Via Maris & Tiberious

The very first thing most of us did today was step out onto our balconies to take in the Sea of Galilee shimmering below the hot sun. After breakfast we climbed aboard a boat crossing the water, singing hymns together, and watching a demonstration of how Peter might have cast his net. Ending up near Capernaum, we viewed a 2,000-year-old boat excavated out of the muddy sea banks ~20 years ago. In Capernaum we remembered how Jesus fed the 5,000 and looked at the ruins, possibly even Peter's house. In ancient history, the Via Maris was a significant trade route running from Alexandria, Egypt straight through Israel to Damascus, Syria; on our first full day we drove along a portion of this road. Here we learned about Meggido or the location of Armaggedon.

Over in Caesarea we sat high up in the half moon-shaped theater singing. We learned how the wind from the Mediterranean helps to carry the sound of voices from the stage up into the crowd. We hiked down among the ruins Herod the Great was responsible for to see the Med. and an engineering marvel - the remains of a 11 mile aquaduct. Today, we all agree, was awe-filled as we took in the Holy Land which we had only read about before.