February 13, 2006
Jerusalem, Galilee and Caesarea
On Thursday morning after visiting David's tomb, we walked through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. In that area is the Cardo, part of the Roman ruins of an ancient marketplace. Today it is lined with shops selling souvenirs and Judaica. We also visited the Burnt House, a museum built over the ruins of a priestly family's house, which dates back to 70 AD when the Romans besieged and burned the city.
The CardoOur next stop was an unplanned detour to Bethlehem. After taking a taxi to the Garden of Gethsemane and finding it closed for lunch, our driver talked us into a side trip to Bethlehem. When we arrived, we were joined by Issa, a local licensed guide, who gave us a tour of the Church of the Nativity. The center of the gold star on the floor, in the picture below, has a hole so we could touch the cave floor, the supposed site where Jesus was born.
The Church of the NativityAfterwards, our taxi driver took us back to the Garden of Gethsemane. We walked through the olive tree garden and admired an ancient olive tree which dates back to the time of Christ. Then we went back to the Old City and visited the Western Wall. We enjoyed wearing our new scarves at the Wall, since it is required for married women (and all men) to cover their heads there.
The Western wallThat evening, Rob joined us once again. He drove us to a viewpoint on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City.
The Dome of the RockWe ate dinner at a restaurant called Olive & Fish. Scott and Tiffany had eaten there with Scott's parents when they came to visit. After a delicious meal, we went to the King David Hotel for dessert. The King David Hotel is famous for being bombed by the Jewish underground in 1946 because the British command was located there.
King David HotelFriday morning we went on the Hasmonean Tunnel tour, the underground tour of the foundations of the Western Wall. The tour gives a great summary of the history of Jerusalem and uses models to show the city during the Second Temple period until modern times. After our tour, we visited the Archeological Park at the base of the Western and southern walls of the Temple Mount. We saw the ruins of Robinson's Arch, which supported one of the entrances to the Temple Mount at the time of Christ. We also walked along the ruins of a paved street from the Second Temple period, where moneychangers may have been located and where sacrificial animals were sold.
Jerusalem Archeological ParkWe were only able to catch a glimpse of the Dome of the Rock since it was closed to the public on Friday for the Muslim holy day. While we were in the Muslim Quarter, Rob, Jacki and Kristi got to taste falafel, deep-fried balls of ground chickpeas.
Eating falafelNext, we left the Old City and drove up to Mount Scopus where the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center is located. We went on a tour of the building, listened to a beautiful organ recital and walked through the grounds and gardens of the Center. We enjoyed the spectacular view of the Old City. Then we drove back to Haifa. Tiffany was glad to be home with Scott and the kids.
The Jerusalem CenterOn Saturday, the Sabbath, we attended church and visited the sights in the Galilee. We had a picnic lunch on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Then we drove to a viewing place along the Jordan River. We went to Tabgha, a church built on the supposed location of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Next, we went to St. Peter's Primacy where Jesus commanded Peter, "Feed my sheep." We ended the day at the Mount of Beatitudes, a beautiful setting with a church and gardens commemorating the Sermon on the Mount.
Sea of GalileeOn Sunday, we went to Caesarea, Herod the Great's port city dedicated to Caesar Augustus. It was a beautiful, clear day, perfect for exploring the Roman ruins and collecting sea shells. We walked through the bath house complex, along the horse race track and around the Roman amphitheater. We also drove farther up the coast to the ruins of an ancient aqueduct.
Caesarea aqueductThat evening we ate dinner at Avasi, our favorite Middle Eastern restaurant in Haifa. We sampled a variety of Mediterranean salads, falafel, pita and skewers of different types of meat. Since our friends' flight left early the next morning, we stayed up late together until it was time for them to leave for the airport. The boys talked shop while the girls watched a movie. We also had a slice of the Marie Calendar's Chocolate Satin pie that Jacki and Kristi brought with them on the plane as a wonderful surprise for Tiffany.
Tyler-isms:
"When I grow up can I be Santa?" - Santa has Tyler's dream job - toys and a flying sleigh.
"Who could be my helpers?" - Then he suggested Brooke would be a good elf.
Brooke-isms:
"High" - When things are out of her reach.
"Over" - When she sees the credits of one of her "shows".