Monday, May 7: Arrival

Theatre at Caesarea

So yeah, before we knew it, there we were over Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv-Yafo. And then we were landing, and as the wheels met the runway the Birthright kids gave a huge round of applause. A cheerful way to meet a new country! We passed through the beautiful facility very efficiently, and stepped outside…

…past the young soldier with a machine gun over his shoulder and a bouquet of roses in his hand…

…to be greeted by a huge blast of hot air. A heat wave, as Julie explained, the likes of which had not been seen in Israel at this time of year in anyone's memory. We quickly got on the air conditioned bus, and began making our way through and out of Tel Aviv-Yafo to our first point of interest, Caesarea.

When we got there, we were met by a fellow selling the freshest, juiciest fruit: oranges, watermelon, bananas. Glorious!

Amphitheatre at Caesarea

Caesarea is one of many, many really beautiful places built by King Herod, back in the day. (This was Herod the Great, who was the father of Herod Antipas, both of whom figure in the New Testament. King Herod actually had a bunch of kids, about six of whom were also named Herod.) King Herod really did put together some excellent structures, many of which are still around, at least in part. We looked at a lovely theatre (what I would have called an amphitheatre), a stunning amphitheatre (what I would have called a hippodrome), and the remains of his beautiful seaside palace, with its freshwater swimming pool surrounded by ocean. A few of us took the opportunity to wet our feet in the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea: what a treat!

And wouldn't you know it, but weren't the Birthright kids there! They were holding races round the amphitheatre, girls riding boys' backs, with more than one wipeout. A fun group. We'd encounter them a few more times in our travels, actually.

Power Plant at Caesarea

At places, running through the vegetation, I noticed what looked like rebar but turned out to be rubber hose. For irrigation! This stuff is everywhere: whoever supplies that rubber hose must be making a lot of money. And it works: plants live where the water is, and don't where it isn't.

So then back on the bus, and northward ho! to the very tippiest tippy tip of the country and a kibbutz called Kfar Giladi. Lovely place: it had an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a sauna, excellent food—perhaps the best salads I've ever eaten—and a great view of the hills and farms of the region. I'd go back there for sure. Swim, dinner, and to bed.

Next: Tuesday, May 8, Tsfat and the Golan