Day 10 - Galilee
Trip Start
Mar 21, 2008
1
10
15
Trip End
Apr 05, 2008
Capernaum,
Galilee,
Israel
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Galilee is a lush region of pastures and orchards in north-eastern Israel. Smack bang in the middle of it is the Sea of Galilee (which is a rather large lake) where most of the disciples fished and Jesus walked on the water, amongst other things. We took a break at a designated baptismal spot on the banks of the River Jordan and watched a group of pilgrims get dunked. I still wonder if you're technically allowed to get Christened again if you've already had the honour. Well, I guess it's probably as vogue as renewing your wedding vows.
We then drove along the eastern side of the lake up into the rolling foothills of the Golan Heights to see the old Jewish ruins of Gamla. Although Israelis swear there will never be a second Masada (c.f. day 3), it's already happened. Here at Gamla. Similar scenario: bunch of Jewish rebels on a hill surrounded by Romans. Didn't take quite as long to take Gamla, though. Again, to avoid slavery most of the Jews had thrown themselves and their loved ones down a ravine as the Romans broke through the gates. The soldiers in turn were so angry they just followed their example and chucked the survivors off the hill as well. Grim times for the Jews.
The ruins aren't all that glorious, but the natural diversity here is. Lots and lots of flowers in bloom, and little animals everywhere. That will be one of the reasons why there are so many eagles and vultures circling overhead. The vultures are especially spectacular given their enormous size and wingspan. On the way back we also came across a large flock of storks circling above and feeding on the ground.
Next stop was biblical Capernaum. We may not be able to walk on water, but did brave the cold to have a brief paddle in the icy waters of the Sea of Galilee. We thus completed our plan to have swum in all major bodies of water in Israel: the Red and Dead Seas, the Mediterranean and now the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards we visited a chapel run by an Italian convent of nuns with stunning views over the lake. Afterwards it was time to take in the fishing boats and, more importantly, yet another gut-warming falafel in the seaside town of Tiberias.
