Nazareth and Sea of Galilee

Tuesday, May 03, 2016
Nazareth, Galilee, Israel
A day of exploring.

In the always beautiful weather we set off in the morning to Haifa,world center of the Bahai religion . Bahai appeals to me because of its utter simplicity and peacefulness. In a nutshell: It centers on the thought there is only one god. But then it believes that the one god occasionally sends a messenger to help mankind to adjust to current times. It therefore accepts the biblical prophets, Jesus, Mohammed and later prophets.

In Haifa the Bahai have constucted a beautiful domed shrine for one of the founders (the Bab), and - what especialy attracts us - a beautiful garden. When we arrive the sun is not too hot yet and we ascend from the bottom of the hill over hundreds of steps up to the summit, where the shrine is located.

We are just in time before the shrine closes and observe the inside. Bahai do not use symbols; the flowers and chandeliers arranged inside are simply for beauty. Speaking is not allowed inside and Sisi has to cover her legs.

After a leasurely walk through the gardens, where some trees are in bloom with purple flowers, we return to the car and depart for Nazareth . Around us are fields of wheat, ready for harvest. Just imagine, in Canada they are now seeding the same crop. Interspersed are olive orchards and some vineyards.

We have no map of Nazareth so we simply follow a group of buses to the old part of town where we park to walk around. After some roaming around in narrow winding cobbled streets, which cover the hillside, a shop owner gives us a small map and with it, it becomes easier to locate the various important sites. 

Sisi is in miniskirt, so I visit the White Mosque alone. By itself not a great architectural feat, but the simplicity inside, and the peace and quiet make an impression on me. Unfortunately the steps to the rooftop are closed at the roof, so I cannot overlook the city quarter.

Next we go to the Greek Orthodox church of the Annunciation (for the heathens among you: the annunciation is the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary that she would conceive Jesus) . Like all Greek Orthodox churches, the inside walls are fully covered with bibical paintings. However, these are not painted as dark as usual: Many are light blue.

In the church is a group of Etheopian pilgrims. Peculiar to see the contrast between their old-fashioned sackcloth dress, their pilgrim staff and their cell phone to take pictures.

We walk through the small streets to the Roman Catholic church. This one appears very modern, with modern architectural features, which do not appeal to me. Apparently there used to be an older church on the same location, and in the basement of the current church, remnants of the old church have been preserved. 

There is a small cave there, and I watch a girl on a wheel chair appearing from the cave. With a special transporter she is moved up the various stairs to the place where we are looking down into the pit. Faith is something amazing. And true faith humbles - which is never bad for a man.

We leave Nazareth for the Sea of Galilee. This is not a true sea, because water flows out of it through the Jordan river. So Lake of Tiberias seems more appropriate, but it has been called a sea since biblical times.

As we cross the mountains and descend to the sea. I feel very much at home as we pass as sign (while going down the last mountain side) which says: "This is sea level." Afterwards we still descend hundreds of meters to the water. In short: Since leaving home I am below sea level again.

The Sea of Galilee is the lowest fresh water lake on earth. It is some 200 meters (220 yards) below sea level.

The most striking part about the sea is how small it is. From the hillside, I believe I can see almost the entire shoreline. We pass a roman theater (mind you: an amphitheater is round, like the colloseum; a theater is half round) and stop at a public beach where I go for a swim. The water is warm, and I see plenty small fish. 

Amazing how this little water has become so incredibly well known, because of the story of Jesus walking on the water, and the parables told on its shoreline.

As I swim, I cannot help but remember other moments when Sisi took a pictureof me swimming: In northern Canada in the Hudson bay, in Norway in the arctic Ocean. Last year in Russia in lake Baikal... I am one of the most fortunate men alive! 

Finally we get back into the car and through the dusk we return home, where Shavit's parents are waiting for us. It is nice to see them after many years. We sit and eat outside and in warm evening air.

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