March 7 Nazareth and Sea of Galilee
I began early morning looking out my hotel's sitting room window at Nazareth.
We began in Nazareth at the Basilica of Annunication.
The first church was established during the Byzantine times, probably around the year 427.
One of the entry door panels.
On the lower level is the Mary’s cave, the cave in which, according to the Catholic-Christian tradition, Mary was visited by Archangel Gabriel and told her she is destined to carry Jesus in her womb.
The main church where mass was occurring.
Mosaic painting by the Italian painter Salvador Puma, describing Jesus, Virgin Mary and St. Peter.
The lower level is also where the remains of previous churches are preserved. The stone wall along the church and behind the cave has remained from the Crusader-era church from the 12th century. Excavations have revealed some Crusader-era artifacts.
We then wandered through the market enjoying a well-stocked spice store and a clothing store in which all of the garments were hand-made by the daughter of the man I am standing beside (He is holding what I bought.)
We began in Nazareth at the Basilica of Annunication.
The first church was established during the Byzantine times, probably around the year 427.
One of the entry door panels.
The cave is located in the center of the lower floor
The main church where mass was occurring.
Mosaic painting by the Italian painter Salvador Puma, describing Jesus, Virgin Mary and St. Peter.
The lower level is also where the remains of previous churches are preserved. The stone wall along the church and behind the cave has remained from the Crusader-era church from the 12th century. Excavations have revealed some Crusader-era artifacts.
We then wandered through the market enjoying a well-stocked spice store and a clothing store in which all of the garments were hand-made by the daughter of the man I am standing beside (He is holding what I bought.)
We then left Nazareth and headed back toward the Sea of Galilee and beyond to the Golan Heights.
View of the Sea of Galilee in the approximate location of The Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus was said to speak the beatitudes or blessings..."Blessed are the peacemakers.."
Sea of Galilee
From the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum can be seen below. Capernaum was the base of Jesus' ministry and probably from where most of his disciples came.
Sculpture of sleeping (homeless) Jesus outside the Church of St. Peter and the excavated Capernaum.
The town of Capernaum includes the synagogue that is believed to be built on the synagogue in which many of Jesus' interactions took place. Byzantine period.
The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter is built over the rock believed to be where Jesus shared a meal with his disciples after his resurrection. The modern church is built in the traditional shape of early churches.
Glass floor so rock can be seen.
Olive Wood carvings on columns
Helena, mother of Constantine, about 350 years after Jesus' time traveled around the area in which Jesus was said to have walked. She interviewed people and collected oral histories from them. She marked and built four churches in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem.
We then stopped at a Kibbutz on a river. It was lovely, but of course, fenced in.
My guide jumps in. Too cold for me!
The Hula Valley is an agricultural region in northern Israel with abundant fresh water, which used to be Lake Hula, prior to its draining. It is a major stopover for birds migrating along the Syrian-African Rift Valley between Africa, Europe and Asia. Lake Hula and the marshland surrounding it were a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying malaria and so were drained in the 1950s. A small section of the valley was later re-flooded in an attempt to revive a nearly extinct ecosystem. An estimated 500 million migrating birds now pass through the Hula Valley every year. Unfortunately many mammals that migrated through have not returned.
Site of the battles in 1967. It was so foggy we couldn't see, but the Syrian Border would be right beyond this site.
Wading (not walking) in the Sea of Galilee
Glass floor so rock can be seen.
We then stopped at a Kibbutz on a river. It was lovely, but of course, fenced in.
The Golan Heights were captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. The international community widely considers the Golan Heights to be Syrian territory held by Israeli under military occupation. The Israeli government destroyed 7 Druz villages. Below is the site of one of the destroyed villages.
Site of the battles in 1967. It was so foggy we couldn't see, but the Syrian Border would be right beyond this site.
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