Thursday, July 6, 2017
7/6/17 Israel Day 10: Jerusalem Tunnel Tours
Photos
Today we started out at the Western Wall Tunnel and went on a guided tour. As always the docent (guide) makes the tour and we lucked into another great guide.
We ate a quick snack and then headed to the Siloam Tunnel tour, which is self-guided but just as awesome. The water level in the tunnel is 70 cm (waist height) and it is pitch black; most of the hike through you must stoop to avoid the low ceiling.
We walked around the old city a little more and saw the shopping / art areas and ate lunch.
PHOTOS
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
7/5/2017 Israel Day 9: Jerusalem
Photos are here.
This morning we walked to the old city and went on the self-paced walking audio tour of the tower of david museum. We arrived when they opened and completed the tour at 1:30pm. We ate lunch in the Arab section at a great restaurant where they served vegetarian Falafel, Hummus (that was quite good), salads, Pita. Then we walked around the ramparts of the old city and photographed the outside areas of the archeological museum. It was a little warm (90's) so we retreated indoors.
Outside:
triple photo bomb:
Byzantines
More photos at: https://goo.gl/photos/yze5bgJUuWAyeTUW9
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
7/4/2017 Israel Day 8: Ein Gedi, Stalactite Cave, Jerusalem
Photos
This morning we hiked up Ein Gedi, splashed in the waterfalls, played with the Nubian ibexes, and hiked back down. I kept the teenagers occupied by retelling Samuel 23 & 24. David was a charismatic rock star, and political "player," trying to take the Judean throne from King Saul. My daughter actually knew the stories better than me but neither her friend, nor his parents knew it.
Hide-out
where David was evading Saul and 3,000 troops
Then we drove to the stalactite cave, where we went on a tour, led by a great tour guide who patiently repeated parts of the tour in English when our Hebrew was insufficient.
The photos do not capture the amazing display and lighting.
Finally we drove to Jerusalem where we ate and walked around a little. We picked up some souvenirs.
More Photos (uploading now)
Monday, July 3, 2017
7/3/2017 Israel Day 7: Masada, Dead Sea
Photos
Today we woke up at 4:00am local time, climbed the "snake trail" of Masada at dawn, and then explored the ruins of Masada for what felt like the entire day. However it was 09:30 after our extensive trek and tour so we went to the Dead Sea and hung out in in the water until lunch time.
Roman-made "mountain (ramp)," two-years in the making used for final siege, after which the Masada zealots killed themselves rather than becoming slaves.
More photos
Sitting on the Dead Sea
When the temperature crossed 110 degrees F, we retreated indoors. Our clothing and bathing suits dried in under three minutes hanging outside.
Tomorrow we plan to hike the oasis in Ein Gedi.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
7/2/2017 Israel day 6: Haifa, Eingedi
Today we went to the maritime museum in Haifa. Photos here.
Pirates, arrggh!
郑氏 - Ching Shih - the most bad-ass pirate ever! 300 ships, 40,000 pirates under her command, 401K plan inventor. She started as a teenage sex slave prostitute and became a pirate admiral empress.
Learn the ropes!
https://goo.gl/photos/U1GPb3J3J2kKbcuD8
We had amazing falafel for lunch in a tiny falafel stand. The secret to great falafel is fresh ingredients, fresh oil, & eat fresh-cooked.
#
Then we drove to Ein Gedi. Part of the drive had me a little nervous, especially in 109 degree heat. but we arrived safely and uneventfully. The dates they grow here in Ein Gedi are to-die-for awesome, the best I have ever tasted.
Tomorrow we plan to wake up before dawn and hike up Masada at 05:00 local time.
Saturday, July 1, 2017
7/1/2017 Israel Day 5: Bahá'í gardens
Today's photos
We took a guided tour of the Bahá'í gardens in Haifa today. I really liked our tour guide; he was animated, dramatic, cynical, and light-hearted.
Then we went to the beach to escape the heat but the jellyfish were terrible again so we retreated indoors. When it cooled off we photographed the sunset.
The Israelis were line dancing in a public square next to the beach:
Israelis are among the happiest people in the world.
Dinner was awesome (as usual). Tomorrow we are going to Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea. It will be over 109.5 degrees F (43 C) there tomorrow.
Today's photos
6/30/2017 Israel Day 4 Caesarea
Today we went to Caesarea. The history, ruins, architecture, and sites. are interesting but I am always blown away by Roman engineering from two thousand years ago: The Romans had underwater concrete to make a harbor breakwater. The hippodrome (horse race track) is right out of "Ben Hur." The Roman Amphitheater is still used today for concerts, and the aqueducs stretch many kilometers to their water source. There were more people living in Caesarea 1,800 years ago (over 50,000) than the number of people who live here now (45,000).
Amphitheater setting up for a Pixies concert
We went to all the museums when they opened in the morning, watched the videos & hologram movies, and then hung out on the beach at Caesarea the rest of the day; the jellyfish bloom there is not as terrible as Haifa so we went swimming in the Mediterranean, finally.
Hippodrome (horse racetrack)
Sand Castles on the beach
The rest of the photos are slowly uploading and will be here:
Thursday, June 29, 2017
6/29/2017 Israel Day 3 in Israel (Thursday)
https://goo.gl/photos/eY17zgFM7AqcFGjW9
We were in Akko and Rosh Hanikra today.
Souk, Akko
Crusader Tunnel, Akko
Akko
Rosh Hanikra grotto (on border with Lebanon)
No jellyfish on the coast tonight.
#
We went on a walking tour of all the tourist sites in Akko starting close to 08:30am, ate lunch at Said, the best Hummus in the World (with a great distance to #2), and then drove up to the border to visit the grottos of Rosh Hanikra.
The smell of human and cat pee-pee along the souk, the coastal ramparts, and tourist sites was a major downer but I like the vibe of Akko and it was not terrible. Our Hebrew is improving. Jellyfish are not as terrible and I went wading during sunset after dinner tonight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
