Israel Adventure - Day 3

After a good night’s sleep, we arose early to take Felipe, one of the students digging at Tel Gezer to the airport. While we were out we decided to visit Latrun Junction and other sites in the vicinity. After stopping at Mini Israel (they were closed, but we looked through the gate) we went to breakfast at Si, a coffee shop

connected to a gas station at the junction. Chelsea & I ate avocado and egg sandwich, Sarah had a bagel with lox and Israeli Salad. The breakfast was great, and got us going for the day.

I asked some bike riders in the shop if they knew of an ancient synagogue found at Modi’in, and they directed us to the archeological findings of Emmaus. I took a picture through the front gate. This is the place Cleopas and his friend (Luke 24:13-35) were probably headed after Jesus was crucified. Emmaus is a resort at a hot spring. It is also the site of one of the battles (1 Macc. 4) of the Maccabees.

Just past Emmaus we entered Canada Park. The park is so named because Canadian Jews donated money to the Jewish National Fund to plant trees in this park. Again, we talked to some bike riders who directed us to the top of a hill for some panoramic views. We were well rewarded for following their directions. Attached you will find a photo from the scenic overlook toward Modi’in.

We continued up the road, and then took a trail at the top which led us to a Hasmonean Fortress. There are wine presses and cisterns in the ruins of the fortress. We took some pictures from the top in the direction of Gezer, where Sarah spent the last three weeks digging. (http://sjsimon.blogspot.co.il/)

Coming back down the hill from Canada Park, we stopped at Latrun Junction again, where we got some water, and I walked up to the entrance of the Tank museum. This area was hotly contested during the 1948 war with Jordan. Remnants of the conflict started this museum.

After leaving the museum we drove around a trappist monastery to Neve Shalom, where Sarah stayed the last three weeks. She gave us a tour, and showed us places where she took pictures.

From Neve Shalom, we went to Tel Gezer, where Sarah was part of an archeological team from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary - http://nobtsarchaeology.blogspot.co.il/. We visited the Tunnel, Eli’s House and the Canaanite Gate, which Sarah (and Dr. Parker) detail on their blogs. We spent some time looking at this site.

Then we came home. The GPS took us on a strange route through farms with grapes, peaches, harvested wheat, and other crops. It was interesting. We went through a small village, then to the main road. When we got home we took a nap.

After our nap it was time to go to the beach. On the way we saw a Pentecost Parade put on by the Joppa Catholic Church. They had bagpipes and a band. The band played “When the Saints go Marching In.” Sarah felt as if she was in New Orleans.

After the parade, we continued to the beach where we went swimming. The water was cool at first, but after being in it was great, for a warm day. The waves were choppy, but the water was fun. We swam for about an hour, then walked through old Joppa on the way home.

For dinner we went into the Florentine district and found a place that served Shawarma. The dinner was excellent, and the wait staff patient.

Afterwards we went to the old train station in Tel Aviv and ate ice cream. I had date and banana halva ice cream. Tomorrow is Shavout, so we will see what we can become involved in.