Thank You (False Alarm) Snowstorm!

Hamsas for sale at Carmel Market.

I woke up feeling really well rested. Nothing like twelve days of vacation to do that for you. In all honesty, I look forward to going home and sleeping in my own bed but I do not relish the thought of having to go back to work!

Church of the Transfiguration & Bet Alfa Synagogue.

From the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, we headed for the Church of the Transfiguration. Today, the top of Mount Tabor was not obscured by clouds so I could see the teeny weeny outline of the church, sitting high atop the hill.

Basilica of the Annunciation.

Today was suppose to be my last day in Israel. More about the change in plans later.

I woke up this morning in Kibbutz Lavi with plenty of time to have a quick breakfast, finish packing and check out. It was another picture perfect day in Galilee. I'm getting really spoiled by this delicious weather.

Golan Heights and Capernaum.

The ruins of the Synagogue at Capernaum.

Our afternoon in Golan Heights began with lunch!  We ended up in a small town somewhere in the Golan Heights.

Safed & Baniass Springs.

Street in Old City Safed.

I had the best night sleep yet last night. Woke up as rested as I could ever be. I made my way down to breakfast at around 7:30a. The other four were already there so I joined them at the table. I ate pretty quickly. I have come to the conclusion that Jewish *tour group* buffet style breakfast is not my kind of meal so I eat to fill up but there is no lingering over it.

Caesarea, Haifa, & Megiddo.

Me at Megiddo...with tree growing out the top of my head :-)

This is definitely a comfort class tour - been a long time since I've traveled like this. I have to admit, it has taken some readjustment on my part to get used to the slower pace of travel. With the exception of our last morning in Jerusalem, the standard time to meet up with Uri has been 8:30a. Every night, I've set the alarm and every morning, I'm up well before it.

A Bit of Tel Aviv & a Bit of Old Jaffa.

View of the beach from my hotel room.

Today is Saturday which means it's the Sabbath which means there is no tour so I have some downtime. I could actually use some. It's been nothing but non stop sightseeing for the last week and it will be nice to just have a day to unwind. Even so, it won't be completely about doing nothing.

Qumran & the Dead Sea.

From Masada, we headed back down along the highway that runs alongside the Dead Sea. It was about a 45 minute drive to Qumran. By now, the views of the Dead Sea, desert and oases were familiar sights but still amazing. I've been in Israel for a week now but I still mentally pinching myself that I am here. I am loving being in this country. As much as it is foreign to me, there's a part of me that feels very comfortable being here. I have to reflect more on that later.

Masada.

At Masada with a view of the Dead Sea in the background.

This morning I had to be ready to be picked up by 6:30a - bright and early! Some guy named Zaki (sp?) would be by to pick me up.