Israel - Holy Cultures Day 4
Israel - Holy Cultures
Day 04 - Monday, October 18, 2010 - Overland to Nazareth/Discover Caesarea Roman Ruins/Visit Haifa
Today was our first travel day and we were all packed, had our breakfast, and watched Andre and the porters pack the bus with all of our bags by 8:00. It seemed a little dryer today; the temperature was 80º and the humidity was 56%.
Everyone was on time this morning and ready to go north to Nazareth. Ran gave us a brief over-view of our day as we left the capital city at 8:30 amid the Monday morning traffic.
Our first adventure of the morning was to drive along the beautiful clear Mediterranean Sea to the Roman Ruins of Caesarea, which was the dream city of King Herod the Great. Now an Israeli National Park, this historical site features a well restored theater, a Hippodrome, freshwater pools, a fortified harbor, and a bathhouse.
The bath house still has a well preserved Roman latrine. All of the men in our group took an opportunity to refresh themselves for a perfect male bonding photo op!
As we walked the grounds Ran gave us an excellent history of the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, and the Crusaders. Finally earthquakes and the marauding invaders from the east, the Mamelukes destroyed this cultural, commercial, and government center.
We made a brief stop at Herod’s Aqueduct, also in incredible shape and then we were on our way along the coast past lands that were parched and dry with occasional irrigated fish farms, citrus groves, and green houses growing flowers and vegetables.
As we drove by many white hillside cities, Ran told us more about the political and religious diversity of the country. He also explained about the cultures of the Israelis, the Israel Arabs, and the Palestinians.
At 1:00 we had a lunch stop in Haifa, Ran’s home town. He suggested several places within walking distance to eat. We chose the Falafel Carmelita and shared a delicious shawarma, or pita sandwich. Ran had told us on the first night in Israel that the very best ice cream in Israel was here in Haifa so of course we had to try it – it was great!!!!
We gathered back at 2:00 and Andre took us to the city overlook where we had breathtaking panoramas of the port of Haifa and the hills of Lebanon in the background.
Just four years ago rockets from Lebanon by were fired by Hezbollah killing eight people in the valley below. Ran told us a bomb landed within 300 yards of his apartment.
We walked along the Louis Promenade to see the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, the holy center of the International Baha’i Faith and the shrine of the Ba’b who was the founder of the Faith. The incredibly manicured gardens were completed in 2001 and are now a World Heritage Site.
Leaving the gardens at 2:45 we continued on to Kfar Hasidim, a Moshav or cooperative farm community. We met Ehud Yonay, a writer who spent 30 years in California before coming back to the land of his great grandfather in Israel.
Ehud was a writer for California Magazine and also wrote the novel for the 1986 movie Top Gun. He and his wife are now olive farmers who share their stories and produce in agro-tourism.
After looking around the farm, we each had a chance to bake our own small Israeli pizza and then shared them along with a dinner of vegetables, pasta, and dessert.
It was 6:00 and already dark when we left the farm and drove to Nazareth. Gennie’s bag was waiting for us when we arrived at the lobby. She is now a happy traveler!
We settled in, looked at our photos, and typed the journal recalling a very informative and busy day. We heard someone remark that they had already done more in three days on this trip, than on another tour lasting two weeks. OAT does keep us busy!
Accommodations: Golden Crown Nazareth Hotel, Nazareth, IL - - - Meal: B, D
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Comments
Pita Pizza, Kfar Hasidim, Israel (3:59)
Roman Latrine
Herod’s Aqueduct
Falafel Carmelita Shawarma
Baha’i Hanging Gardens
Ehud Yonay
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