We got into Israel yesterday and it is another world compared to Egypt. Israel is so modern compared to Cairo. The Tel Aviv airport is like coming into a brand new European airport, and everywhere you look there is something new and modern, the land is clean and it if I didn't know any better I would say we were driving in parts of the Texas Hill Country.
Yesterday we arrived in Tel Aviv about noon or so and drove to the north to Ceserea Maritoma and touched the Mediteranean Sea. We saw some aqueduct ruins, a former theatre, and a man made sea port from the time of Jesus and Herod the Great. Then we went a little to the northeast to the ruins of a town called Meggido. It is the sight of about 25 cities that have been built one on top of the other. It was a heavily fortified city and at one point they dug a hug shft and tunnel to get to a fresh spring so they would never have to walk outside the city walls. In between those two quick stops we ate lunch at modern Jewish kibbutz, Kaci was very pleased with the offerings.
Today we have had a very full day. We started the day right on the Sea of Galilee at the Church of the Primacy of Peter where tradition says that Jesus questioned Peter the three times, "do you love me?" After this we traveled a short distance and went to Capernaum where the ruins of the synagogue and city lay. Also there is the home where Jesus healed paralytic from Mark 2. Then we took another quick drive to a Greek Orthodox church that looks at Capernaum. The chapel is gorgeous and decorated with frescos and icons everywhere. Then we drove up the hillside and went to the Mount of the Beatitudes, the traditional site of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. It has a grogeous view of the Sea of Galilee and sits on some beautiful grounds. We then had St Peter's fish for lunch (Kaci had chicken). After lunch we went to the Church of the Mulitplication which is just around the corner from our hotel. This is the traditional site where Jesus fed the 4000. Then we took a drive up to a cliff that overlooks the entire region and has a great view of the Sea of Galilee and everything around. Today was very full but was amazing to think that at many of the sites Jesus may have walked, and even if this isn't the exact site, he was somewhere close.
Tonight Kaci got a little wild and took a dip in the Sea of Galilee. Today's tempature hasn't gotten any higher than 60, but she did it without any hesitation. Tonight dinner was a very good dinner and we bothy ate very well. The accomadations that we are staying in here at Tiberias is called the Pilgerhaus Tabgha. It's owned and run by a German Catholic group and is a stones throw from the Sea of Galilee. The accomodations are really top notch and we are well fed and the rooms are great.
We have two more full days in the Galilee region and will head to Jerusalem Thursday morning. The country is really amazing and if we didn't already know then we would never guess a conflict was going on in the southern part of the country. We have felt safe everywhere we've been and feel really comfortable in the country. We wish you all were here and experiencing this with us.
Also, we are now about half way through the trip and I have to say a special thank you to everyone that helped make this trip possible. It's a pretty amazing trip, I can't even describe how awesome it is to be here, especially with Kaci, thank you!
---I'll have to add pictures later. We have some really good ones, but because of the limited connection we have here it will have to wait until another time.
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2 comments:
Granddad is so excited about your adventures and you are spending so much more time than he had when he was there in May. He did talk about the fish that you ate. Many people are enjoying your travels and wishing they could be with you. Can't wait to see pictures. I am glad you feel safe and are safe.
Sounds AMAZING! I can't wait to see pictures! Stay safe and keep us updated.
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