introducing him to our volunteers and guests.

The storm’s eye entered the Fauzi hall where we placed a board with Jesus Trail map (very wise idea!) and the Jesus Trail Guide book.

Suraida was pitching the Fauzi Azar story brilliantly with the storm swirling around and above.

Then it was my turn.

I had so much to say but was told by the great Stefan Szepesi (Thanks you Stefan!) that there is only one minute left, I heard voices from all over advising me what to say: “To encourage people to visit Nazareth”; “Ask for money”; “Support the Jesus Trail” and more that I can’t recall.

I remember saying that: “I was born in Israel and that after backpacking around the world for a year I learned that tourism can be a great force that bridges between people from different cultures, religions and nationalities and in the same time contributes significantly to local communities. Also, I have witnessed how it can support local businesses, change an area’s image and empower and raise the self-esteem of the local people.”

“Here at the Fauzi Azar Inn and the Jesus trail we are using existing infrastructure and local resources to encourage interaction between people and to create a shared interest between the different communities of the Galilee – Jewish, Christian & Muslims.”

I gave Mr. Blair the Jesus Trail guidebook and kept fighting to stay in the storm’s eye. I showed him on the Jesus Trail map how Jesus Trail, the first trail in Israel that targets international tourism is creating a share interest between the diverse community in the Galilee.

Then someone shoved me the Fauzi Azar guestbook and I asked Mr. Blair if he would be willing to sign it. While knowing that we had used all the time that we had and that the storm must go elsewhere, I called all Fauzi Azar staff and volunteers for a photo up. We got great photos!

And then in two seconds the storm was over. It was very powerful and energetic.

Afterwards, Fauzi Azar Inn staff celebrated Norhan’s 20th birthday, and we began in making the inn ready for today’s arrivals. My wife went home to take the kids and I returned later on by public transportation.

And yes, I also shared my vision for tourism with Mr. Blair –

In my vision, I’m booking our guests in Nazareth at their next accommodation in guesthouses in not only in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Amman but also in Beirut and Damascus.

Hallelujah!

The hikes are led by a volunteer who knows the route, so even those without experience in navigation can join in the adventure. If you’re a visitor to the region, there’s no better way to get a feel for the land than to hike it. If you’re a pilgrim, hiking recalls ancient times when everyone from Abraham to Jesus got around on their feet. If you’re a local, you may learn about a new route, valley or mountaintop you never knew about. We hope the experience will foster friendships between local people and internationals.

Whoever you are, you’re welcome to join us on a hike – don’t worry about getting lost or figuring out logistics, and the only costs are for transportation to and from the hike (public bus and occasional taxi). The routes we’ll be hiking are some of the Jesus Trail team’s favorites, including many that aren’t in the Jesus Trail Guidebook – or in any guidebook.

A schedule is posted on http://hikingclub.jesustrail.com with the dates and meeting times for each hike and details about what to bring – keep checking the schedule for updates or changes.

If you want to join us on a hike, feel free to show up the day of, but it helps us plan if you RSVP to hikingclub@jesustrail.com (if you’ve got questions, use the same address). We hope we’ll see you soon for one of our upcoming hikes!

Specifics will be posted for each hike, but generally you’ll need to bring:

• Adequate footwear (sneakers, hiking boots or sturdy hiking sandals).
• At least 2 liters of water (some routes may require more).
• A packed lunch and any snacks you would like.
• Weather appropriate and modest clothing.
• Enough money for transportation plus a little extra.

Highlights of 2010

• February: We began offering self-guided tours on the trail to provide support and logistics for hikers and generate revenue for continued trail development.  Over 300 people from 17 countries walked the trail on a self-guided tour package in 2010, with an estimate of more than 1000 hikers using the trail in 2010.
• March: The Jesus Trail Guidebook was published at the peak of the spring hiking season.  We have received great reviews and are currently reprinting more books for 2011.
• May: Jesus Trail cofounder David Landis and guidebook coauthor Anna Dintaman were married in Virgnia, USA
• October: The new improved Jesus Trail website was launched, including new public information on GPS tracks for over 300km of trails, comprehensive bus schedules for the Galilee and more in depth practical and historical information on sites in the Galilee

