I'm in Love!!!

Israel Day 7...

So our last official full day in Israel came to a close today. But not before we visited some spectacular sites. First of was the ancient city of Bet She'an, which is over 4,000 years old! The ruins at this place were amazing and you really get to see just how amazing the Romans were! I love these dudes!

Next we made a nice stop at the natural spring of Gan Hashlosha. These pools of fresh water have been around since forever and it is believed these may of been the place where Gideon chose his warriors. The water felt so good and it is like a little oasis in the middle of this dessert area. Later I found out that TIME magazine named this the most beautiful site in Israel!


The day could not have gone without some adventure and we found it in the way of trying to find a passage to the Jordan River. We drove into some back roads trying to find a spot to head to the river but ended up in an area where it is still closed off for land-mines! We were close to the border with Jordan and it probably was from wars from the past. We decided to forgo the river idea and head back to the main road. Fun though!


And on the way back we ran into one of the cultural landmarks of the western world! :) Of course we did NOT stop there to eat. Instead we stopped at a local place to grab another delicious Shwarma! mmmmm!


So I've left the best for last. Tomorrow I get to swim at the Mediterranean (if my master lets me). Then we head down via train to Tel Aviv and back to America. I'll be doing full posts in the next few days of my experiences more in detail so be on the lookout for those!

Israel Day 6...

Today was Jason and I's first time on the road alone. Up until now we had the infamous Brent who is a local American who has been living here for 13 years. He has been giving us the five star treatment and has been showing us all around. But today it was just Jason and me on the road! Of course we did NOT get lost driving and ended up everywhere we wanted to be at the exact time we wanted to be at! We are awesome like that! :)


Before this trip people were asking me what the heck I was going to Israel for and I had a vague answer, so finally when I got on the plane with Jason in NY, I got the lowdown as to what I was going to be doing. I'll give you the full version at some point but one of the main things is collecting images of archaeological sights and ruins all over Israel. Like the one below at this site called Tel Hazor. Some of the ruins we have been seeing are over 3,000 years old!!! I just can't fit that in my head! This one below is the part of an entrance to the gate at this ancient Canaanite city. Too cool!


We made a mid day break at the Sea of Galilee and had what they call here 'St. Peter's fish'. It's basically Tilapia from the sea of Galilee fried and served right on the plate like the one you see below! I've never had fish like this, but this was a treat! and of course we had humus!


Our final stop for the day was the city of Tiberias. We drove up as high as we could on this mountains side that the city was on and we could get this amazing view of the Sea of Galilee and imagined what it must of been like 2,000 years ago.

Two more days left...tomorrow we got a couple more ancient ruins and then we're going to swim in the Mediterranean...I hope...

Israel Day 5...

Today was another great day. Visiting Nazareth we got to see a little village recreated out of ruins and modeled to show what life in First Century Nazareth was like. We got to view Nazareth from the top of a nearby mountain (they said it may of been the one where they tried to throw Jesus off the edge!). We also got to eat some amazing Israeli food! Probably the best we have eaten so far on the trip.

I will put up more detailed pictures when I get back to New York, but for now these will show you a bit of what I'm experiencing.....

Iarael Day 4.5......

I wanted to post a few more images tonight before letting you all know about my day today. These pictures are from yesterday's visit to the old city in Jerusalem. As you walk the streets it's just incredible to see the variety of the different sections of the city. Jews, Arabs, Ethiopians, tourists! Reminds me of Queens with all the variety of people, smells, food, etc. I'll post a few pics from today's trip to Nazareth in a bit....

Via Dolorosa...


Muslim quarter of the old city...

Israel day 4...

We left Jerusalem this morning. Got in a car and drove north towards Haifa which is in the north of Israel. We made it to Caesarea Maritima which is right on the Mediterranean sea and saw this amazing 2,000 year old Roman ruins! The place was beautiful! We had to rush to another place, Meggido, which we didn't make in time anyway, so no time to take a dip in the sea. But that is in the plans for later this week!

Tomorrow we get to see Nazareth!

Israel Day 3...

The more I get to know this place the more I love it. I got to spend time today in the Muslim quarter of the old city of Jerusalem and it was just fascinating to me the differences between the Jewish parts of town in contrast to the Arab parts. You never really get this perspective of Israel in the US. The richness in contrasts and the culture and history that runs deep within each people group here is so complicated and complex that it requires one to actually visit this place soak in what is really going on... even then I think you only get a slight glimpse at the depth of this land. Absolutely fascinating!

Amazing day waking up early to get some pictures of the city skyline, wading through Hezekiah's tunnel deep in the ground, eating amazing Arab food, walking through the via dolorosa and seeing the intensity with which people pray at the wailing wall. Absolutely striking images that I saw today and got etched in my mind and heart forever.

Sunrise covers Jerusalem...

Jewish tomb on the mount of olives...

Jewish soldier prays at the wailing wall...

Olive tree at the Garden of Gethsemane...

Ethiopian boys in the Muslim quarter of the 'old' city of Jerusalem...

We're out of Jerusalem tomorrow and headed towards the north of Israel for the rest of this week. Stay tuned for more.....

Israel Day 2....

Another incredible day in the Holy Land. We visited the amazing fortress of Masada. If you have not heard of it check this out here now. Its an amazing story of how the Romans took over the place against a courageous jewish rebels. amazing story! I also got to drive and walk through the Judean desert. We got to see the ruins at Qumran (which is where they found the dead sea scrolls) and I even got to swim in the dead sea. You really do float like it's nothing! crazy!! We ended up going to Jericho and walked over these remains where the old Jericho walls used to be. This place is full of thousands of years of history!

Here I am walking through the remains of the old city of Jericho. The desert is so much like this, dust and rocks for miles and the intense sun beating down on you. It's such an intense feeling!

Shalom!

I've landed in Israel. Drove from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and it reminded me a lot of Ecuador, for some strange reason...still trying to figure out why.

We're staying at this beautiful hostel near the old Jerusalem. Will be heading to Massada and the Sea of Galilee tomorrow. Can't wait!

here's the view from the hostel we're staying!

I'm off to Israel!!!!

So I'm headed off to Israel for 10 days tonight! It's a very surreal thing that hasn't sunk in and probably won't until I set foot in the land. 

I have no idea what to expect or what it may be like. It's a part of the world I have yet to visit and so it is incredibly exciting just to think that I'll be in a place that is 200% foreign to me. I can't wait! 

I'll try my best to post some pictures on my blog and facebook as the days go by. 

I'm on assignment with a friend of mine who is taking me there to get some photos of some specific sites and places he has in mind. 

We grew up together in Kenya and have not done a trip like this since we went on field trips into the Kenyan bush eons ago! 

Stay tuned......