April 20 - Last Day in Israel

It was a very hot day today, maybe 33 degrees. Before it got too warm, we walked down the Mount of Olives (some stairs and a small road) and visited the Garden of Gethsemane. It is very small but there are very old olive trees in it. They were impressive. Could be 2000 years old.

We left the city behind and drove to Emmaus. There is a beautiful garden there and a Crusader church. Legend has it that the Ark of the Covenant was stored here for a while. There are cherubim painted on the ceiling. It is all a bit Indianna Jones but nonetheless thrilling. We had the place to ourselves. So peaceful!

After this we went to an even more remote area. It was a high point that overlooks the Valley of Elah, where David killed Goliath with a pebble. The hill we were standing on is an unexcavated tel. A very hot wind blew and I left my water bottle in the van. I was worried that I would pass out in the heat! To top off the experience we came across a herd of sheep with two shepherds plus about six dogs. George said they were goats but we set him straight. 

By this time it was about 2 pm so we stopped at a strip mall along the highway where we had lunch in a small eating place. Diane and I had pita bread filled with chicken and salad. Mine tasted very bland but that was my own fault because I declined the sauce. 

We stopped at a market type store filled with all kinds of trinkets having to do with Israel. I am talking stuff made out of olive wood, earings made with Roman stone, fridge magnets with camels or crosses on them. You get the idea. We picked out a few things and got out of there promptly. 

All in all it has been an amazing trip. Highlights for me were Masada, the boat trip on the Sea of Galilee as well as the view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Also, it was really fun to make this trip with Diane. It was quite an exotic destination and we were far from home. We got along really well other than me getting grumpy one morning and Diane's habit of packing and repacking her stuff everyday. LOL

We are ready now to go home to Jeff and Bert but will first have to fly the almost 12 hours to Toronto and then immediately followed by five hours to Vancouver. But we are up for it, especially with Jeff's stellar seating arrangements.

April 19 - Exploring Old Jerusalem

Despite getting off to a bit of a grumpy start (me) this morning, the day progressed really well. George was at the hotel at 8:30 and we made the Garden of the Tomb our first stop. This is a place just outside the old city walls and is maintained by the British. We had a nice English gentleman explaining to us what probably happened where. Most of it is conjecture. The garden is very lush and there is a kind of skull in the cliff (place of the skull, so maybe Golgotha) plus a tomb you can enter. 

After this lovely garden visit we made our way to the Damascus Gate and plunged into the nether world of the old city. What a rush, walking through the narrow streets filled with shops and people. We stuck close to George. Diane and I had actually decided the night before to give George some slack and try to listen to his ramblings. Attitude is everything and it worked for us. We were a bit more teachable. Although, how much do we need (want) to learn about the stones in the walls!

There were lots of young soldiers about, including young girls, who were carrying machine guns. Diane actually found an unused bullet!! We gave it to a security guy.

We entered several different churches, including the church of the Sepulcher. There is even a kind of tomb in the church that people can enter. There was a lineup for that. Diane lit a candle here for our sister, Ada. I would have liked to enter the Muslim quarter and the Golden Dome mosque but it was out of bounds. 

The Western Wall is interesting, too. It is divided into two parts. For men (larger section) and for women (smaller section). Don't ask. I took a turn standing there and noticed all the bits of paper, representing prayers, in the cracks of the stones. The wall plus the stones we walk on are smooth and shiny from all those people touching and walking on them over the many years. 

We did a lot of stair climbing in the heat of the day and are now in our cosy air conditioned room. A relief. 

Altogether, it was a remarkable day. For some reason I am able to view all these so called holy sites in a detached way, like an observer. I noticed that some people are overcome with emotion. What was interesting for me is how these different cultures and religions live together under one roof. And rather a small one. I believe the old city is only about a square kilometre. 

We would go for a swim now on the roof of this hotel if they were not renovating! Another empty pool. LOL

April 18 - To Jerusalem

We woke up early to a beautiful view of a pink dawn on the Sea of Galilee. Very, very peaceful. After another stunning breakfast ( the food is amazing here) we were off to Jerusalem, about three hours away. Traffic was quite heavy and Israeli drivers are aggressive. However, we made it safely. 

Arriving on the Mount of Olives gave us a breathtaking view of Jerusalem. Diane went for a short camel ride. It was hilarious to see her expression as the camel worked to an upright position. 

We were not able to visit the Garden of Gethsemane because there was no parking. However, we will try to walk down the Mount of Olives another day and then George can pick us up. The garden is at the bottom of the hill. 

George is lecturing us too much. We are tired of it and will have to tell him to talk less. He presumes that we know nothing. Highly annoying. I look the other way while Diane is more polite and regularly says "aha". We will see what happens tomorrow when we explore the old city. 

It is really quite marvellous here. Although very warm. It might be necessary to venture out for some icecream, for medicinal purposes.

April 17 - Golan Heights

What a beautiful day again. We drove up and up above the Sea of Galilee until we were on the Golan Heights and could see Mount Hermon with bits of snow still on it. Our first stop was Caesarea Philippae, another ruin. It was A palace for Agrippa the Second. Near by was a steep valley with a rushing creek in it, Banias Springs. It was lovely to walk around there for a bit. 

We stopped at Crater Lake for lunch. Nothing special about either.

We also stopped at a lookout and could see Syria in the distance. There is a no man's land buffer zone that is patrolled by the UN. We also passed some warning signs regarding live mines. Yikes!

When we returned to Galilee we were treated to a boat ride on the sea. It was a wooden boat powered by a battery. So, very quiet. Like sailing. A real fisherman came up to our boat and showed us his catch. What a treat this was.

April 16- Mt. Beatitudes, Capernaum and Tabgha

What a great morning. We drove to the other side of the lake to the Mount of the Beatitudes. It is a peaceful and beautiful place overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Everywhere, in the gardens, there were groups of people having devotions and quietly reading Scripture. Our guide showed us how Jesus could make his voice heard. It is because off the effect of sea breezes and the funnelling of nearby hills.  Diane and I walked about two km along a path down to the sea shore. It was lovely. 

Our next stop was Capernaum. It was abandoned in the 8 th century after it was severely damaged by an earthquake. Today there is a chapel built right above Peter's house. There is a glass roof above it at the exact spot

where the paralytic man was lowered down with ropes. Really amazing.

Our last stop was Tabgha, on the shore, where Jesus fried fish after his resurrection and he asked Peter three times, do you love me. There is a lovely chapel there and several massive rocks just outside.

We have the afternoon off. It is nice to get a break. The weather is gorgeous. And the pool water is heated!

The food in this hotel is fabulous in contrast to what we got in Bethlehem, where it was not great at all. 

The lushest salads and fresh breads!

April 15 - Tiberias

Today's adventures were characterized by lots of driving and two spots with great views. We were greeted by our new driver/guide, George, this morning  and we soon realized that he was a talker. Diane sat in the front and took the brunt of it. We are now at a hotel on the Sea of Galilee and George wants to have dinner with us. Not sure I can handle that. I feel like saying to him, "Go home".

We did visit Caesarea and walked on the beach on the Mediterranean Sea. That was a treat. After much driving and traffic jams we arrived at Mount Carmel and also a high cliff above Nazareth. We could see Mount Nabor in the distance. Stunning views in both places.

All of this is leaving me quite indifferent. The Biblical places are so built up as to be unrecognizable. Diane took a swim in the Sea of Galilee and I suppose that does not look much different from Bible times. 

It is very lush in this area, compared to the Judean desert around Bethlehem. Quite a change.