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Sea of Galilee

Middle East Adventure: Week One Jerusalem, Jericho, Sea of Galilee

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Middle-east adventure

Middle East Adventure: Week One

Israel and Palestine Territories

Middle East adventures are looming in the days ahead. The exploretraveler.com team has left the comforts of home behind and anxiously arrive in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is a romantic sea port on the Mediterranean Sea, where the sun and the sea seamlessly meet. Tel Aviv is a modern city made up of several smaller communities. On arrival, we are met by representatives of Noah Tours and are escorted to Jaffa, where we spend a night relaxing at the Market House.

Old ‪‎Jaffa‬ Port

Noah Tours Ltd.
Communication Centre Neve Llan, Harvey Yehuda 90850
Office…..972-2-5666601
http://www.noahtours.com

Noah Tours
Noah Tours

Market House is an outstanding boutique hotel in old town Jaffa. The accommodations are excellent, service is suburb, and the morning buffet is outstanding. We were close to restaurants, and many interesting small shops. Market House is an uniquely modern hotel, complete with Wi Fi in the midst of charming antiquity.

The Market House Hotel
http://www.atlas.co.il/market-house-hotel-tel-aviv-israel/

Market House
Market House

Day 2 is off and running as we meet our tour guide, Elinoar Nitzani. Under her excellent guidance we begin our day in , the city that Herod The Great dedicated to Caesar Augustus more than 2000 years ago. Herod created the grandest city, next to Jerusalem, in all Palestine. It has a deep sea port, and the aqueduct, hippodrome and magnificent amphitheater remain standing today.

Leaving Caesarea we journey to Haifa, Israel’s third largest city. Haifa is one of the most beautiful cities in Israel and is home to the World Center of the Bahai Faith. In Haifa you find a mix of Synagogues, Mosques, Churches and an abundance of natural beauty.

Leaving Haifa, we journey on to Akko, also know as Acre. In Akko you can take a leisurely stroll along the walls of the city, which is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Akko dates back to the time of Pharaoh Thutmose III (1504-1450 BCE). In Akko you will find the charms of unique antiquity and unsurpassed beauty. Can you even dare to imagine the secrets that this ancient city, in the Middle East,  guards to this day? Leaving Akko we complete our day in Tiberias, an amazing city on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Fishing the Galilean Sea

 

The Ron Beach Hotel is our home away from home for the next two nights. We have amazing accommodations with marvelous views of the Sea of Galilee from our balcony. Service is excellent and what a fantastic dinner and breakfast buffet. The foods of the Middle East are out of this world. They are unique to the area, nutritious, and amazing!


The Ron Beach Hotel

http://www.ronbeachhotel.com/

The Sea Of Galilee

Day 3 and 4 begins with another outstanding buffet breakfast. Then, we get an early start on a trip to Jericho. Elinoar Nitzani, our Israelite guide, has set up our experience with a local guide, Mr. Samer Abu Shushei. The transfer goes smoothly and she waits for us just inside Israel. Not much remains of ancient Jericho today.  Little beyond a few piles of rocks that archaeologists now tell us were once parts of towers, staircases and other structures are found in modern Jericho.

baptism

Those that are there  date back at least 7,000 years. That in itself is amazing! The oldest stairs and wall in the world can be seen in Jericho. Here we see layers of 23 ancient civilizations. Many of these Middle East civilizations may be as old as 9,000 years. Nearby is the Spring of Elisha, or Sultan’s Spring, where the prophet sweetened the water. This story is recorded for us in 2 Kings, chapter 2. This is the source of water for the oasis and serves as drinking water for the community today. The water must be some of the best tasting water in the world!

Fountain Of Elisha

There is also a cable car that will take you up to the Mountain of Temptation, where Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world. It is a marvelous morning and Mr. Samer Abu Shushei provides excellent interpretative services. We then finish our day with Elinoar Nitzani visiting Tzfat, Banias, and the Golan Hights. The next morning we visit Nazzarth, Beit Shean, Qasr El Yahud (one of two possible baptismal sites) and finally the Mount of Olives.

