April 2, 2001

Marthame ferried Elizabeth back to Zababdeh so that she could conscientiously teach while Marthame played hooky with the family. Our trips across the Green Line have become more frequent as of late, which is good since the soldiers there are new and don't know our faces yet.

By the time Marthame returned to Jaffa, the family was in the middle of their first cup of coffee and a plan was hatched to spend the rest of the day in Haifa.

Marthame’s sister and mom at the Baha’i Gardens.

One of many magnificent flowers at the Baha’i Gardens.

Our first stop was the magnificent Baha'i Temple. This is the central temple for that faith throughout the world. One of the others is in Wilmette, Illinois, within blocks of our old house, but the multi-tiered gardens here overlooking the Mediterranean leave all other temples in their wake.

The Monastery and Church of Elijah.

Elijah’s Grotto.

We then continued up Mt. Carmel to the Monastery and Church of Elijah, built over the traditional site of his former grotto residence, before heading down to find the cave where he prepared to take on the prophets of Ba'al (I Kings 18). The latter is a synagogue, and Marthame and Alecia (his sister) found that it was locked. The gate provided a nice stepladder, though, and they made their own pilgrimage anyway.

After enjoying the spectacular view over Haifa from Mt. Carmel, we headed back to Jaffa to enjoy food cooked by "Victor the Redhead" - just like they used to have in the old days.