Trips

Finally, we left the litter and heavy traffic of Haifa and headed out to Nazareth. Nazareth had more traffic, narrower streets, and lots of litter. The first stop was at a shop to order lunch: falafel or shawarma. Two shawarma (beef in pita with salad stuff like a gyro) and two drinks cost $38 US! Israel is very expensive. Ilan took us to Mahroum’s for sweets and Turkish coffee.

After lunch, we walked uphill to the Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation which is a relatively new church (1960s) built over a Church of the Annunciation built by Crusaders over the house of the Virgin Mary where it is thought that Mary might have heard Angel Gabriel tell her she was going to bear the Christ child. The church is modern and unique and contains a cave. Countries around the world have donated art depicting Mary, each is unique. The US art work is “Woman Clothed with the Sun.” We also entered the Church of St. Joseph built on the site of, perhaps, Joseph’s carpentry shop. (More detailed link.)

 

Church of the Annunciation
Church of the Annunciation - Courtyard	Church of the Annunciation
Church of the Annunciation	Church of the Annunciation - Main doors
Church of the Annunciation - Side door	Church of the Annunciation - Main altar
Church of the Annunciation - Modern windows	Church of the Annunciation - Modern windows
Church of the Annunciation - Modern windows	Church of the Annunciation - The Jerusalem Cross
Church of the Annunciation - Dome	Church of the Annunciation - Dome details
In the courtyard are mosaic icons that depict the Virgin Mary and biblical scenes. These icons are gifts from Christian communities around the world.	Icon from Japan
Icon from Cameroon	Icon from the United States
In the crypt	Altar in the crypt
The crypt	Ruins under the church
Church of the Annunciation - Side entrance	Church of the Annunciation - Dome
Statue of St. Joseph - his knees have been touched by many people (for good fortune?)	Church of St. Joseph - supposedly built over the home and carpenter shop of Joseph
	Church of St. Joseph
Church of St. Joseph	Church of St. Joseph
In the crypt - letters from people requesting indulgences
To the grotto caves	Back on the bus and headed toward the kibbutz we will stay at for two nights. It is called Peace Vista and is on the top of the Golan Heights, once occupied by Syria, and overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is 200 feet below sea level. The Jordan River flowing out is only about 10 yards wide and not very impressive. Israel took (annexed is too kind) the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Yom Kippur War. Israelis didn’t like having the Syrian army on the Heights aiming down across the sea at them, so they fought to take it. There are many danger signs along the roads warning of Syrian land mines still in the hillside. This area is on the Syrian-African tectonic rift and the land is very fertile. Many crops grow easily - apples, pears, cherries, berries, kiwi, grapes, olives. Peace Vista overlooks the Sea of Galilee from the top of the Heights. Our “cabin” is two rooms with bath and loft. There is a fridge and microwave, a kitchen table and four chairs, a couch with trundle bed and a soft chair. But it is rustic.
Mahroum’s sweets
Everywhere	Nearly everywhere
Sea of Galilee	Hills below the Golan Heights
Our cabin at Peace Vista	Sunset over the Sea of Galilee
Sunset over the Sea of Galilee	Sunset over the Sea of Galilee

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