Blogs from North District, Israel, Middle East - page 3

Wednesday we went on an another outing led by the local guide Shouka. Again about 5 families drove their own cars, following the guide's car with flags clipped to windows. Our objective was to visit the sites of two ancient synagogues, or as they are called 'bet knesset' which means 'meeting house' in Hebrew. First we went to Dir Aziz. The entry to this synagogue has a large stone arch. This leads to a portico with pillars. Much of the base structure has been preserved or reconstructed by archaeologists. The second bet knesset was at Ein Keshatot. In this case the pillared portico leads to an arched doorway into the synagogue proper. Most of these external pillars have tumbled. Inside it is clear that the front part is largely preserved or reconstructed. Likewise the interior pillars ... read more

We were in the Golan at Ramot Resort for the Passover holiday week. We drove up from home through the green hills and valleys of the southern Galilee. Traffic was lighter than expected, probably because we managed to leave about 10am. This despite a bit of drizzle or light rain which diminished as we proceeded on our way. We drove around the northern shore of the Kinneret - the Sea of Galilee - and reached our hotel on the rise above the northeastern shore. after checking in and having a light lunch, we went out to look over the sea. The weather continued to clear. Before our final preparations preceding the Passover seder, we took a picture of the sun about to set over the western shore. For the seder Rabbi Stewart Weiss and his wife ... read more

This morning was a little different as this is the day we move from our hotel in Bethlehem to our hotel in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. We not only had to get ready but pack our suitcases and put them outside our door before we went to breakfast. We are very fortunate that at each hotel we have young men who carry our luggage from our rooms to the bus and vice versa. All we have to do is double check and make sure our luggage is ready to be put on the bus. Our bus ride today took a little time as we were going to Caesarera Maritima on the Mediterranean. It is beautiful there with the ancient ruins on a backdrop of the blue seas of the Mediterranean. This site is important ... read more

Before departing Haifa, we take the Mount Carmel Cable Carfor the view and to visit the Stella Maris Monastery. We walk back along the beach, no humans – it’s off season but it’s heaving with cats, they appear to live among the rocks. Then onwards, stopping for lunch at Tel Megiddo (aka Armageddon), to check out the venue where the world is prophesied to end. A strange irony; it’s not where Google Maps says it is. A conspiracy theory; this is a deliberate and cunning ploy by Google to prevent the end of civilisation. We arrive at today’s destination, Nazareth - Jesus’s manor. The hotel, Villa Nazarath, is immaculate. It is in a converted school adjoning the Greek Orthodox Church of the Anunciation which is built over a spring where the Greeks believe Mary was visited ... read more

Hello everyone, Today was our last day in the Galilee area. We went to the Church of the Multiplication AKA as The Church of the Loaves & Fishes. After that to another religious site where Jesus made the disciples breakfast on the north Shore of Lake Galilee. It was also where He asked Peter to feed my sheep. And lastly we went to where the Jordan River flows south out of the Lake of Galilee. Very nice. There were a lot of people being baptised. All come on tour buses. we have at least a 3 hour drive tomorrow down Israel (south) going past Tel Aviv to a small village on the outskirts of the Negev desert. 2 nights there. The first day we will go to Masada and The Dead Sea. second day on our ... read more