United Nations Peacekeepers

It is one of Jerusalem’s highest points and we have fantastic views of the old city. We spend the next 4 nights at the Monteflore Boutique Hotel.  Service and accommodations are excellent. A wonderful buffet breakfast is provided.

George I. Safar
972-(0)-59-715-7958
972-(0)-56-901-6484
https://www.jericho-cablecar.com

http://www.booking.com/hotel/il/montefiore.html

Jerusalem

Day 5 we spend on a walking tour of the old city and make a visit to the Western Wall. When Rome destroyed the Temple in 70 B.E. only the Western wall was left intact. This is one of the Holiest sites in Jerusalem and the Middle East. We visit the Holy Sepulcher and end our day at the Yehuda Market. Yehuda Market is an amazing Middle East market. The next day we tour the New City, visit the Israel Museum, and the Shrine of the Book.

For me, I find the Shrine of the Book to be fantastic and was definitely the highlight of Day 6.  We end our first week in the Middle East with a tour of Bethlehem. Bethlehem (Bet Lechem in Hebrew–House of Bread) is the burial place of Rachel and the birthplace of King David. Samuel anointed David as king of Israel in Bethlehem (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13.) King David’s ancestors, Ruth and Boaz, were married in Bethlehem. In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we see that Jesus was also born in Bethlehem. (In Arabic it is called Bet Lahm—-House of Meat.) If only these streets in the Middle East could talk! What stories would they tell? It is a fantastic end to an amazing first week.  It is spiritual! It is historical! It is  an unique Middle East experience!

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United Nations Peacekeepers Keep Watch

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United Nations

United Nations Peacekeepers Keep Watch

United Nations Peacekeepers keep watch over the Golan Heights. They allow us to travel safely throughout the region without fear. Their keen eyes, and quick defenses keep the Golan Heights free of danger and violence. The United Nations Peacekeepers are quick to defend the Syrian border at the first sign of trouble. Yes, the enemy may be near, but the danger is kept at the border. No one comes in or out without being inspected. With the presence of the United Nations Peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, we are able to travel throughout Palestine and Israel safely. Come join us, as we safely embark on many adventures throughout the area.

There are currently more than 1,000 United Nations Peacekeepers in the Golan Heights. This allows us to the opportunity to safely visit the areas around the Sea of Galilee and Mount Herman. These areas are astonishing! The Golan Heights is a beautiful plateau, with many amazing areas to explore. The area is fertile! The people are friendly! The adventures are endless! Join us, as we explore the Golan Heights.

This area is well protected by the United Nations Peacekeepers. Many of the people living in this fertile plateau are known as the Druze. About 10% of the Druze hold Israeli citizenship. In recent years many of the younger Druze have applied for and received citizenship. The Druze are a friendly people. They are becoming well educated. They hold a high economic status. They enjoy all the perks of Israels open society!  Most of the young Druze are University educated. Life among the people of the Golan Heights is good. Enjoy their hospitality! Visit their gift shops. Explore their cuisine. The food is absolutely marvelous!

The United Nations Peacekeepers keep the peace. The United Nations Peacekeepers ensure that all who live and travel in the region can come and go safely. The Golan Heights is one of immense beauty. Three of the world’s religions have Holy Sites within its borders. Many pilgrims come here yearly. This is a very developed and unique area.

The Golan Heights features numerous archaeological sites. There are beautiful mountains, clear-clear streams and magnificent waterfalls. Throughout the region, you will discover more than sixty ancient synagogues. Many of these synagogues date back to the time of Roman and Byzantine periods of history. Join us, as we explore these beautiful synagogues of ancient times. Walk the ancient Paths! Explore these ruins! Immerse yourself in history. Grab hold of adventure, it is everywhere!

