Traveling south to Jerusalem

The first stop south was at Yardenit, the site established on the Jordan River by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism for Christian tourists wanting to be baptized. One in our group was baptized, and two re-baptized.

Afterwards, at the gift shop, there was an opportunity to buy an small bottle of the river water, only $5 for 8 ounces!

In Nazareth, we saw the tiny ancient synagogue, and went on to the Nazareth village, where there is a working re-enactment of there in Jesus’ time.

We went on to Beth-Shan, where the Philistines had taken the bodies of Saul and Jonathan after they were killed in battle (1 Samuel 31:10). You can see a section of that white wall at the top of the hill in the background, on the far right, above the dark grey stairs.

Continuing south, we skirted around Jericho (a Palestinian city) for security reasons, and saw our first glimpse of the Dead Sea in the distance, with the desert all around.

On the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, well known through Jesus parable of the Good Samaritan, we saw a number of Bedouin herds and encampments.

Finally, Jerusalem. Here’s Mom with the city in the background. You can clearly see the walls and the Dome of the Rock.