Advertisement
Published: December 19th 2014
This morning got off to a frustrating start. By the time we found our way to the car rental and made our peace with our sat nav system, it was almost lunchtime. Thankfully the gas station on Route 1 served the best gas station food I've ever tried. With schnitzel sandwiches and sugar-free energy drinks to fuel us, we made our way north on Route 90. This stretch of highway runs parallel to the Jordan river. We felt popping in our ears as we approached it. We finally figured out that it was because we were driving below sea level as that was the beginning of the Dead Sea area. Along our route were markers indicating our depth. It was a very scenic, desert looking region. The desert scenery became greener and more lush as we approached Galilee.
The first stop on this epic 10 hour journey was Yardenit. It is near where the Jordan meets the Sea of Galilee. Many people go there to be baptized in the river at this spot. They claim John baptized Jesus near there. I found the theme park-like atmosphere to be a bit too commercial for my liking. Amongst other things, there was
a bulletin board showing pictures of Glenn Beck and Whitney Houston being baptized there. For all the good that did them. I made sure to fill up an empty water bottle as a souvenir. Perhaps I will use it to perform my own baptisms some time.
Afterwards we tried to take in a view of the Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinnerot as it is known today. It is also known as Lake Tiberias. As I'm learning, many things here go by multiple names. There was a bit of a fog that made for unimpressive photos but it was a nice view nonetheless. Fun fact: a water park now lies on the edge of this historic "sea". Sensing a theme here?
We then had a really beautiful drive up into the mountains as we head toward Mt. Tabor. The is is the site of The Transfiguration. Driving up Mt. Tabor's sharp hairpin turns had me at times a bit worried that I too would be coming face-to-face with Jesus in all his glory before my time.
After a nerve-wracking drive down the mountain and some close calls in some dead-ends and narrow alleys (thanks sat nav) we
were on our way to Nazareth. As we approached Jesus' 'hood, we found ourselves stuck in a narrow alley with three other cars - two going one way, two going the other and no one could get by. All four genius drivers were at an impasse. The hero of the day was the passenger in one of those cars who got out and started directing everyone to smooth sailing. If wasn't for him we'd probably all still be stuck there. Nazareth seemed to be a hip and happening place to be. Unfortunately, by the time we got there it was kind of late so we didn't see as much of it as planned. Thanks sat nav.
It was an over two hour drive home past Tel Aviv. We basically drove in one epic, scenic circle today and covered about half the entire country.
Tomorrow: some much needed pampering on the Shabbat.
Shalom
Advertisement
Tot: 0.118s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 11; qc: 47; dbt: 0.0806s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
