Galilee

Tel -Beit She'an in the background where Saul's body was hung by the Philistines. Roman Scythopolis in the foreground - a shining example of all a Roman city could be. (I'm standing on the top of the amphitheater).

 

 

The amphitheater at Scythopolis. Our class had been dismissed to wander and explore the city at will. A small tour group was sitting on a few rows and asked some of our students to give them a performance: so they got a loudly belted-out "Amazing Grace" and some "Sound of Music." They seemed amused.

 

 

 

View from Mt. Carmel (where Elijah made built an alter, God sent fire out of heaven to consume it, the prophets of Baal were killed, etc.)

 

This didn't show up as well as I was hoping. It's a really nicely preserved - other than a few large dents from collapsed walls - mosaic hallway and adjacent room floor.

 

 

 Head waters of the Jordan River at Tel-Dan. Beautiful mountain stream - and it tastes like bottled water. There were wars fought over this water - ancient and modern. It is right on the border with Lebanon and outside the National Park there are several mine fields that have yet to be cleared.

 

 Sea of Galilee at sunset, viewed from the mountain where Jesus gave his "Sermon on the Mount"

And the next day, we got a boat ride across it! 

Fertile land near Sea of Galilee and a crop duster practicing its run.

 

The Cliffs of Arbel overlook the International Highway - a huge trade route then, and now. Jesus gave his "Great Commission" from here.

Caves in the Cliffs of Arbel - rebels were trying to hide out in these and resist Herod the Great's rule. Let's just say Herod didn't let them stay there. But the caves have been continually used - some have been built up and fortified with what looks like crusader-era walls and windows. Of course, we know this because we climbed up to them.

 

Class on the Nazareth Ridge at sunset. We were pointing out various mountains I think. This is known as the leaping mountain. One of the stories of Jesus tells of when he was teaching at Nazareth, said some outrageous stuff, and the people tried to kill him. The Bible says that he passed through the midst of them and escaped, but according to local tradition he jumped off this mountain -and flew.

 Sunset via the view from Mt. Bental (old volcano in the Mt. Hermon chain up north). We could see everything from here. Including Syria. I'm one of the little heads poking out on the right somewhere.

Sea glass hunting at Caesarea with friends. We got tired of the ruins and rocks and went for beach life instead.

 

 My stash.











 

 Herod built aqueducts all the way to Caesarea - and yes, of course, we climbed them. There was no sign telling us we couldn't, but the other tourists seemed rather appalled.

And the trip ended with gelato - limoncello to be exact. Four days in the north = great trip. I have lots of thoughts and queries that I wrote down but which haven't made their way into blog format yet. Hopefully soon. For now, we are off to Jordan for another four days: pictures to follow.