Heart Excursions

Most vacations and trips are almost entirely focused on the pleasures of the physical being and the mind. The enjoyment they provide is fleeting - not real enjoyment. Few travel experiences focused on physical pleasures have ever provided any real lasting impact or benefit for the individual. It is just another piece of chocolate cake or dish of ice cream consumed and soon forgotten. The need to feed the desirous appetite returning soon after the calories are burnt. Back to work to save for next years temporary distraction away from life - the "pleasure fix" you believe you crave.

Forget the elusive vacations and trips that never provide lasting satisfaction. Make your next trip a Heart Excursion that causes real growth and benefit.

Heart Excursions are life changing journeys into a side of life that few persons dare to wander. They are lasting experiences that are guaranteed to change the way you see the world and yourself. Granted, they are not for everyone. But no one who goes will come back from a Heart Excursion without a renewed perspective on life and with real beneficial change.

Be prepared to be taken to places and shown a side of life that few people will ever encounter. This promises to be an experience of a lifetime. The Broken Earth Heart Excursions are holy journeys that brings with it an immeasurable amount of life experience and health. The benefits of simply setting foot in places like Damascus are very profound and will be discussed by James and Suzanne, your hosts, extensively.

Groups are intimate and relaxed and the itinerary is subject to change as James and Suzanne are big on listening to their hearts and exploring the unexpected. This is not your average locked down tour group.

Heart Excursions are excellent for people who are looking for real change in their lives - because real change is exactly what you will find.


Your Broken Earth Heart Excursion Hosts


James and Suzanne are honored to be your hosts for the Broken Earth Heart Excursions - A Journey of Spiritual Awakening to Cyprus, Turkey and Damascus, Syria.

There are few, if any, persons more qualified to provide you with a balanced cross cultural multi-religious, spiritual excursion to the heart of the Middle East than James and Suzanne.

James, raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, brought up Presbyterian, is an eighth generation American of Scottish and German ancestry. MORE 

Suzanne, raised in Alaska and Oklahoma, brought up non-denominational Christian, is from the Choctaw and Iroquois Native America tribes with Irish and English ancestry. MORE 

Both Suzanne and James embarked on a search for greater spiritual meaning some eight years ago that landed them in Damascus, Syria where they developed an intimate understanding of the local customs and culture. They know a unique side of Damascus that few locals could provide and certainly no tour guide from the West could possibly offer. The Broken Earth Heart Excursion is essentially a condensed version of their eight years of hard earned spiritual discovery and learning. James and Suzanne are anxious to show you what they have discovered. Moreover, their desire to show you the heart of the Middle East is motivated by their wish to return twice a year, not profit motivation. They earn nothing from these tours other than the satisfaction of sharing their experiences with you.


Broken Earth Heart Excursion Highlights - Subject to Change from Following the Hearts of Your Hosts.

Two Week Heart Excursion

Day 1:  All participants arrive at JFK Airport to board a scheduled flight to Larnaca Cyprus at 6:00 PM.  Heart journey’s are not locked down tours. After eight years in the Middle East your hosts know that the best stuff happens spontaneously. Be prepared for some surprises. 

Day 2: Land in Larnaca Cyprus at approximately 3:30 PM. Quick stop aboard the luxury bus to the UNDP restoration project of Hala Sultan located a few miles from the airport. Short rest and refreshments served. Next stop the quaint Greek village of Lafkara.  Stay at a charming hotel in the center of the old village.

Day 3: A casual stroll around the village then meet for lunch at a small café located on a cobblestone street. A brilliant undiscovered artist and his native born wife run the café. Before leaving for the Turkish side of the island we will visit the beautiful old Greek Orthodox church where part of the cross of Christ is reportedly kept. On the way to Lefke we will stop at the Tomb of Barnabus, a close companion of Jesus. Arrive Lefke that evening for a meal at the guest house of our honored host.

Day 4: Breakfast at the Pole of Creation and Proof of Generosity. Nothing this holy man does is planned so we can only hope for the best. Regardless, of the breakfast invitation a visit to the spiritual Darga will follow. There we will attend a gathering of Sufi aspirants. This day should remain as unplanned and open as possible. Surprises are inevitable and desired. Dinner at the seaside café in Lefke. Fresh fish kabob’s and home made pita bread.

Day 5:  We catch the express ferry boat from Gerne to Tashaju. Lunch on the sea side, then off to Konya, home of the world renowned Whirling Dervish and Poet Jalahudin Rumi. We have arranged with some local friends a stay that can not be obtained from any ordinary tour group. Let this remain a surprise.

