11th Post - Wednesday, April 9 - Baptismal Site, Crossing into Jordan, Dead Sea

Our last morning in Israel before crossing over into the country of Jordan. We spent some time at the Baptismal Site. This is not the real site where John baptized Jesus - that comes tomorrow on the other side of the river in Jordan. But this is a nice spot (touristy) and a good place for reflection.

Our bus took us to the border, where we went through all the formalities of exiting Israel and entering Jordan, and getting a Jordanian bus and guide. Mother and Gaylene rode back to Jerusalem and will fly home from Tel Aviv. 

The rest of us continued into the Gilead Mountains of Jordan, to the Roman city of Jerash, past Amman (more the last day), and then down to the Moevenpick Resort on the Dead Sea.

The group had a great time floating in the salty water and then covering themselves with Dead Sea black mud! What a sight!

The Baptismal Site on the Jordan River near the Sea of Galilee

The story of the baptism in Hawaii Pidgin English

Bougainvillea at the Baptismal Site

The group pauses for reflection

A different landscape greets us as we climb up the Gilead Mountains of Jordan.

Ancient Roman City of Jerash

The chef rolls out the dough for our lunch bread.

High into the air he tosses it.

After firing it in the old kiln, out comes the finished product - yum!

Lunch at Artemis Restaurant in Jerash

Jabok Valley and River - where Jacob wrestled with the Angel

Terraced mountains of Jordan

Dead Sea at the Moevenpick Resort

Who are these scary creatures?

Kathy, Gerry, and Dave just enjoy the setting at the Dead Sea.

Can you guess? Ken, Sandy, Irene, Jim, & Alysa

Jim, Kim, Richard, Laura & Mitch float in the salty water

hmmmmmm

Don't let them touch you Maie!

Rob and Cheryl at our Moevenpick Hotel - lowest point on earth

Nice swimming pools round out the facilities at the Moevenpick.

Courtyard of the Moevenpick

10th Post - Tuesday, April 8 - Golan Heights, Ceasarea Philippi, Mount Hermon

Our last full day in Israel. Tomorrow we cross over into the country of Jordan for our last 4 days.

This was undoubtedly our most scenic day in Israel. We climbed high up onto the Golan Heights, actually into Israeli-occupied Syria. Israel took it in the 1967 war in retaliation for the war against them by their neighbors. It also happens to be a stunningly beautiful area and a rich agricultural region.

As the haze cleared late morning we were treated to views of 9,000' Mount Hermon. 

We stopped for sweets at a Druze Village, Mas'ade. The Druze were/are Syrians, now on the Israeli side of the line. They have their own complicated and secret religion, but they sure have great baked goods!

We continued to Ceasarea Philippi, where we saw the Mount Hermon Springs, source of the Jordan River. We ate lunch in a Lebanese Restaurant literally astride the small river.

On the way home we stopped again on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus came back to Peter after the crucifixion and resurrection.

A steep, windy road takes us up onto the Golan Heights.

Mitch can really get up into the air!!

Overlooking the Sea of Galilee from the Golan Heights

Maie and Kenje pose with Sea of Galilee in the background

Lest there was any doubt what kind of area we were in.......!

A bombed out Syrian Mosque, remnant of the 1967 War

I'm in Syria!

(actually, Israeli-occupied Syria, but I'm counting it!)

Syria in the background. Damascus is only 25 miles away!

The UN encampment in No Man's Land, to keep Israel and Syria apart

Snow-capped Mount Hermon in the distance

The Druze flag in the Druze village of Mas'ade

A Druze Elder

Ehab serves up the most wonderful sweets in his bakery!

Lovely terraced hillsides above Ceasarea Philippi

Mount Hermon Springs, source of the Jordan River

Grotto of the god Pan (root word of panic)

Literally eating lunch on top of the Jordan River

Banyas Falls

How many photos can we get of Mark and Kate?

The de facto border with Lebanon. The 3 countries of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria all meet on the sides of 9,000' Mount Hermon.

Glenn tells the story of Peter after the crucifixion and resurrection where Jesus asks him three times, "Do you love me?"

Mitch helps with Mom's chair. Many in the group have been extremely helpful.

Kim and Cheryl relishing a swim in the Sea of Galilee

Evening on the Sea of Galilee at our Seaside Resort, Ma'agan

Kim and Jim show the plate presented to them by Glenn for the church

Glenn also presents a number of reference books for the church library (Maie is excited!)

9th Post - Monday, April 7 - Nazareth, First Century Village, Church of the Annunciation

Galilee - What a beautiful area. The town of Nazareth is high on the hill overlooking the Jezreel Valley, not far from the Sea of Galilee. We started off on Mt. Precipice for a 360-degree view of the hills and valley.

Then we spent quite a bit of time at the First Century Nazareth Village, a reconstruction of what it looked like at the time of Christ. We were also treated to a typical First Century Lunch while there. Delicious!

Nazareth was also home to Mary, mother of Jesus, and on that site there is now the Church of the Annunciation, the largest church in the Middle East.

We got back to our resort on the Dead Sea in time for people to enjoy a swim in the Sea of Galilee, have a walk along the shore, or just relax.

City of Nazareth

Looking out over the Valley of Jezreel

Wild poppies are abundant

Mitch, don't step back any further!

Young women at the First Century Nazareth Village

Ancient Olive Press at the Village

and wood working the way it was done back then

Hannah demonstrates processing wool

This typical bread with our lunch was delicious.

Typical First Century Lunch at the Village

Here's where the bread was made!

Church of the Annunciation

Irene admires the stained-glass windows in the Church.

The Cave - home of Mary, Mother of Jesus

Main Sanctuary in the Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth

Reverend Pastor Pilgrim Schmuck Jimmy

DISCLAIMER

Inside joke developed during the tour - not intended to offend anyone!

photo by Irene Loessberg