2010 News articles

• Trouw – Wandelen door het Nieuwe Testament – December 23, 2010
• Linga – Jesus Trail- Walking in The Footsteps of Jesus – November 7, 2010
• CBN’s 700 Club – Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus – August 29, 2010
• Christian Science Monitor – Bringing foot traffic to Israel’s ‘Jesus Trail’ – July 3, 2010
• Jerusalem Post – Jesus Trail – May 21, 2010
• ynet news – Muslims, Jews, Christians do Bethlehem-Jerusalem run – April 29, 2010
• Christianity Today – On the Jesus Trail: What we learned from Jews, Muslims, and Arab Christians as we traced the footsteps of Christ in Galilee – April 28, 2010
• See full list at http://jesustrail.com/multimedia/in-the-press

Goals for 2011

• Through tour packages and book sales, for Jesus Trail to become financially sustainable, with enough revenue to employ full-time staff and continue to invest in local communities on a larger scale.
• To clean up garbage problems on the trail and promote environmental education and responsibility in local communities.
• To welcome as many new hikers to the trail as possible; we anticipate that at least 2,000 will walk a section of the trail.
• To partner with the global church and in maintaining and promoting the Jesus Trail.
• To collaborate with university groups to use the Jesus Trail as an education tool.
• To post weekly blogs on the Jesus Trail website on topics of interest in the region.
• To build partnerships and connections to other trails in the region, and find ways to extend the Jesus Trail hiking network beyond the Galilee.

What about you? What are your New Year’s goals and resolutions?

Maybe 2011 could be your year of transformational travel! We hope to see you on the trail!

This section of trail has been re-blazed as of March 2011, connecting the old road to the lower, new road with a continually marked trail.  The marked route then turns right on the new road paved entrance road to Nebi Shu’eib (lined with palm trees), then east downhill to the T on Road #7717, where it turns left to connect to a blue-blazed 4×4 road that passes on the north side of the mosque and around the Arbel Valley.

It is still possible to make the shortcut to the ruins of the mosque from the village of Hittin, but there may be cattle in the field and/or some fences to negotiate.

 

Due to the construction of a new access road to Nebi Shu’eib, a detour must be made from the marked Jesus Trail route on day 3. This detour also fixes the added distances of back-tracking along the old access road to Nebi Shu’eib, saving a distance of approximately 2 km.

The detour is clearly shown on the map on the JPG file attached to this post, or can be downloaded at http://jesustrail.com/downloads/NS_detour.jpg. Copies are also available at the Fauzi Azar Inn in Nazareth.

DETOUR DETAILS: After descending from the Horns of Hattin on the blue trail, turn right on the old road and then left downhill (leaving Jesus Trail blazes) before the first cactus to cut down to the new road. Follow faint footpaths through the olive grove to where the grade meets the level of the new road. Cross the divider and turn left and walk on the sidewalk. Enter Nebi Shu’eib through the new gate or cut down to the blue 4×4 trail near the new entrance gate where the fence along the sidewalk ends. Resume Jesus Trail blazes on the blue 4×4.

Click map to enlarge

You can order now for $29.95, and the book will be shipped to you hot off the press! As an incentive to order early, we’re offering FREE shipping from Israel to anywhere in the USA, Canada or Europe if you order before Easter (April 4, 2010)! Other countries will receive $5 shipping. We use Google Checkout for secure financial transactions, and ship via Air Mail from Israel. Your purchase directly supports the ongoing work of the trail.

Along with your order, we will send a FREE map of the Jesus Trail with handy quick references for accommodations, transportation and more!

If you’re coming to Nazareth soon, you can reserve a copy of the guide to pick up at the Jesus Trail office. If you live in a country with an unreliable postal service, this may be your best option.

Buy online at: http://www.jesustrailguide.com

Thank you for your interest in the Jesus Trail! We hope to see you on the trail soon!

Anna Dintaman and David Landis

Village to Village Press, Jesus Trail

info@villagetovillagepress.com

Hiking the Jesus Trail and Other Biblical Walks in the Galilee provides a welcome addition to Jesus Trail resources, including detailed full-color maps in English, expert advice on backpacking in Israel, thorough information about historical sites, along with hundreds of full-color photos and diagrams.

“I’ve been hiking in Israel for over five years, and almost all of the hiking resources are only available in Hebrew. We want to make hiking in the Galilee accessible for the international community to experience the rich history and warm people of the region in an authentic way,” commented coauthor David Landis.