Gamla  Nature Reserve is a beautiful  park with many archaeological discoveries from the ancient Jewish City of Gamla. There is a tall ancient tower in the old city! Discover a well-preserved synagogue. It is fabulous! The detail is marvelous. There is a magnificent waterfall in the area of the reserve. It is the perfect place for a picnic! Explore an ancient Byzantine Church that has been well cared for and preserved. It is peaceful! It is astonishing in detail!

There is a place where you can observe the vultures that dwell in the cliffs of the rock. They are fun! These astonishing birds are very interesting to watch. Observe them as they nest in the clefts of the rocks.

There are also  six other major archaeological sites within the reserve. Immerse yourself in the daily life of the Jews and Arabs of this period. You will find magnificent synagogues and churches, natural springs, and fabulous arches. Spend the day exploring this ancient area. Before leaving, be sure to enjoy the Druze hospitality. The Druze are awesome hosts! The food is delicious and unique. The fresh baked pita bread is delicious! The Hummus is outstanding!  A good Druze meal is the perfect climax to a day of adventure in the Golan Heights.

You will find many high quality hotels in the area of the Sea of Galilee. Most serve a bountiful  buffet breakfast with lots of fresh fruit, fresh-baked bread, and unique dishes from the area. This is a perfect time to explore with us, the awesome Golan Heights.

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Fishing The Galilean Sea

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Fishing

Fishing The Galilean Sea

Fishing the Galilean Sea, is one of the oldest occupations in Israel. Fishing the Galilean Sea over the last few Centuries has changed little. There are twenty-four species of fish found in the Sea of Galilee.  Three of these species  are not found elsewhere, except in the tropical Nile River. Fishing the Galilean Sea was extremely important 2000 years ago. It continues to be important to this very day.

The Musht is one of the most important fish in the Galilean Sea.  At the time Jesus walked this earth, fishing for the Musht was extremely popular. It was an important fish! It is still a fish of major importance. The Musht is and was one of the most popular fish. Fishing the Galilean Sea revolved around the Musht then and still does today. It is an easy fish to eat. It has a flat shape and the spine is easy to remove. It has both fins and scales. It is considered a clean fish to the Jews. All these facts, make the Musht a popular fish for today.

Another fish that is important today is the Biny Fish. Back in Bible times, this fish was often used as the main dish for the Sabbath Feast. This is another fish with fins and scales It is a clean fish to the Jews. This is a popular fish today and fishing for this unusual fish is of major importance in the Galilean Sea. This is the only fish in the sea that has whiskers hanging down on each side of its mouth. This is a hardy fish. Fishing the Galilean Sea for the Biny Fish is best in areas where there are schools of Sardines. The Biny Fish are predators to these small fish, and frequent areas where there are large numbers of Sardines.

The third most important fish in the Galilean Sea is the Sardine. It is the smallest of those fish that are harvested commercially. It is often called “small fish.” Religious scholars seem to think that these “small fish” are most likely the fish talked about in Matthew. 15:34, Mark 8:7, and John 6:9. This is where  we see the account of  a miraculous feedings of multitudes of people.

These small Sardines are liked the world over. They are exported all over the world. There are few countries that do not eat these “small fish.”

Fishing the Galilean Sea is magnificent. It is the livelihood of many of the local people. Fishing the Galilean Sea is a way of life. It has provided well for the people who live around the Sea of Galilee for centuries. Fishing is a gift to the people!  Fishing is calming! It is profitable! It is usually easy to set your nets in the Galilean Sea. After they are set, you sit back and relax and wait. Many of the more famous fisherman, labored on this amazing sea. This was the sea spoke of in the New Testament. Simon Peter, a fisherman, was the first disciple of Jesus.

The Sea of Galilee at sunset is amazing! Some of the most amazing sunsets are seen from her shores. Adventure is everywhere! Life on the Galilean Sea is simple. Everyday revolves around the sea. Fishing the Galilean Sea is amazing!  They are an abundant resource. Sunsets are a treat!  So come, and join our team, on the banks of the Galilean Sea.

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