Day Nine: April 17, 2006: Israel Trip
Caesaria on the Way To Jerusalem
We didn't decide where we were going until we were already on the road towards the coast. Caesaria sounded exciting because I knew there was a lot about it in Acts. We bought the full fling ticket and decided to spend the full day here looking at every possible part of the ruins. Many Jewish families had the same idea because the national park was bursting at the seams-mostly with families with kids. The park really caters to families with kids because they have a discovery center where the kids can make arts and crafts of ancient times and leave wearing Roman togas. We started out admiring the city walls and then laid down on the grass in what used to be the harbor and relaxed until the 1:00 English tour started. The tour started with a 10 minute movie with an overview of Caesarias history. First built by the Romans (Herod), then taken over by the Byzantine christians, then the Muslims, then the Crusaders, etc. etc...now it's just ruins and some rich Jewish guy (Rotschild) bought the land and built up a Jewish settlement here. It prospered quite well until it became one of Israels biggest tourist attractinos. They then moved us on to an interactive part where you could ask historical characters different questions-we really wanted to hear what Pontius Pilate and apostle Paul had to say, but we christians were in the obvious minority. After being pushed out of the interactive area, our guide showed us what Caesarea looked like in all the different historical stages up until now using computer graphics technology-it was really cool! We found out that this was the place where the first proof of Pilate's existence was found. He lived in the Caesarean Palace for a while. There were also inscriptions quoting Paul and inscriptions proving Felix's existence who kept him a prisoner here for a very long time. We took a long walk exploring the place where the chariot races and Caesarean Olymplics were held (this is the origin of the gold, silver and bronze medals-initiated by Herod who wanted to draw all the athletes here by offering GOOD prizes-not just lorel leaves). We then looked at the palace where Paul, Pilate, Festus, Agrppa and Felix all once stood, then on to the theater, bath house, store rooms, grid built streets and houses (that type of city planning originates with the Romans). We finished off at the gift shop as always. In between we had a great lunch with not so great service at the Port Café here. They like to put mint leaves in ice tea and lemonade here-tastes great! We then took a great Latte to go so we could drink it while sightseeing. After my coffee was gone I filled my cup with sea shells and sand from the beach here: a simple, yet special souvenir! Now we're sitting on the beach by the Caesarean acqueducts. Dieter hates sand so he's just putting up with it so I can have fun writing ehrer. He's rather be climbing around the acqueducts). Isn't he great?
Some Other Funny Cultural Experiences
The Drive to Jerusalem
We made it to Jerusalem after loads of traffic. The main highway into Jerusalem was block off so everybody had to use the same one. The hotel was amazingly easy to find, just not the way in , so we drove around in circles a few times and finally made it in. I tried my hand at haggling over the room price and got them lower than the internet price, down 20 dollars a night below the normal walk-in price. So we're in a four star hotel in Jerusalem with great beds (no aches and pains in the morning PTL!) and a huge breakfast for 112 dollars a night. What the heck we thought, it's the last few nights, we've saved a lot the whole time so let's go for it! Thank you Lord!
We didn't decide where we were going until we were already on the road towards the coast. Caesaria sounded exciting because I knew there was a lot about it in Acts. We bought the full fling ticket and decided to spend the full day here looking at every possible part of the ruins. Many Jewish families had the same idea because the national park was bursting at the seams-mostly with families with kids. The park really caters to families with kids because they have a discovery center where the kids can make arts and crafts of ancient times and leave wearing Roman togas. We started out admiring the city walls and then laid down on the grass in what used to be the harbor and relaxed until the 1:00 English tour started. The tour started with a 10 minute movie with an overview of Caesarias history. First built by the Romans (Herod), then taken over by the Byzantine christians, then the Muslims, then the Crusaders, etc. etc...now it's just ruins and some rich Jewish guy (Rotschild) bought the land and built up a Jewish settlement here. It prospered quite well until it became one of Israels biggest tourist attractinos. They then moved us on to an interactive part where you could ask historical characters different questions-we really wanted to hear what Pontius Pilate and apostle Paul had to say, but we christians were in the obvious minority. After being pushed out of the interactive area, our guide showed us what Caesarea looked like in all the different historical stages up until now using computer graphics technology-it was really cool! We found out that this was the place where the first proof of Pilate's existence was found. He lived in the Caesarean Palace for a while. There were also inscriptions quoting Paul and inscriptions proving Felix's existence who kept him a prisoner here for a very long time. We took a long walk exploring the place where the chariot races and Caesarean Olymplics were held (this is the origin of the gold, silver and bronze medals-initiated by Herod who wanted to draw all the athletes here by offering GOOD prizes-not just lorel leaves). We then looked at the palace where Paul, Pilate, Festus, Agrppa and Felix all once stood, then on to the theater, bath house, store rooms, grid built streets and houses (that type of city planning originates with the Romans). We finished off at the gift shop as always. In between we had a great lunch with not so great service at the Port Café here. They like to put mint leaves in ice tea and lemonade here-tastes great! We then took a great Latte to go so we could drink it while sightseeing. After my coffee was gone I filled my cup with sea shells and sand from the beach here: a simple, yet special souvenir! Now we're sitting on the beach by the Caesarean acqueducts. Dieter hates sand so he's just putting up with it so I can have fun writing ehrer. He's rather be climbing around the acqueducts). Isn't he great?
Some Other Funny Cultural Experiences
- A little Orthodox Jewish girl held onto me during the movie trying to stand on the seats to see...
- The kibbot caps constantly blowing by blown off the Jewish male heads by the strong sea breeze..
The Drive to Jerusalem
We made it to Jerusalem after loads of traffic. The main highway into Jerusalem was block off so everybody had to use the same one. The hotel was amazingly easy to find, just not the way in , so we drove around in circles a few times and finally made it in. I tried my hand at haggling over the room price and got them lower than the internet price, down 20 dollars a night below the normal walk-in price. So we're in a four star hotel in Jerusalem with great beds (no aches and pains in the morning PTL!) and a huge breakfast for 112 dollars a night. What the heck we thought, it's the last few nights, we've saved a lot the whole time so let's go for it! Thank you Lord!
posted by Hannah's Music at 5:15 AM
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