Monday, June 17th was our eighth and last official tour day. We headed out of Jerusalem by bus early for Masada, Qumran, and the Dead Sea. Our drive to Masada took us past miles of date palm groves. Soon we caught sight of the Dead Sea, gleaming oily blue in the distance. Masada At Masada… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 8 (Masada, Qumran, Dead Sea)
Our day of exploring the King David’s City part of Jerusalem (Sunday, June 16) began at a beautiful brass harp sculpture. Our guide explained the layout of the land, the need for a water source, and the importance of Gihon Spring. He told of how at least two tunnels have been dug to bring water… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 7 (Jerusalem and Bethlehem)
We started Day 6 (Saturday, June 15th) of our “pilgrimage” at the top of the Mount of Olives From this vantage point we got a panoramic view of the Kidron Valley, with its generations of tombs directly in front of us with, above that the Dome of the Rock and the city. From here I… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 6 (The Jerusalem of Jesus’ passion)
We began Day 5 (Friday, June 14, three weeks ago today) boarding our bus with all our luggage for a day of sightseeing and a move to Jerusalem. Yardenit Our first stop, a very short one, was at Yardenit, a baptismal site on the Jordan River. No one from our group had requested to be… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 5 (Galilee, Jordan Valley, Jerusalem)
We left Banias, with the road taking us farther up into the Golan Heights. From the bus window I captured these Golan Heights vistas with terraced olive orchards and other gardens—quite beautiful. Vistas of terraced hillsides in the Golan Heights (Photos © 2019 by V.Nesdoly) We stopped for a late lunch at Alsultan Restaurant where… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 4 (Golan Heights)
Capernaum Capernaum (“Capharnaum, The Town of Jesus”) was our next stop. It was to Capernaum Jesus went after his native Nazareth rejected Him (Matthew 4:13). Capernaum was the centre of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and the site of many of His miracles. Again, there were many ruins. Remains of Peter’s house, where his mother-in-law was healed… Continue reading Israel Trip -Day 4 (Capernaum, Caesarea Philippi)
Day four (June 13th) saw us on the bus bright and early, leaving our Tiberias hotel to experience the Sea of Galilee. We started our day with a visit to the ancient boat, found preserved some years ago, in the mud of Galilee and now, carefully bolted together, kept in a climate-controlled space at the… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 4 (Sea of Galilee)
Our last visit of the day was to Magdala. This is the site of an archeological dig which has unearthed an early synagogue as well as more remains of ancient life. It is also famous for being the city that Mary Magdalene was from. A beautiful church (Duc In Altum: “Put out into the deep”)… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 3 (Magdala)
After Caesarea we left the coast, turning north and ascending Mt. Carmel to Muhraka, the site where Elijah fought the 400 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30). At a quiet spot, Sara Lee read the story from the Bible, then we took in the vista seen from a viewing platform above the church on the… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 3 (Mt. Carmel & Megiddo)
On day three (June 12) we hit the ground running. After an early breakfast, we boarded the bus with all our luggage and were on the road by 8:00 a.m. Our first stop was Caesarea Maritima (or Caesarea by the Sea—a port built by Herod). As our itinerary explained: “Here Pontius Pilate had his base,… Continue reading Israel Trip – Day 3 (Caesarea Maritima)
Violet Nesdoly 