Day 2
– The Galilee
We started the day at Tel Dan Nature Reserve. There were lots of signs of animals, but I think the only animals we saw were a little crab and a lizard. However, we saw some major springs that help form the Jordan River.
As we walked along little streams, one said “Do not enter the water;” then our tour guide asked the men to start pulling things out of it. Maybe that sign didn’t apply to him.
But, what we discovered was pottery at the bottom of the stream bed, which had washed down from other areas.
Piece of Pottery
Pure Spring Drinking Water
Just as we were finishing up at the Nature Reserve, we came by this tranquil spot. We could have sat here for hours; it was so peaceful!
We made another stop in Caperneum.
This is where Peter and the other apostles lived as well as Jesus for a time. Many miracles occurred here – such as the woman who touched Christ’s garment and was healed.
The Roman ruins are very prevalent and still awe-inspiring.
Olive Press
We then had a treat of taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
It all looked pretty peaceful at first, but then a school group got on and we discovered this was actually a ‘party boat’. As we tried to listen and read from the scriptures in the back of the boat, the music was blaring from above with kids screaming and even walking through our little group in the rear.
School Kids Leaving the Boat
When we got back from our little boat ride, we ate at a restaurant called ‘The Docks.’ We were the only patrons, as we were eating late. The food was great!
Those who had the fish got a little surprise in its mouth – a shekel, like Peter found the tax money in the mouth of a fish.
Next we stopped at the place of the Sermon on the Mount where the Beatitudes were given. The view was amazing and the gardens are kept so beautifully!
“Sermon on the Mount”
We had some extra time built into our day so we stopped at a museum called ‘The Ancient Galilee Boat’. The entire museum exists for this one boat. It is dated to be 2,000 year old so this could very well resemble a portion of a boat that Jesus could have been in.
More Israel please! And yes, we even sat at the same exact table for the fish lunch. Falafel balls became a food group for us. Yum!