April 1, 2001

The mosque of Tiberias, Israel, is one of few landmarks remaining to the former Arab community here.

After Elizabeth's adult English classes, we left with Marthame’s family for a few days in the Galilee district. Nevertheless, visits had already begun - our friends in Zababdeh were quite insistent on seeing "abouk, immak, ou ukhtak" (your father, mother, and sister) for a little coffee or tea.

We spent the night in the Jaffa area of Nazareth, staying at The Harbour ministries. After there was a brief recovery for jetlag, we headed off for a day in Tiberias. We'll save you the details of the car problems, but suffice it to say that this seems to be becoming a recurring part of the narrative.

The mosaic above the altar at St. Peter’s Franciscan Church of Tiberias, Israel.

The ancient synagogue of Tiberias, Israel, includes zodiac symbols. These are for Pisces - Dagim in Hebrew.

Once there, we spent most of the day walking and seeing historic sites - the mosques of the Old City (no Palestinians live in Tiberias any more, leaving the buildings abandoned. They were also targeted in anti-Arab riots early in the Intifada) and St. Peter's Franciscan Church in particular. Peter became a disciple "straight off the boat," and so the church there honors his previous profession architecturally within view of the sea.

Marthame’s dad enjoying our dinner feast in Jaffa of Nazareth, Israel.

We then visited one of the oldest sites in Tiberias, the hot springs which have had visitors for thousands of years. After soaking up some history and musing over the ancient synagogue mosaic with pagan zodiac symbols in the floor, we soaked up some of the hot springs and were bruised by large Russian masseusses and masseurs. All five of us. Toasty.

Our day of rampant tourism was capped off by dinner in Jaffa at an "authentic Bedouin restaurant" - just like they used to have back in the old days.