Category: Israel

After 10 days in Israel we are on our way to Johannesburg to begin our 14 1/2 week African adventure.

We have a long journey ahead of us. Tel Aviv-Istanbul, Istanbul-Dar Es Salaam and finally Dar Es Salaam-Johannesburg. Total travel time including Israel hotel to Johannesburg hotel will be about 22+ hours but hey, we’re travelling Business Class so it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable.

We enjoyed the people, the history and the food of Israel. We did get a little tired of shawarmas and hummus so we are looking forward to a change. Israel is also very expensive so we’re also looking forward to less visits to the ATM! Overall a great country and we would highly recommend a visit.

On Monday June 5th we did a full day tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. First stop was the top of “Mount of Olives” for a panoramic view of the city of Jerusalem. Next stop was mount Zion to visit King David”s Tomb, the Room of Last Supper and the Dormition Abbey. We then entered the Old City and walked through the Armenian and Jewish quarters to the recently excavated and restored Cardo, the Roman road. We checked out the Jewish Wailing Wall, the Kotel and continued to the Christian quarter. We walked along the Via Dolorosa, the path that Jesus took to his Crucifixion, and visited the church of Holy Sepulchre. The church contains, according to traditions dating back to at least the 4th century, the two holiest sites in Christianity; the site where Jesus was crucified and Jesus’s empty tomb, where he said to have been buried and resurrected. We then continued on to Bethlehem which is located in Palestinian territory on the West Bank to visit the site where Jesus was born, the Church of Nativity and Manger Square. Although Joyce and I are not religious it was none the less an interesting and educational experience.

View of Old Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock

The Roman Road (Cardo)

Part of the Via Dolorosa

Entrance to the Church of Holy Sepulchre

The spot of Jesus’s Crucifiction

The marble rock bed Jesus was laid upon after his crucifixion

The Wailing Wall and Dome of the Rock

The Church of Nativity

Entrance to Jesus’s birth place

The spot where Jesus was born

The Manger

Manger Square

West Bank

June 7th we did another full day tour, this one to the Pearls of the Western Galilee, North of Tel Aviv along the coast to the border with Lebanon. First stop was the ancient Roman capital and port city of Caesarea where we walked among the Roman theater archaeological ruins and excavations. The city was built by King Herod for Julius Caesar but since Julius lived in Rome, he never actually visited or lived there so King Herod took it for himself.  He was a smart fellow this King. he built a swimming pool beside the ocean, aqueducts from the far away mountain springs and even converted the theater into a swimming pool to host aqua sports. There is a giant drain in the center of the theater which would drain the pool when not needed. The theater is still in use to this day and utilizes all of the original sandstone seats and theater acoustics. After visiting Caesarea we continued North to Haifa, the northern most city in Israel built in tiers extending from the Mediterranean up the north slope of Mount Carmel. Next stop, Rosh Hanikra where we descended by cable car into the underwater grottoes. The grottoes are located metres from the border with Lebanon. Final stop was Acre, the Old City recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

Outdoor swimming pool

In the distance, one of the silos for the “Iron Dome” built by Israel to defend against rocket attacks

A huge dining hall used by the Knights of the Crusaders. This site was excavated only 28 years ago