Pilgrimage thoughts

It's amusing to me that everyone asks, "How was it?". There's no answer other than "fabulous!", although that doesn't even begin to describe it. Until you've been through such an experience, it's difficult to really understand the knowledge and insight gained, the spiritual level achieved, or the depth of emotion discovered. As anxious as I was by the end to get home and see family and friends, I am now equally excited to return. There's a magnetic force in the Holy Land that can't be explained and it calls my soul to return.

If you aren't already on the waiting list, take a moment right now and apply. It took me 7 years from my application to actually getting there. It's worth it, I promise.

Tuesday - Final Day! Monument Gardens, Bahji

Although there was no scheduled programme on this final day, I was up early to pack and check out of the hotel before taking one last visit to Bahji. I took a quick peek into the Monument Gardens, then a group of us took a Sherut to Bahji. A last visit like this is bitter-sweet. Enjoying the time and surroundings, while knowing I won't come back for a number of years. We spent several hours here before heading back to Haifa where I went to the Shrine of the Bab one last time for prayers. Then I met up one final time with Zac who (again!) brought me dinner and some gifts (for myself and for others back home). While the rest of the Pilgrims were preparing for the evening Pilgrim Farewell program, a small group of us with early flights called a sherut to the airport and said our goodbyes.

I was lucky enough to be chosen at the airport for a fine-tooth comb inspection but had left plenty of time to catch my flight. Unfortuantely, in a foreign country they apparantly don't care that you've selected a seat on the plane prior to arrival. I received a lovely middle seat near the rear of the aircraft. Well, I made it to NYC without incident where I discovered a nasty cold had taken hold of my body. I slept for 2 days, came home to Colorado on Friday and slept another 2!

Monday - Arc Tour, Cemetary, Cave of Elijah

The final organized programme of my Pilgrimage was Monday morning when we toured the Arc, which is the series of buildings on the hill near the Shrine of the Bab. These beautiful buildings house offices and facilities for the staff of the International Teaching Centre, the Universal House of Justice, and the Center for the Study of the Texts. Following a short tour of each building, we walked to the new Visitor's Information Center under the terrace that extends over Hatzionut St. We finished with prayers at the Western Pilgrim House and an impromtu group photo.

Having the rest of the day free, I walked down to Ben Gurion St. for lunch (via the street sidewalks, not the stairs!). I planned on making my way to the cemetary which was further down Allenby St. Not knowing exactly how far it was, I began by walking there. By the time I decided it was too far to really walk to, I was almost there so completed my hike! The Baha'i Cemetary is not very big, but as with all the Baha'i properties, is surrounded by gardens and flowers, blocking the noise of the nearby streets. I meet up here with a friend from my group and we walk together across the street and up to the lower Cave of Elijah. After spending a week at Baha'i Holy places, it was somewhat of a shock to enter this holy spot amid peddlers, trash, and dirty surroundings. You really couldn't see much of the cave, but it's nice to know where it likely was.

Having gotten my exercise for the day, I took a taxi to the top of the mountain where I completed my tourist-y shopping. I met up with Josephine and Ishmael at the PRC and we went back to Joe's flat for a dinner she prepared. Others joined us later in the evening and it was a nice time.

Sunday - Bahji Mansion, Abdullah Pasha house, Ridvan Garden

(Sorry for the delay on finishing these posts - fatigue and lack of time took over!)

This was our second long day on the bus, going from place to place in the Akka area. We began with another visit to Bahji, this time to tour the Mansion there where Baha'u'llah lived after being released from the Akka prison. The first thing to strike me as we enter is the beautiful colored stencilling all around the rooms and windows, both inside and out. Simple but striking. The upstairs living area we were able to see was very large, spacious, and beautifully furnished. I especially loved the covered balconies that looked out over the gardens.

Next, we had a quick visit to the old Pilgrim House next door, which is also near to the Shrine of Baha'u'llah. Small and just enough room for visitors of those days to refresh themselves. This was followed by a short amount of time in the Shrine, then lunch.

