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Christian Theme Park to Open in Spain, Complete with 'Live Resurrections'

Europeans are fond of complaining that American imports are ruining their culture, and usually we're like "shut up, we need our Chipotle." In this very specific case, though, they might have a point. Europe's first Christian theme park—modeled after the ones in the American South and South America—is now set to open in Mallorca, Spain. Inexplicably.

We of course usually recommend a different religious travel solution. If if you want to see what the Holy Land looks like, our reasoning goes, you should actually take a trip to the Holy Land and see it. From the United States that might be prohibitive with the cost, but a flight from Spain to Israel on one of Europe's billion LCC's is fairly affordable. When you factor in the Euro/Shekel exchange rate you're almost saving money. We understand there are pluses and minuses—in Israel you can only walk on the "Jesus trail" while in religious theme parks you can actually meet Jesus—but we kind of prefer our way. Even if there are no "live resurrections," as this theme park promises.

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Easter Travel / Holy Travel / Religious Travel / Israel Travel / → All Tags

Hop on the 'Jesus Trail' with the Holiest of All Easter Trip Packages

A group of tourists enjoy the view from the Arbel Cliffs.

As Kanye once said, "Jesus walks with me," but you can walk with him too during Easter in the Holy Land. We told you about the Jesus Trail before, the rugged self-guided 40-mile hike through the Galilee in Israel. But now you can mark Christ's resurrection with a Jesus Trail tour package from Nazareth.

The Jesus Trail peeps offer "self-guided tour packages" that include accommodations, luggage transfer, orientation, site entry fees, guidebook, shuttle and optional meals. Packages start at $299 for six days and five nights. The bonus is that you can determine your own departure date (as long as it doesn't conflict with Shabbat observance). The company has a couple booked for a tour leaving Easter and another group departing the day after, and there's still time to plan your own holy holiday.

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Holy Brawl: Christian Monks Duke it Out at Jerusalem Holy Site

When it comes to Jerusalem, you hear a lot about the tension between people of the Jewish and Muslim faiths, but not so much about the Christians, who also consider it a sacred city. A recent scuffle at one of the holiest spots in all of Christendom, however, reminds us that they're a fragmented people as well, with plenty of long-standing beefs among the various sects. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher - a Christian church located within the walled city of Jerusalem on what is believed to be the spot of Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection - was the setting for a violent clash between groups of Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks this morning. As with most religious disputes, what they were fighting over is kind of complicated and goes back a long, long way, but apparently the Armenians were holding a ceremony and the Greeks felt that one of their monks had the right to be present, lest they lose their claim to a structure built on Christ's tomb. The Armenians refused to allow a Greek monk to join the ceremony, so the Greeks tried to block the procession, and that's when multiple blows were exchanged (see the BBC video) and Israeli cops rushed in and arrested one monk from each side. We're not about to diagnose the problems of the world in one blog posting, but aren't monks supposed to be loving and non-violent? In any case, the church is usually a peaceful place, and it is open to visitors of all faiths. So stop by if you're in town, and if arguments arise between believers, stay neutral and slowly back away.

[Photo: Associated Press]

Related Stories:
· Monks Brawl at Jerusalem Shrine [BBC News]
· Monks Brawl at Christian Holy Site in Jerusalem [Associated Press]
· Holy Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

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Goddess Travel: Child Deified in Nepal

Our three-year-old niece considers herself a goddess. For one, she eats grilled cheese only when it's toasted to the perfect shade of brown. Further, she bluntly asks arriving visitors whether or not they brought her a present.

Still, she's super cute. (We figure it's a survival technique so we don't throttle the little narcissist.) So why is it so unfortunate that a three-year-old girl in Kathmandu, Nepal was declared a child goddess?

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World Youth Day Makes Sydney Busy

Unwitting travelers landing in Sydney this week might find no room at the inn: It's World Youth Day and at least 215,000 young Catholics are already registered to be in Sydney for the week, with more arriving unannounced.

Pope Benedict XVI has already turned up and is apparently staying in a retreat where even a pet cat has been provided to suit him. Parades and events run from Tuesday to Sunday this week, with the pope-mobile getting an outing on Thursday when the Papal Motorcade runs through downtown Sydney.

A recent Travel + Leisure survey put the city at number four on its list of the most popular places for travelers, so all these young Catholics should enjoy themselves. The only people who are really annoyed are the owners of expensive hotels--one place that youth don't tend to book.

Related Stories:
· World Youth Day [Official Site]
· Tourists Love Sydney, Even If We Don't [ABC]
· Pilgrim Tourists Boost Youth Day Numbers [Herald Sun]
· Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: RTSS]

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Padre Pio Travel: Where is San Giovanni Rotondo?

Catholic saint and Capuchin monk Padre Pio has been exhumed and put on display in the town where he spent most of his life, San Giovanni Rotondo. Why dig him up now? Today is the 40th anniversary of his death.

His remains are on view at a massive church designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect and fellow Italian Renzo Piano. With enough indoor space for 30,000 worshippers, it's the second-largest church in the country after St. Peter's in Rome. (Which, if you wanna get technical, is in the Vatican City, not Italy.)

Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002, Padre Pio was famous for bearing the stigmata and he is among the faith's most-loved saints. Be ready for a crowd if you head to San Giovanni Rotondo: Officials expect more than 15,000 pilgrims today alone.

Related Stories:
· Padre Pio's Body Goes on Public Display [UK Times]
· Who Was Padre Pio? [Reuters]
· Churches coverage [Jaunted]

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Adventures of Link: Pope Travel

His Holiness has arrived. Pope Benedict XVI has touched down at Andrews Air Force Base, where President Bush met him as he deplaned from Shepherd One. He's got plenty of meetings planned, but the pope will also be doing some tourist stuff. (Wednesday is the guy's 81st birthday, so we hope he has something fun planned!)

In Washington, DC, the pope is giving Mass at Nationals Park and visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He'll then head up to NYC, where he'll visit Ground Zero, the United Nations, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Yankee Stadium. After his six-day trip, the pope heads back to Italy via JFK.

Related Stories:
· Nats' New Cathedral to Baseball Prepares for Pontiff [WaPo]
· Official Pope Visit Souvenirs Serious, Not "Goofy" [Washington Times]
· St. Patrick's Ready to Celebrate with Pope [WABC]
· The Pope Should Wipe His Feet Before Entering Yankee Stadium [Deadspin]
· You Still Can't Ride in the Pope Mobile [Jaunted]

[Photo of the pope in Sao Paulo: Wikipedia]