Tuesday 22 September. Early morning departure for Nazareth via the Jordan Valley. Very much downhill at first from Jerusalem through the Judean Desert. Then things change dramatically. Alongside you for miles is the Jordanian Border. Land becomes lush and fertile, fruit and vegetables growing everywhere. Nazareth (now one of the largest arab towns): we visited first the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Gabriel, built in the 18th century supposedly at the site of the town well. The memory preserved there now is the Annunciation to Mary. There was a large Ukranian congregation there at the time singing quite wonderfully in a great natural acoustic. Then on to the Basilica of the Annunciation built in the 1950s. There's a 3rd century cave there - a place that has been venerated as the house of Mary through the centuries. The first church built at this site was Byzantine (5th century). Nazareth - very pleasant place to be. Then on to Zippori - the largest city in Galilee at the time of Jesus. It was destroyed in 6AD and then rebuilt. Quite possible that Joseph and Jesus from nearby Nazareth worked on its reconstruction. Finally to Nof Ginosar, a very smart hotel in a kibbutz, right on the shore of the Sea (Lake) of Galilee. Wonderful! Full of biblical and gospel atmosphere. 10.40 p.m., Thursday and just ready now for bed having returned from Galilee at 7 pm.