The next stop was the House of 'Abdullah Pasha in Akka, just outside the prison fortress. Although it's called a "house", at that time, it actually housed several families in the various wings, merchants on the lower floor as well as a school room. It's a huge complex that was originally the governor's residence. The garden in the courtyard has only recently been re-created to match what existed when 'Abdu'l-Baha and his family lived here. Shoghi Effendi was born here and used to run up and down the stone staircases, which had no railing at that time.

Finally, we stopped to visit the Ridvan Garden where Baha'u'llah was, in later years, able to spend some time away from the prison city and enjoy nature. It used to be an island between 2 rivers, but the rivers have since been diverted and dried up. "Ridvan" means "Paradise" and it surely was a paradise to those who visited it in the middle of the desert.

After a long day, we returned to Haifa where many of us got off on Ben Gurion street for some final shopping opportunities. I ate at a wonderful Kabob restaurant (though not quite as good as Grandma's!) then headed back to the PRC for a short rest before our evening talk. This final talk of our trip was given by UHJ Member Dr. Javahari who spoke on the purpose of Pilgrimage and what we should do with our experiences once we return home.

Saturday - Master's House, Temple Land

Saturday began with our visit to 'Abdu'l-Baha's house in Haifa. It's near the lower terraces and very beautiful indeed. After a long, straight uphill walk back to the PRC, I rested a bit until my meeting time with Zac. I thought he was joining me for lunch, but discovered he merely brought it to me then was off on a trek of his own! Have I mentioned what wonderfully sweet boys these are? I then hooked up with the other family from Colorado and we visited the Temple Land obilesque, the site where a future House of Worship will be built. It will be a fabulous view of the Bay when finished! We walked back for a visit to the Shrines, I shared a nice long chat over dinner with a new friend, and our evening speaker was ITC member Mr. Riazati.

Friday - Archives & Singalong

Friday was a relaxing morning - slept in until 8:00! Spent the morning catching up on some e-mail, then walked down the hotel row by the Dan Panorama to do some shopping. Then it was already time to meet up with Zac who took me to Charles' flat where he had prepared a most excellent lunch for me. There was a movie on the television which we ended up watching in its entirety so that too was relaxing!

The only formal program of the day for me was the afternoon visit to the Archives Building. This is one of the highlights of trip as we get to view a photograph of Baha'u'llah, drawings of Him and The Bab, and many, many artifacts of historical interest. A wonderful opportunity, although feeling a bit long near the end! We did not return to the PRC until after 6:30, where Charles was waiting to escort me to the evening's African sing-a-long. They had long since finished dinner and started into speeches honoring their special guest, my fellow Pilgrim and hotel-mate, a Chief from Zambia. He is the first African Chief ever known to make the Pilgrimage visit. Several members of the UHJ and the ITC were on hand to celebrate the occassion. Other than the formalities associated with his visit, this sing-a-long was much like others I've seen in the states. Constant uplifting singing, drumming, and dancing! A very full, rich evening.

Thursday - Akka area

Today is our first of 2 long days. This means we leave the PRC at 8 am and don’t return until dinner time. The bus takes us first to the Prison City of Akka, across the bay from Haifa. This is where Bahá’u’llah, the Holy Family, and many of the believers were finally imprisoned after years of exile and moving. We had the bounty of seeing the second cell area where they were imprisoned. It’s actually a little larger than I had imagined, but fitting 13 people into one of those cells would indeed be crowded. It certainly puts an image to the stories I’ve heard for so many years. We then go to see and enter the land gate before heading to the House of Abbud. This beautiful home has an inner courtyard as you enter, before going up the steps to the main living area and another small outdoor courtyard. We spend an hour and half here then it’s back on the bus where we finally are taken to the Bahji Visitor’s Center where we can eat a late lunch. Our final stop of this long day is Mazra’il, a country house and gardens where Bahá’u’llah was first allowed out of the prison city. After returning to Haifa at the end of the day, I walk up a side street to a small coffee shop for a bite of dinner before our evening talk. UHJ member Mr. Grossman speaks to us on the subject of light. Once again, I find my eyelids heavy with sleep and am happy to return to the hotel and my bed!