Today was the first day of Autumn but the temperature was still in the middle to high 30s. We drove through Canna of Galilee where Jesus performed the miracle of the changing of water to wine at the wedding feast as told in the Gospel according to John. For us, the miracle was that Ahron was able to get through the traffic here.
We arrived in Nazareth the home village of Joseph and Mary and the site of the annunciation (when Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she would have Jesus as her son). It is now a busy city of 75,000 people of which 70 per cent are Muslim and 30 per cent Christian.
 |
| Church of the Annunciation |
The population nearly doubles every day because of the vast influx of tourists. Parking was at some considerable distance from the Church of the Annunciation.
 |
| Dome of the Church of the Annunciation |
A longish, up-hill climb, however, got us there where we visited the Church as well as the Church of St Joseph.
The Church of the Annunciation is built around what is believed to be Mary's house and the Church of St Joseph is supposedly over his carpenter's workshop.
 |
| The Door to Mary's House |
 |
Station of the Cross
Church of the Annunciation |
 |
A comment from the Islamic population
Church of the Annunciation in the background |
|
As we left the city, we couldn't help noticing the sign above. While the local population may be unwilling to accept those who are not Muslims into their heaven, they seem very happy to accept their money here on earth.
The next stop was at Beit She'an. This ancient site's location has often been strategically significant, as it sits at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley, essentially controlling access from the interior to the coast, as well as from Jerusalem to the Galilee. It was inhabited by numerous people over many centuries but on January 18, 749, an earthquake struck. City upon city has been uncovered by archaeologists, but the finest remains are those standing when the city was brought to an end in 749.
 |
| Main Avenue |
 |
| The Roman Theatre |
 |
| A Public Latrine |
If, after going to the theatre, one felt the call of nature, there were public latrines. Users entered an open courtyard paved with aq mosaic floor and lined along the walls with toilets, with no separation between them, and no evidence of a division between men's and women's facilities.
Even now, with less than half of the city uncovered, it is one of the great archaeological treasures. I am sure that my friends in the Classics at UTAS are seething with jealousy at the moment! I might just add that the temperature on the ground that day would have been around 45 degrees in the middle of the ancient ruins.
Lunch was Shawarma at an Israeli "take-away." Definitely not a tourist trap.
 |
| One of our group on a camel |
On to border of Jordan through the west bank past Jericho and after a short stop for a Camel ride (in which we did not engage!) we rode into Jerusalem in our minibus.
No comments:
Post a Comment