IF YOU CAME TO ISRAEL WITH A TOUR GROUP:
  ~You wouldn't wake up in a 200 year-old Inn in the old town of Nazareth . 
  ~You wouldn't be wandering around the courtyards and exploring the many nooks and crannies in this old mansion! 
  ~You wouldn't roam around alone, getting lost, on the ancient, winding streets - too narrow for cars. 
But, I'm a vagabonding, backpacking, solo traveler -- and I DO!


*NAZARETH, WHERE JESUS SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH!*

"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: . . ." Luke 4:16

ARE THE RELIGIOUS SITES REAL?
Often, only one site is identified as the spot where a Biblical event occurred, and it seems to be widely accepted as accurate. In other cases, there are more than one site for the same event. 

From what I can tell, it was decades after the life of Christ that Christians began to identify the important Biblical sites. The locations were determined by a combination of Bible scholars, archeologists, and historians . And, like with everything, opinions differ and sometimes change with new evidence (like artifacts or records) being discovered. But, that is the case of any historic site anywhere in the world.

Many tourist are not visiting the sites because of religious interests, because many are not 'religious'. They visit because they are historical or touristic points of interest. I think most tourists come to Israel on religious pilgrimages, though.

If there is more than one site for the same event, I try to visit the most accepted one first, then the others, if possible. So, I will report on all I visit.

My Take: The event represented is more important to me than the actual location. It's like celebrating Christ's birth on December 25. I don't think many Christians believe that is the exact date of His birth, but it's the event that is important! If the site I visit should not be the actual location of the event, the true location is probably nearby! And, it's exciting to think about!

IN THIS ENTRY I INCLUDE:
*THE FAUZI INN
The Fauzi Azar Inn, an old Ottoman mansion, was built in 1830 in the old city of Nazareth . It's located on the 40 mile long "Jesus Trail" from Nazareth to Capernaum. This was the most unique place I have slept in. The entire mansion has a feel of Old World Grandeur! 

*THE CHURCH OF ST. JOSEPH
This church is built over the cave believed to be the carpentry workshop of Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary.
 
*THE SYNAGOGUE CHURCH
In this Jewish synagogue, Jesus preached a sermon that amazed the men, then angered them. They then attempted to throw Him off a cliff. (Luke 4:16-39)
 
*MOUNT PRECIPICE
This is the cliff that an angry mob attempted to throw Jesus off of after His sermon in the synagogue.

SCRiPTURE
The Holy Family settles in Nazareth: Matthew 2:23; Luke 2:39-40
Jesus preaches in the synagogue: Luke 4:16-30; Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6
Joseph takes Mary as his wife: Matthew 1:18-25
 
NEXT: "Tiberias, At The Sea of Galilee"