Around the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee to Beth Saida. These ruins, yes, there are more ruins that look like other ruins, are called the fisherman's house (Peter) because 2000 years ago these ruins which are a mile or more from the sea was on the sea. Because this is on the mouth of the Jordan, it's possible that the delta built up and moved the sea southward. Across the valley is a place where some theorize where Jesus fed the 5000. Now we getting close to where Jesus might have walked. It may not be "holy" ground, or at least not any more holy than other ground, but it is exciting to think that one is seeing some of the same sights Jesus saw and maybe even walking where Jesus walked.
Further east at Capernaum was the house called the home of Peter's mother. And across the street, literally, is the synagogue where Jesus read scripture. The synagogue we see is from a centruies after Jesus. The sunagogue Jesus visited can be seen in a lower layer displayed in one corner. A a novelty on the floor is sratched a child's game we can Mill as a child; nine stones for each of two players of two colors. The players take turns placing the stones on the intersections and corners. After all stones are on the board, players can move to another intersection along the lines. If a player gets three or thier stones in a row, they can remove an opponent's stone which is not safe "three is a row." The player whose stones are gone first, loses.
The fourth stop was the display of a boat found a couple decades when the Sea of Galilee was very low; the boat from the first century either before or after the birth of Jesus.
The treat of the day and perhaps of the trip was the drive for Samaria also known now as the West Bank because it is the land on the west side of the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee. The check points appeared ominous but we passed through easily. It was said that most drivers don't like to drive through the area of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslins and a few Jewish settlements. It was much like some of the third world developing countries we have visited whereas the Israeli cities and countryside appears a developed as the United States. Lunch was in a small restaurant.gift shop high on a hill at the end of a windy one lane trail conquered well by our driver. That meal startes with soup, flatbread and numerous condiments. Then there was chicken, rice and vegetables. An American-type soda certainly did taste good.
The rest of the day was the drive to Ein Gedi, a communal kibbutz on the Dead Sea. After finding our cabins we check out the spa pool filled with Dead Sea water and then up to the evening meal. We'll explore in the morning when there's light.
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