Day 6 & 7:  We catch the express ferry boat from Gerne to Tashaju. Lunch on the sea side, then off to Konya, home of the world renowned Whirling Dervish and Poet Jalahudin Rumi. We have arranged with some local friends a stay that can not be obtained from any ordinary tour group. Let this remain an open surprise. It is always important to stay open when visiting these saints. Planning and itineraries keep you in your mind. While rushing off to make the next stop on the tour you walk right by the most amazing things. We will not let that happen. Trust your tour hosts to know and discover the gifts that appear and are actually arranged by these saints. It is after all a Heart Excursion.

Day 8:  Onward to Aleppo for a real adventure back in time.  Again we have some dear friends here who are always glad to accommodate friends of a friend. They never disappoint.  Asked to arrange something special and you can be certain it will be special. If nothing materializes holistically we have a planned tour of major sights that will not disappoint. We always prefer the natural spontaneous way.  Hotels will be booked and restaurant reservations made, but if we are invited to someone’s home, which will likely be the case, there is nothing like home cooked Aleppo food. You will never find it in a restaurant.  

Day 9:  On our journey to Damascus we will make a few stops. If we find something extraordinary we stay the night, otherwise move on to Damascus. Malula is almost always extraordinary. It is the only village left in the world where the language of Jesus is still spoken.  Again, we have some friends here that will let us know what the locals are up to.

Day 10:  Clean-up and relax. Shopping in the old market or a massage at a famous Arabic bathhouse in the morning. The choice is yours. Later that day we visit the Grand Umayyad Mosque, location of the tomb of John the Baptist. A nice relaxing walking tour of the area with plenty of time for tea and coffee at the sidewalk cafes.

Day 11:  A bit more adventurous today. Up to Mount Qaaysun to visit the amazing cave where Cain killed Able. The views from this location are spectacular but no where near as interesting as the cave itself that looks exactly like an open mouth. We will find out the entire story and discuss it over lunch while enjoying the views. That same day we will visit the Tomb of the Saint of all Saints. Wear sneakers and bring a sturdy walking sick. Later that night we pay our respects to Ibn Al-Arabi, the famous Sufi saint and attend a spiritual gathering seen by very few.

Day 12  A day trip to Basra, an ancient old city with a beautiful old coliseum.  We will also visit a very famous church and a spot where the imprint of a camel is captured in solid rock. The story of this miracle will be revealed on location. Lunch will be served at a locals home.

Day 13:  Winding down we  attend a very special spiritual gathering. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet an amazing holy man and be able to sit and ask questions. We will do our best to make this happen.

Day 14:  Back home. For those who wish to stay on in Damascus, we will help you find comfortable accommodations and help you extend your visa, f need be.  The rest of you will escorted to the Damascus International airport where you will fly back home.


Dates

Two trips are organized each year in Spring and Fall. Contact Us for details.

Spring Heart Excursion

To be announced. Contact Us

Fall Heart Excursion

To be announced. Contact Us


Reservations

A Non-refundable deposit equal to 40% of the total price of the trip is required to reserve a place on the Broken Earth Heart Excursion. If you are unable to travel we will do our best to fill your position and provide you with a refund if successful.  Contact Us


Additional Information About Cyprus, Turkey &  Damascus!

Cyprus

Lonely Planet World Guides: Cyprus  Comprehensive and current online version of the popular print travel guide to Cyprus, including general information about culture, history, architecture, as well as specific travel information and data about hotels and restaurants.

Fodor's Mini-Guide to Cyprus  General travel information about Cyprus provided by the well-known series of travel guides. Provides direct links to hotels, restaurants, individual tourist attractions, as well as links to further information.

Konya, Turkey

In Islam, Sufi order (tariqa) headquartered to Konya, Turkey, founded by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi in the 13th century. He was known to his followers as "Mevlana", from Turkish meaning "Our guide", hence the name of the order. The Mevlevi are mainly known as Whirling Dervishes, due to their unique style of dancing dhikr, known as sema. The purpose of the whirling dance is the same as with most other Sufi orders practicing dhikr: The achievement of nearness to God. Through the dance, the sufis pass through certain stages, where the ego is left behind, truth is realized and perfection achieved at the end.

Konya is the home of renowned poet and whirling dervish Jallaudin Rumi. The fascination with Rumi continues to grow and more and more people are making the pilgrimage to this holy site.

Damascus, Syria

Damascus is the oldest continuously operating city in the world. A historical treasure and hidden secret, Damascus is truly one of the best travel destinations in the world. Safe, clean and travel friendly, the people of Damascus are warm and hospitable. Many destinations we will visit are off the beaten path and focused on the spiritual side of life in Damascus.

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