On our way to the Western Wall

Old City "traffic"

Qumran

I posted a lot of pictures the first time I went to Qumran, but it was cool to go again and show Mom and Becky around.

It was HOT.

Food surprises

One of the things my sister loved doing while here was try new foods.  On our way home from the Galilee area we stopped to get some dinner.  There were a few different eating places close together that we could choose from.  Becky decided on a salmon and cheese sandwich.  Once she sat down to eat it, she realized the salmon was raw.  She was pretty freaked out, but we had a good laugh over it.

My mom and I were trying to go the cheaper (and more kid friendly) route by getting hamburgers.  They told us (in very broken English) that it was cheaper to buy the burgers together.  So we ordered me, Mom, and Joni a hamburger in a meal deal.  When we picked it up we saw that it came with a huge pile of fries, then onion rings, then cut up hot dogs on top!

Sometimes it's fun to see what you actually ordered when you can't read the menu.  We didn't even come close to eating it all.

But Joni went to town with her hamburger.  She was so pleased with how good it tasted.  Ahhhh, the simple things.

Sea of Galilee

My mom, sister, Joni, and I had a great trip up to the Galilee area for a couple of days.  A friend of mine suggested a cabin to stay in that overlooks the Sea.  We got there late at night, so we had no idea what the view looked like.  This is what we woke up to the in the morning....

 

Grandma Joni and Little Joni took full advantage of the hammock in the front yard.

Later in the day we drove around the Sea and saw the sites.

Joni put her feet in the water.

I settled for putting my hand in. :)

Our favorite was a boat ride out onto the Sea.  We were with a little Christian group from England and they were so sweet.  Once we got out in the middle of the water, they turned off the engine and had a little service.  Then we all sang "How Great Thou Art".  It was one of the most amazing moments I've ever experienced.

Megiddo/Armageddon

Megiddo was a city that was very influential in the ancient world.  They have found nearly 30 layers of ruins here.  It's an archeologist's paradise.  

This area is also where many think the great and last battle will occur.

An ancient grain silo.

My sister, Becky, is standing at the entrance to what they think may have been a palace of Solomon's.

Nazareth Village

Nazareth Village is this fantastic place up in Nazareth where they have recreated what the small town would have been like 2000 years ago.  It was easy to imagine Christ growing up here (verses the crowded, loud city that it is today).

A recreated watchtower that would have overlooked a vineyard (this was built near an authentic ancient wine press).  

Our guide explained that they would have always smashed the grapes with bare feet.  Apparently, if you wear shoes it also smashes the seeds which gives it a bad flavor.  Learn something new everyday.

They even had recreated houses which helps you see what they would have been like.  Two or more houses would share a kitchen and a courtyard.  Then each family would have a couple bedrooms and possibly a workroom.

What the inside of a synagogue would have looked like during Christ's time.