Hiking the Jesus Trail coauthors Anna Dintaman and David Landis have been involved with trail development from the beginning of the Jesus Trail. Landis cofounded the trail along with Israeli entrepreneur Maoz Inon. Dintaman was involved in resource development and research. Both bring ample experience in international travel and trekking, and their book research included a seminary course on the first-century context of Jesus and walking the entire 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. “We’ve tried to create a book that is not only an accurate practical guide but also paints a picture of the world of Jesus,” said coauthor Anna Dintaman.

“This is such a comprehensive guidebook–photos and sidebars and so much more beyond the regular text,” commented New Testament professor Reta Halteman Finger. Jesus Trail cofounder Maoz Inon billed the book as, “hands down the best hiking resource for Israel.”

The guide covers the classic Jesus Trail route and over 220 km of additional trails in the Galilee. The 256-page book is available for pre-order online at www.jesustrailguide.com and will shortly be available in select book stores in Israel.

Come out to REI to discover outdoor adventure opportunities in Israel, a tiny country with a big history and a huge network of hiking and mountain biking trails! Israel offers a host of outdoor opportunities for the trekker, pilgrim and historian, including:

• The Israel Trail, a 600-mile cross-country sojourn from desert to snow-capped peak
• The Golan Trail, 80 solitary miles through lush and hotly-contested landscape=
• The Jesus Trail, 40 miles of spiritual history in the Galilee region

About the Presenters:
David Landis and Anna Dintaman have been adventuring and trekking in the Middle East for over two years, working with responsible tourism and writing a guidebook to the Jesus Trail. They will bring insight into trekking tourism in Israel, anecdotes and stories from the trails, and reflection on the positive role adventure tourism can play in bridging relationships between diverse cultures and religions.

Dates:
February 4, 2010 at REI Marlton, 7pm
February 9, 2010 at REI Conshohocken, 7pm

Price:
FREE!

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251206327790

Check out:
http://israeltrail.org
http://jesustrail.com

Click here to view and download the free Jesus Trail Map (PDF)

The map features:

• Practical information about where to sleep, buy food and supplies, get water, catch a bus, etc.
• Descriptions of points of interest
• Elevation chart with distances and difficulty ratings
• Description of how to use Jesus Trail markings for navigation
• List of accommodations contact info, price and amenities
• Chart of bus numbers and schedules

If you would like us to mail this free map to your home address, send us an email to freemap@jesustrail.com.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors who helped to make this map possible!

Jesus Trail Free Map Sponsors:

Fauzi Azar Inn
Al Mutran Guest House
ILH Hostel Guide
Abraham Path
BLESS—Biblical Lands Educational Seminars and Service
Jerusalem University College
Nazareth Village
Go Eco Volunteer Program
Shavit’s Family B&B Arbel
VeloIsrael
Kibbutz Lavi
Moshav Zippori B&B
Tiberias Hotel Association

The ride shows that it is possible to mountain bike the Jesus Trail route, with only short sections where it is necessary to walk or carry the bike. For a list of these sections, visit the mountain biking thread on the Jesus Trail Forum (see below). The new guidebook will also describe the biking alternatives.

“The only way to define your limits is going beyond them”
- Nazareth Mountain Bikers

View photos from the ride on Jesus Trail’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=125674&id=64330873837&l=6ffe7ab93d

Mountain Biking thread on the Jesus Trail Forum: http://forum.jesustrail.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=10

Visit Nazareth Mountain Bikers on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Nazareth-Israel/Nazareth-Mountain-Bikers/148863526218?ref=ts

Middle School students from public schools in Nazareth, Cana and Mash’had thronged the streets of their towns armed with trash bags and gloves to clean up their neighborhoods. International volunteers from the US, Russia, South Africa and Germany participated as well, forging friendships with the enthusiastic and curious children.

Trash is a major environmental problem in Israel, where over 90% of the country’s waste is buried in landfills, which are reaching maximum capacity. Only about 5% of Israel’s waste reaches recycling facilities.

The Jesus Trail and Jewish National Fund plan to make this trash pickup activity a monthly ritual, hoping to instill in these youth a sense of pride in caring for the environment and making the Jesus Trail a clean and pleasant place for locals and international visitors alike.

Photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=124511&id=64330873837&l=47d0467841