Monday 8 April
Our itinerary had originally allowed for a stop in Limassol, Cyprus but even before the ship had set sail earlier in the year, this was replaced by a 2nd day in Israel and it was a very worthwhile extra.
Another early start, not quite as early as yesterday though, and we are off North East in great weather towards the Sea of Galilee which, we are told, is 212 metres below Sea Level.
Not, however, before we see some activity from the Israeli Navy.
Again, as with many tourist destinations in Egypt it is all about remembering the name from your religious education in School and putting a physical destination to the names.
We are now both suffering with the effects of my cold but this is a little walking tour so we will benefit from lack of exertion.
The drive out of Haifa is in a more built up part of the suburbs of Haifa which itself is a fascinating place which appears to be well served by public transport and has a very steep garden to explore – if only we had time.
Our guide (not as good as yesterday’s guide, sadly, gives us a potted history of the Sea of Galilee area which is just under the Golan Heights which was the subject of an Israeli annexation from Syria in the 1967 conflict but is now a peaceful border, perhaps because Syria has other things on it’s mind!
Our tour is to see some of the religious sights around the Sea of Galilee and our first stop is at the Church of the Beatitudes a Catholic Church near near Tabgha and Capernaum and near the location of the Sermon on the Mount.
Inside, there are mosaic symbols on the pavement representing Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance, Faith, Hope, and Charity.
The church also houses a stone where apparently, Jesus broke bread.
Next stop was the St Peter’s Church Capernaum, a Modern building built on the site of an earlier church but suspended above the old ruins.
Sadly we were not able to enter the church as a service was taking place but we were able to get to see underneath the Church and visit the Statue of St Peter nearby.
Nearby were the Greek Orthodox Church and Old Synagogue which we were able to walk around but by now it was getting very hot so not a long time was able to be spent as the old Synagogue are ruins and open air.
Walking around these old remains does put things into perspective when you realise how old they are and how long they have been there.
We did get to the water’s edge with it’s strange fish in the Sea.
We are now off around the East shores of the Sea of Galilee past the Golan Heights which still retains some elements of the conflict and one of the remaining kibbutz (Maagan).
Having crossed the River Jordan at the top of the Sea of Galilee, we are now taken to Yardenit, a Jewish centre on the river just after it leaves the Sea of Galilee at the Southern end where baptisms still take place and where, it is said, that Jesus was Baptized.
I will say that I thought the centre was a bit commercialised with nothing really to suggest there were at any time old buildings albeit that there were some parables set in wonderfully presented tiles in so many different languages and of course there is the ability to get your feet wet in the River Jordan.
Whilst on our journey back to the ship, we pass a number of both Israeli and Arab settlements, the Arab ones being distinctive not only because of the minarets pointing high into the sky but also because predominantly, they have flat rooves, the Jewish ones having A-frame rooves.
By the time we get back to the ship, we are just in time for the it to move berth for a few hours to let another cruise ship in before we set sail on our 4 days crossing of the Mediterranean Sea without stopping before we get to our final port of call on this cruise, Cadiz.
As with our visit to Jerusalem, this was a wonderful experience, again bringing to life the stories written in the Bible all those years ago.
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