Last day in Israel

Hello again, This is our last day in Israel before we head across the shores to Istanbul tomorrow morning. It's only just 2 hours flight away. We have to get up at 5 am to catch the bus to Tel Aviv airport. The temperature yesterday at the Dead Sea in the sunshine was 40+C. And 34C in the shade. Today we saw some more holy places in Jersualem and Emasus. Add then battled our way through the Muslim crowds at the market on our way to lunch. Quite an experience! The afternoon was spent packing and resting. Today is Sabbat day where the Jews do no work. Interestingly, in the dining rooms there was no toaster or any electrical appliance that requires manual labour to work it. They really take the sabbath seriously and do no work. We have seen many Jews all dressed up walking someplace probably to church. Many different headwear from the plain skull caps to the russian bear hats. Hopefully we'll find a full service internet cafe in Istanbul so we can upload photos. Ciao, Paul and Marie

The Dead Sea

Hello again, Today we went to Masala and Quatram (not sure I've got the spelling right here). Took heaps of photos but have no easy means of uploading. I'm using the slot machine internet in the hotel. Sorry can show you all these places. But anyways we went to the Dead Sea and Marie went for a float and mudded up (that is, covered herself in Dead Sea mud) while I waddled away in the shallow waters. The Dead Sea is 20% salt. The Pacific Ocean is 3% salt. So you can imagine how much you float in such a brine. Get pickled if you swallow any. Tonight we are going to Notra Dame church which I'm told is quite spectacular. Better go! Ciao, Paul and Marie

A day in Bethlehem

We've had the most perfect day today in Bethlehem. It's a very beautiful place. We started out this morning at Shepherd's Field and had Mass in a little cave. From there we went to the Church of the Nativity nad queded up with a million others to go underground to the supposed exact place of the Manger. It was an exercise in patience but was well worth it. We then went off to a local shop for a spot of retail therapy before a quick lunch break. The rest of the day was spent at Ein Kareen which involved a climb of about a 100 steps to get to the top where we were rewarded with magnificent views and two remarkable churches. I wish we could post some photos from here as I would put up the Starbucks one I took today - except that here it's called Stars & Bucks. We hope to be able to get to an internet cafe once we go to Istanbul on Saturday. Tomorrow we're off to the Dead Sea/

Back in Jerusalem

We left the beautiful surroundings of the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias and returned to Jerusalem yesterday. Our travels took us through the Jordan Valley to Jericho. While there Marie had a camel ride - a shame we can't put up photos again just now as we once again haven't got the facilities. However, if you go to johncoconnor.blogspot.com you can view plenty of photos there. We went up in a cable car to the top of Mt Temptation - much higher than both the Christchurch and Queenstown gongolas. The views were spectacular. The landscape is so very very barren and stark mostly, but with pockets of lushness and date palm groves. One of the biggest things we've noticed is just how incredibly dirty the streets are and around shops and businesses. Apparently it's acceptable to have a perfectly clean home inside and just throw your rubbish out the windows. Today we've had the harrowing experience of visiting Yad Vashem - Holocaust Museum and gardens. The afternoon has been free to enable us to do our own thing. It's a heatwave here today.

Blessed are the cheesemakers...

Hello again, This morning we went to the Beatitudes Convent where the sermon on the mount was given and which was parodied by Monty Python in the Life of Brian. An amazing complex. Stunning. We had a Mass there in the open air and a look around the gardens of the complex. Then we went to the national park at Zipponer (not sure of the spelling) and looked around the ruins. It is a work in progress, an active dig site. I'm getting ruined out. When you've seen one ruins, I say, you've seen them all. Ruins are good for the tourist trade. Enough words, I know you want to see photos! Starting with a photo of this morning's sun rise:

A big day out

Well today we went across the sea of Galilee to a kibbutz and had a fish lunch. The fish was called a St Peter fish. And it was served with chips. The kibbutz was quite run down. They showed us around on a tractor and noddy train. There were cows being farmed in a battery cow shed. From 270 cows they get 3 million liters per year. They have 3 crop harvests a year. Fascinating. Must away for now. Paul and Marie

More photos

Hello again, Here are some more photos. Enjoy!