Israel Day Three: From the Sea to the Coast

We covered a lot of ground on day three. We packed up and checked out of our Galilee hotel and headed west through Nazareth and the Armageddon Valley, then onward to Haifa on the coast, then south along the coast through Caesarea and Jaffa before settling back into our Jerusalem hotel.


The Valley of Armageddon


The Valley of Armageddon


The Valley of Armageddon


Mount Tabor


Mount Tabor


Scott and Glen with our guide reading the account in Luke of the attempted stoning at Nazareth.


Overlooking Nazareth


Rachel overlooking Nazareth


We stopped at this joint for totally scrumptious shawarma pitas. Sooo good!




After lunch we took a tour of the lovely Bahá’í World Centre on the slope of Mt. Carmel in Haifa. Here we learned more about the Bahá’í faith, which is particularly interesting to me because I have a very dear friend who is Bahá’í.


The centre is home to many shrines, administrative buildings, as well as archive and educational facilities.


Simply breathtaking!






Next we visited the ancient city of Caesarea. Here we learned a lot about the various civilisations that occupied this city from Turkish, to Crusader to Roman. It was fascinating to learn more about how it evolved and changed with each new civilisation, and it was interesting to note what was left behind from each.


Caesarea was a remarkable city with its own breakwater harbor, theatre and hippodrome.




It was at Caesarea that Herod Agrippa questioned Paul about his arrest in Jerusalem.




Next we visited Jaffa, the ancient caravan stop, which is part of southern Tel Aviv. It was here that the Jonah and the whale story began. Jonah departed Jaffa heading off course and was then thrown overboard before spending three days inside the belly of a great fish.


I loved the old winding back alleys of Jaffa. A photo behind every corner.




























A funny shop we saw in Cana

Greight to be Eight

We interrupt the Israel broadcast to bring you news from the homestead. Ever since we arrived back home from Israel it seems we've been partying non-stop celebrating Madeleine's 8th birthday! Starting with a small family gathering on the actual day, continuing on with a far out birthday party with friends the following week, before finally ending with a happy baptismal day this week, it's been quite the extended celebration! She may suffer from withdrawal symptoms now that it's all over!



Madeleine celebrated with her school friends at her totally girltastic salon party where the girls all got complete makeovers including their hair, make-up and new out-fits on loan from some of the local top designers (i.e. Ross and TJ Maxx). It was a high-pitched squealing good time, and it was at this party that I saw, with greater clarity than ever, my future as a mother to a teenage girl (and it kind of freaked me out).




















Nail polish on the cheek? Why not.





And in an equally happy, but far more subdued occasion we celebrated Madeleine's baptism today. It was a very special day for a very special girl. This girl is beautiful inside and out, and I'm so grateful she's in our family.