September 24, 2011 (Saturday)
We were off and running, ready to explore with Nurit (guide) and Amitai (driver). Before leaving Tel Aviv, we drove by two memorials in the same area of the city. One is a memorial to Yithak Rabin.
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| Rabin memorial |
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| Rabin memorial |
On the way to Caesarea, Nurit explained history and archaeology regarding one of Herod the Great's
many buildings and engineering wonders. The town is on the Mediterranean coast about halfway between Tel Aviv and Haifa, a very strategic location enhanced by Herod's building an artificial port. Caesarea is a national historic park with ruins dating from the Hasmonean empire, Roman empire, Byzantine period, Rashidun Caliphate period, French occupation (13th century A.D.), Crusader times, and into the early twentieth century.
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| Crusader wall and moat |
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| Caesarea Harbor |
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| mosaic |
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| a walk along the beach looking for Roman coins and shells |
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| Bev & Steve at Caesara |
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| Map: Caesarea to Haifa |
From Caesarea, we drove further north along the coast to Haifa, Israel's third largest city, with its natural seaport, a base for entering travelers at least in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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| Haifa: Baha'i Gardens, on Mount Carmel |
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| Haifa port |
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| Haifa |
Continuing from Haifa, we arrive in Nazareth, experiencing the beauty of the Basilica of the Annunciation.
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| Doors, Basilica of the Annunciation |
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| Nazareth, Basilica of the Annunciation |
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| Basilica of the Annunciation |
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| In the crypt, the cave where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary |
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| Outside the Basilica with our group |
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| Knafeh or Baklava, anyone? |
But of course we need an afternoon sweet treat before checking to the Golden Crowne Hotel.
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| view from our room's balcony, facing west |
Sitting on our hotel room’s balcony in Nazareth listening to crickets and voices of children too excited to settle down at the end of Shabbat. The many kids were a pretty wild bunch of mostly pre-teens (tweens) from the same congregation!
The views were spectacular and peaceful, even with children's voices.
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| the valley, roads, and hills of Nazareth, from the hotel |
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| Nazareth |
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Sunset over Nazareth
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Shalom Chaverim (Peace, my friends, until we meet again), an Israeli folk song.
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