WEDNESDAY:

We started the day early, getting up at 5:00 am.  By 8:00 am we had recovered my baggage, eaten breakfast, and taken a few photos of the Mediterranean.   By 8:15, we were on are way out of Tel Aviv, headed north toward Caesarea, Cana, and Nazareth!

Our first stop was the site of Caesarea, where archeological work has uncovered and renovated sections of Caesarea built around 20 BC.  This included a Roman style theater, which is used today for special presentations.  At this site we also saw the remains of one Herod's palaces, as well as the harbor area and hippodrome.  Just a little way up the coastline, we stopped to see a section of the aqueduct that originally went all the way from Caesarea to the mountains!

After Caesarea, we headed to the highest point of Mt. Carmel.  This is the site where Elijah hid from king Ahab and also where he defeated the prophets of Baal. 

At the top of the mountain, there is a small church.  We were invited to "go upstairs".   The stairs up took us to the roof of this church.   Stepping out on to the roof took our breath away.  The view was magnificent! From this vantage point, we could look down on the valley of Armageddon.

Afterwards we went down the mountain and stopped for lunch in a small Druze village for lunch.  After lunch we went down in the same valley to Megiddo, the ancient tel (a hill built up from ruins over time) containing 20 levels of civilization.  While interesting, it really wasn't much exciting to see, except for the water system carved down into the hill itself and into a nearby spring.  Walking down and back up the 183 steps of the water system (plus the length of the the water tunnel) pretty much wiped us out!

From Megiddo, we drove up to Nazareth and Cana.  These sites were little more than drivebys with quick stops, because there was truly not much to see.  I did enjoy looking down into Nazareth and at least seeing the general area where Jesus grew up.

The day ended with what is so far the most breathtaking and inspiring site yet:  We climbed Mt. Arbel above Galilee.  From this highest point around the Sea Galilee, we could see everything nearby and all the surrounding sites and towns:  We could see all the way across the Sea of Galilee to the Golan Heights.  We gazed down upon Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, and Tiberius.  Just below we could see the highway which was the ancient road to Nazareth, where Jesus and the disciples surely walked.

The last stop of the day was at the museum containing the ancient boat (or "Jesus boat" as it is sometimes called).  It is the recovered remains of a first century boat -- probably not unlike those used by Jesus and the disciples during his ministry in Capernaum.  Our hotel is right on the edge of the Sea of Galilee, next to the museum where the ancient boat is kept.  We stayed at the hotel at the location of the museum and returned there the next day to sail on the Sea of Galilee!

The food while we've been here has been very good -- lots of fresh vegetables.  The main courses have consisted primarily of chicken and vegetable, pastas and fish.   Most meals are served buffet style which works well for the timing of a group on the move.