Well, this was going to be a busy day, but it didn’t start out that way. Apparently there has been a cycling road race going on yesterday & today, right down the highway past the kibbutz we are staying on. This morning, on a few hours’ notice, instead of just closing one of the two lanes, which would allow us to exit, they went and closed both lanes, stranding us. So, we showed up at the bus at 08h00, only to be told that we couldn’t leave until 10h30. Oh, well, some time to chill and check out the gift shop! We went to the gift shop over at the Jesus Boat Museum, they were quite well stocked, so we picked up a few things.
Oh yeah, and Dayna vegged out for a bit in a unique style hammock. We should get a couple for home!
Interesting though, we talked to a couple that came in this morning, and they actually drove through the fields to get to the kibbutz! I guess some folks are more desperate than others. At least we weren’t trying to catch a plane this morning.
Our first stop this morning was the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes at Tabgha, not far from the kibbutz. See Mark 6:30-44. The altar is built on the stone that Jesus is said to have stood when he blessed the five loaves & two fishes, then performed the miracle of feeding five thousand men (and probably women & children too) there.
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| Altar built over rock upon which Jesus stood to bless & break loaves & fishes. |
| Note mosaic of loaves & fishes in front of altar. |
| One of the other many mosaics found around the sanctuary of the Church of Multiplication. |
| View from the parking lot, overlooks the Sea of Galilee. |
| Beautiful flower gardens, end of season at the Church of Beatitudes. |
| Church of Beatitudes. |
| Altar of Church of Beatitudes. |
| Driving sheep for the tourists! |
| Olive tree. |
| Olives in the olive tree. |
| Shepherd (centre, along the fence) watching his little flock |
| Our guide standing in front of actual 1st century wine press (depression to the left of her) and collection area (right behind her). |
| Guard post for watching over the crops and flock. |
| Olive crusher (donkey on back side, see next picture). |
| Olive crusher in action. |
| Secondary lever type wine press squeezing the lower quality oil out of flat “socks” with crushed olives in them. |
| Carpenter working in his shop. |
| Weaving with various colours of wool. |
| Interior of reconstructed synagogue. |