Day Two - Nazareth and Mt. Carmel

After a typical Israeli breakfast featuring the likes of tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, yogurt, sour cream, cereals, breads and several varieties of pastries, it was on the bus at 8 am on off on our first day of touring. We had swapped 2 days of the scheduled itinerary and began today just outside of Nazareth on the hill of the Precipice. The site commemorates the story of Jesus’ sermon in his hometown and his rejection: “a prophet is not without honour except in his own hometown.” The hill gives a great view of Jezreel Valley and its fertile fields surround the hillside towns and villages.

We came down the hill and drove up in to the modern city of Nazareth to make three  stops. We first visited the Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation with this lovely 20^th century church built over and incorporating the ruins of the earlier Byzantine chapel first constructed in  AD 426. The church is a celebration of the life of Mary and her call by God to give birth to the Messiah.

Well, Greek Orthodox Gabriel's Church

We took a walk through the general market of the city, passing shops selling clothes and spices and all manner of home do-dads for the residents of the city. We arrived at the Greek Orthodox Church, built over the ancient water source of the city. This church claims to be the site of the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary as she came to draw water in the heat of the day. We could peer over into the well and see and hear the waters running below.

Ginny Lipe Inspects Olive Tree

Next stop the recreation of the ancient city at the Nazareth Village, a project of the YMCA (yes, we also had a hot meal there and hung out with all the goys). The village recreates the city during the first century. It gave us a glimpse of life 2,000 years ago featuring a farmer threshing wheat, a shepherd and his fat-tailed sheep, a recreated wealthy family tomb (complete with rolling stone), a weaver spinning wool and weaving tapestry, a carpenter, an ancient and working  oil press, and a synagogue. Great fun to see life recreated before our eyes.

Here, too, we ate lunch, a fantastic array of salads, and the traditional schnitzel and fries, the unofficial national dish of Israel.

Mike, Come Forth!

After lunch we drove across to the foot of Mount Carmel and entered the convent commemorating the contest between the prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal and Asherah during the 7^th century. We enjoyed hearing the biblical text read in the shade of the trees on the cool windy hillside. Alongside the church we climbed to a viewing platform and looked north, east, and south overlooking much of the country with the round hump of Mount Tabor (Hill of  the transfiguration) in the distance, the Galillee rising to the North, and the distant hills of Samaria to the South.

We  returned to our hotel to freshen up, enjoy a dinner, and while some retired, others walked down to the promenade along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee here in Tiberius and watched a sound, water, and light show that told the history of Israel in gorgeous colours as fountains of light rose and fell to the music. Some shopped, most grabbed a scoop or two of gelato (ice cream), and have wandered back home to our hotel to prepare for a super day tomorrow around the Sea  of Galilee learning about Jesus’ life and ministry. More then!