Tiberius, Golan Heights, Tel Dan - Oh My!

 I am sitting here tonight with pamphlets, google, phone notes and a notebook, trying to remember all that we saw and did today!  You cannot believe what we cram into a day and the amount of information we are hearing, seeing, and even some smelling today!

Today we hit two beautiful National Parks - first, I did not really know that we would be visiting National Parks and Unesco World Heritage Sites- but the parks we visited today were beautiful and lush!  Not really what I was imagining for this area.  The first park we went to was a nature reserve with beautiful streams  with rushing water.  The first part of the "hike" was actually sidewalks - again, not what I expected. There were huge walls still standing from the 5000 year old city.  We went to an overlook and began our education on some of the modern day politics going on between Israel, Syria and Lebanon.  We ended the hike in a "Gate" - a throne were the king and his court would decide questions that were brought before them.  



Next we stopped at the Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve.  Again, beautiful streams and lots of ruins.  Many of the temples in this area were to pagan gods, like Paneas.  You see lots of caves as you drive around Israel - there was a big one in this park.  This was also the area called Caesarea Phillip - where Jesus asked Peter - who do YOU think I am - and he said I think you are the Messiah.  Jesus then said he was going to start a church and that Peter would be in charge of it.  (Matthew 16:13-20)





Back in the bus our next stop was the Golan Heights where we continued our education on the politics of the area - it is really amazing to have this Israeli citizen, Matthew, who was born and raised in Ohio, as our guide.  He really is giving us different perspectives on what is going on here. We visited an area  on where the three countries - Lebanon, Syria, and Israel all border each other.  We actually walked all through an army bunker on Mount Bental where you could just imagine what these guys were seeing and feeling.  His description of the 6 day war in 1967 was riveting - started with - during the holocaust "we went to lambs to the slaughter" - now we have one of the strongest armies (everyone - men and women - have to serve when they turn 18) - we had the information about what was to come, so we did a pre-emptive strike (some think they "started" the war) which caused the inevitable war to last only 6 days because they wiped out their arab air force.  The Yom Kippur was in 1973 did not go as well, they almost lost the Golan Heights - which by the way is a beautiful farming region that produces 60% of their food).  Golda Meir - the current prime minister would not "pull the trigger" for a pre-emptive strike and that war ended up being the Masad vs the KGB - all intelligence based and they won it in 3 weeks.  There were lots of casualties - it was a battle of the tanks - US supplied tanks to Israel which had the power to shoot while they were moving - the Soviets backed Syria - their tanks could only fire when they were stopped!  It was an amazing look out over the three countries.



From there, where we were 3000 feet above sea level to 300 feet below sea level  We went to an area where baptisms are held.  These are not baptisms where you profess you faith, etc - they are baptisms in the river Jordan to experience what happened exactly where it happened.  (iI was not really in the exact spot because apparently the river is not so nice in that area!)  It was a fun experience - you wear your bathing suit, they give you a white robe and a towel for $15 and off you go.  It is BYOP - bring your own Pastor- and they submerge you into the river to a cheering crowd!!  More a celebration, rather than a solemn occasion.  


Back home at the ranch - we had to pack our bags as we are leaving Tiberius tomorrow for the Dead Sea (I am glad I took all those swimming lessons with Penelope this winter!)

BTW for those of you worried that I might not find anything to eat - Their are amazing tables and tables of fresh fruits and vegetables served all sorts of ways.  There are also what they call Schnitzel - which is the equivalent to chicken fingers at each meal!  Rice, veal, beef, etc...no pork of any kind and dairy cannot be served at any meal where meat is served.  Oh yeah, there are also some pretty amazing dessert tables (and ice cream)...no need to worry!

Forgot to mention that we circled around Mt Hermon today - a ski area - with snow still visible on the peaks.  

5.5 miles


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