The Holy Land in 48 hours or Less: Day 2

It was only the second day and we were too excited to be tired (or at least my excited ADD self was).  If you haven't read DAY ONE, start there and this will make more sense.

Day 2

6:00am Breakfast
Thankfully, a hearty breakfast is almost always served in Israeli hotels & hostels. By the time we check out & grab the car, it's about 8am. On the way out we got to actually drive through one of the many gates: Zion. It's a tight squeeze but luckily I have a tiny Renault.

8:45am Inn of the Good Samaritan

It was a parable that Jesus told and not an actual historical site, be it is possible that He was referring to the road that many, including himself, would take to get into Jerusalem. The excellent Israel Antiquities Authority have built a beautiful museum loaded with ancient mosaics, pictorial displays from Samaria (a place rarely ventured to), and other assorted artifacts like ossuaries and even a well. They have clean bathrooms and the best part--it's a free stop along the way to the Dead Sea.

9:15 Dead Sea Glance
Unfortunately, that's all we had time for and since I have no A/C, we could ill afford a salt soak in the heat.


10:45 Felafel somewhere
I always remember when I see it, because there's a big golden arches nearby, but I couldn't tell you the town.

12:00 The Ancient Galilee Boat
My husband and I stumbled upon this last year as we were first driving around the Kinneret (how Israeli's refer to the Sea of Galilee). It is a first century fishing boat unearthed in the 80's. It took about 14 years of preservation work to bring it to its current state. But essentially, the boat is very much like what we would expect Jesus and his disciples to have traveled in. It's another fantastic way to really dig deeper in your search to understand what life was like during the first century. It's also a great place to plan for mid-day as the A/C is some of the strongest in the land.

1:15 Cruise the Kinneret
Speaks for itself, but nothing is quite like feeling the wind in your face and remembering where Jesus would have walked on the surface of the waters.

2:30 Capernam/Kfar Nahum/Capharnaum
The most important feature in this town is the ancient synagogue. It was rebuilt in the 4rd century, but it was built in the exact same location as the synagogue where Jesus taught and healed. Again, having good archaeological evidence is incredibly faith building when visiting a place like this.  I had been here many months before I visited Jesus' hometown and it touched me deeply to truly walk in His footsteps at this town on the Sea of Galilee.

3:15 Tabgha
This is the traditional site where Jesus fed the multitudes (the bible isn't clear on the exact location), and where He ate grilled fish on the shore with the disciples after. Again, there is not any archaeological evidence to the traditions. However, the testimonies in the gospels attest to the events taking place in the area of the Sea of Galilee, which is a fairly small region.



Speaking of the region--it's a lush, verdant area of Israel and not what you'd expect after seeing any films based on the bible.

My husband shares with me, that if you were God and you got to pick any area of Israel to live in, this area would be very pleasing with its rich agriculture, green hills (at least in the spring) and its more laid back culture (my assumption, as most beach towns tend towards an ease that only waves can bring), not to mention, fresh fish. Back in February, while touring with my dad and step-mom, the sunrises rivaled those you might see in Hawaii.  After leaving the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem, the beauty of the Kinneret brings a welcome respite.

The churches that I've listed here are worth seeing for a few reasons. St. Peter Primacy Church (it bears a few names) affords one a walk downhill to the water where you can hike up your pants (they don't allow shorts or tanks), cool off, and attempt to take some walking on water pics. The Church of the Multiplication is on the site of a Judeo-Christian church dating back to just around the time of Christ (its the only one I know of so far). Inside, just below the altar is a simple mosaic with a basket of bread flanked by two fish. For me, I prefer its modest imagery telling the miraculous story, especially after Jerusalem, where there's enough religious bling to rival the lights of Vegas.

4:30 Mt of Beatitudes
We have NO idea where Jesus gave the sermon on the mount, and He more likely taught it as a collection of teachings in the open air of the hills of Galilee. But His core teaching has touched the lives of no doubt billions. Its a great place to open up Matthew 5,6 and 7 and enjoy a quiet devotional with an incredible view of the Sea of Galilee. The gardens and paths are beautiful and if you fancy singing a rendition of Agnus Dei, the chapel has incredible acoustics (and is rarely crowded). Also, don't wear tank tops--it's incredibly embarrassing to be scolded by nuns.

5:45 Dinner at Goldstone's
This is actually NOT the name of the restaurant located in Nof Ginosaur, but unfortunately the font on the sign is still unreadable to me in Hebrew. The "Goldstone" sign is legible but it's just the name of an Israeli beer (kind of like the "Coca-Cola" signs in the states).  More importantly, it is a lovely, clean, low-key establishment with a great assortment of salads and kebabs. It's also a great place to decompress from the heat of the day and share impressions on the region where Jesus shared His ministry before going to Jerusalem in his 33rd year.

7:30pm Head to the Jezreel Valley

The sun had yet to go down but it wouldn't hold till Armageddon (right), the biblical Mt of Meggido where some believe the last battle will take place. Unfortunately, it was just a drive by on our part, but we were able to get a good view of Mt Tabor before it got dark. This site is best known for the location where the Judge Deborah with Barak's army defeated the evil oppressor Cisera and his army. Cisera himself falls to the good wife Ya'el and her trusty tent peg (biblical women are not wilting flowers!). Today, this name is very common among young Israeli girls and is a call to strength in this land.

10pm Home to the Sharon Plain (pronounced "share-own")
While not recommended for the faint of heart or easily overheated. This trip can be done in a pinch if you hire a guide or have a good Israeli friend with a flexible schedule in the spring or summer months. That is unless your 48 hours falls on a Sabbath or other holiday of any of the three Abrahamic faiths.

Total Time: 40 hours