Calvin Alumni Visit Israel | Sunday, March 15, 2015

After breakfast and a quick visit to the Ancient Boat Museum, we reluctantly departed from the Sea of Galilee where we have enjoyed the last 3 days.

Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee on our last day here. Our first day here, many of us sang "When Morning Gilds the Skies" to this beautiful site.

• Bet Sha'en and Sycthopolis
• Our first visit was to the largest archaeological site in Israel--Bet Sha'en and nearby Sycthopolis.  Bet Sha'en, as we remembered, was the place where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were brought after their deaths.  We marveled at the incredibly designed city of Sycthopolis. Excavations have been carried out here since the 1920s and have unearthed what was a remarkably progressive society as evidenced by it size, layout, theater, bathhouse, temple, gymnasium, marble and stone thoroughfares and the public latrine system (You'll want to ask your loved ones for pictures!)!
• Jericho
• Driving into Jericho, we learned that it is the oldest and longest inhabited city on the earth--dating back to 9000 BC.  While overlooking the city, our guide explained the inequality of land use for Israelis and Palestinians; a theme that is beginning to emerge as we travel toward Jerusalem.
• The palace of Herod the Great
• Just outside of Jericho, we visited one of the MANY palaces Herod the Great constructed.  Seated on this site, we could see the road on which the obedient Jesus traveled as He made His way to Jerusalem and to His death on the cross.
• Our place of worship
• All along the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, we saw Bedouin villages, shepherds with their flocks of sheep and even an occasional camel.  The wilderness in this area is uncharacteristically green and covered with beds of wild flowers because of recent rains.  We stopped at an out of the way hillside where Bill reflected on Psalm 23.  We are learning the song, "We are People on a Journey," which aptly describes our pilgrimage both here, in the places Christ walked, and also in our every day lives.
• Jerusalem
• Our first view of Jerusalem was thrilling...even overwhelming!  After a quick (and cold!) stop at a scenic overlook of the city to get our bearings, we checked into our home for the next 6 nights--the stately Notre Dame Guest House.  No complaints here!

We are all eagerly anticipating what will surely be unforgettable days in and around this city.