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Though it was hot (Karen and her mom say "miserably hot") they both testify it was well worth the trip and they want to go back again, later in the cooler part of the year. There is only one eating establishment on the property, the Oasis Palms Cafe, where Karen says the food is really good and the prices reasonable for this type of attraction. Just plan to get to the cafe during the off time (before or well after the lunch hour) to avoid long lines.

While this is certainly no "Disney" or "Universal Studios", it isn't meant to be and the exper- ience for the Christian is well worth the admission price. Karen said she was very surprised with the evangelical nature of the attraction and mused that it may even offend some of our more sensitive Jewish friends. In fact, when the attraction was first announced there was a loud outcry (also see "Christian theme parks offend") by some who feared this was a veiled attempt to proselytize Jews to the Christian faith. While that protest seems to have fallen on deaf ears, the operators make no apologies for their Biblical view as presented in the re-creations, dramas, music and tour presentations. If you are near Orlando, treat yourself and your family and visit this attraction.

This past Saturday Karen had the opportunity to visit The Holy Land Experience in Orlando with her mom and a group from our church. This tourist attraction is more than the usual fare in this tourist mecca. The whole "exhibit" is designed to recreate Jerusalem as it was in the time of Christ. They have re-created many of the buildings of the times such as Herod's Temple (pictured above), a Jerusalem market, the City Gates and Calvary's Garden Tomb. In addition, there is a full miniaturized version of Jerusalem A.D. 66, and re-creations of the Qumran Dead Sea Caves where the now famous Dead Sea Scrolls were found, along with the Scriptorium which has displays of many rare biblical aritfacts. A re-creation of the Gutenberg press can also be seen. This now seemingly archaic press, revolutionized printing and allowed Johannes Gutenberg to publish the now famous Gutenberg Bible in 1455 making the Bible and other works widely available where before only the rich and powerful could have the printed word.