My Israel Adventure: Day Five

Very early start today – 5 a.m.! walked in the dark to a posh hotel, to wait for the coach, which took us to various other posh hotels, picking up other tourists. At Tel Aviv train station we were joined by more tourists and our guide, who was of the talkative variety, and throughout the journey kept referencing the great achievements of Israel’s industry. Entering Galilee we saw how green it is, large areas of flat land and then sudden, dramatic hills, one of which sits atop Nazareth. Many lovely views as we drove up the winding roads to this Arab town.


Stunning Church of the Annunciation. The Word made flesh and dwelt among us.


Marys representing each of the nations:


We entered via the lower level, dark and empty—womb-like—but pockets of light. An old grotto in which she was supposed to have lived. Upstairs a great domed roof, and more Marys. This magnificent church made the whole long trip to Galilee worth it.


Then across to Jospeh’s church – nice but unremarkable. Interesting, the ingenuity that goes into ‘identifying’ these sites.

Then we set off for the Sea of Galilee, through more beautiful green countryside, with palm trees and exotic fruit plantations, but otherwise the landscape and the weather was much like home, or Scotland, or Yorkshire!

Had lunch at a restaurant – a whole fish (Galilee fish!) and chips.


Then off to Capernaum, where I found that the lake Jesus hung out on is not that different from Loch Lomond, or Buttermere. There were seagulls that would be perfectly at home in Tankerton.


Capernaum has lovely gardens, and the very interesting remains of a 4th century synagogue.


Up the road to the Church of the Multiplication, with mosaic floor from the Byzantine period. So many layers of history piled up on top of each other. Tiberias like Margate! Then the horrendously tacky Jordan ‘baptism site’ – people kitted out with white robes, and the option of a DVD film of their dip to take home.

Driving down the valley of Jordan and then Jezreel, the hills of the Golan – so green and stunning.


Slowly and subtly turned to desert – equally dramatic, hit by the light of the lowering sun.


Tour guide making horrible statements about Palestinian agriculture, as opposed to the Israeli plantations, which take ‘know how’. Grr.

Once back in Jerusalem, a potter round ceramics shops – some gorgeous things – and a failed attempt at waffles for supper, but all ended well with takeaway falafel eaten back at the Swedish Theological Institute. I was exhausted and slightly grumpy, but very glad to have made the effort to go north.