JAFFA (YAFO/JOPPA)

Cobbled street in ancient Jaffa

Jaffa (Yafo in Hebrew) is an ancient port city - the oldest working port in the world! This is the the same port where Jonah boarded a ship to run away from God's calling, and where Paul embarked on some of his missions. 

We got to Jaffa in the evening, so I borrowed these daytime pics from the internet. 

The contrast between old city Jaffa and the new bustling city of Tel Aviv (the most modern city in Israel) is striking!

We walked cobbled streets and stairs to a 360 degree view. (The pictures from that view didn't turn out)

We didn't know we were on a road until a car came zooming up this hill (and we jumped out of the way)!

We finally, after walking around the town, found the site of Simon the Tanner's house!

It was here that Peter had a vision from God and the ushering of the Gospel to the Gentiles began! (Acts 10)

(Joppa and Jaffa are the same)

I stared and stared at the roof line of Simon the Tanner's house, and tried to picture Peter praying up there, and the messengers from Cornelious knocking on the door...

MEGGIDO

From focusonjerusalem.com

This is a picture of the Meggido valley, known as Jezreel Valley. As you can see, the valley is very broad and long. Tel Meggido is located in this valley and has ancient history. But for us, we would recognize the name in the Greek language as Armageddon! Yep, this is the valley where the battle of Armageddon will take place!

As seen from our car

This is a view from our car as we drove through the valley on our way "home" from Caesarea. Beautiful farmland could be seen for miles and miles. Is this California or Israel? We kept asking ourselves that question as we drove around the country. By the way, David sunflower seeds are grown here! =)

CAESAREA

Herod the Great built an amazing port in honor of Caesar

On the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel lies the remains of King Herod the Great's amazing port and palace. Herod the Great (there were other Herods also) was an evil man who, among other atrocities, had all the children in Bethlehem up to two years old murdered to try and kill the Christ child.  But he was an amazing architect. He built Caesarea, ornately added to second temple in Jerusalem, and built Masada.

Crusader wall

Upon approaching the Caesarea ruins, we walked along the remains of the wall the Crusaders built, including a mote around the wall. The wall was breached in just three days by the Arab invasion. 

Some breathtaking views were revealed as we walked up to start the tour around the ruins.

Original wall segments lie where they
fell from an earthquake long ago.

Conquests, earthquakes and time turned what was once a magnificent port and city into just remains visited by us today.

Beyond Bonnie is the current-day build up.
The original dock is beyond these buildings.

As years and years moved on, Caesarea fell into the hands of the different conquerors and people groups. The spire you see here is from the time the Arabs had control of the city. 

A portion of the inner sea wall extends into the bay here. It was met with another wall opposite that made a narrow entrance to the docking area.

This is a map of the original Herodian city showing the sea wall and harbor. 

Columns unearthed as they laid,
toppled  by earthquakes

Conquerors, earthquakes and time have turned Caesarea into ruins.

This is the original dock where the ships would load and unload cargo and passengers. Peter came here when visiting Cornelius, the centurion in Acts chapter 10. Paul the apostle boarded here on his way to Rome.

This is an original anchor stone that sere used to guide the ships up to the dock. John West, our guide, explained that the reference in Hebrews 6:19 (in the Bible) refers to the use of this anchor stone. A rope from the ship coming into the bay would be brought by a small boat to the anchor stone. They would pull on the rope through the grove on the stone and thus guide the ship slowly and directly to the dock, where it was tied off and secured. The anchor stone is the unchangeable promise of God - we are tied to it by hope - and the Lord is pulling us to the dock of heaven! =)

The apostle Paul walk these very steps to board a ship to Rome.

Ruins of a Byzantine church during the Byzantine period.

This is a column piece that has a part number - the Greek letter Delta II (D - 2). The columns were chiseled in quarries and transported to the building site and assembled. (Herod's time).

Here at the north end of the Hippodrome, were horse stalls.

This is a straight shot down the Hippodrome (looking south). The middle of the race course is the darker patch in the middle (it was a median wall). The wall sticking out into the track was built at a later time for a structure above the track (covered by time). The races done here were the type of races depicted in the movie Ben Hur.

This is all that remains of Herod's upper palace with a fresh water pool in the middle. The water was brought by an aqueduct that stretched 10 km to springs in Shummi. 

And this is all that's left of his magnificent palace that was built right out into the sea.

Archaeological finds keep proving the validity of the Bible! This is a stone mentioning Pontius Pilate. 

This is what it would have looked like.

The amphitheater at Caesarea.

A Corinthian style capital with a cross, which was a Christian symbol.

The corner columns were made with the cross-cut of a heart shape. (I'm not sure when the current symbol for the heart came about.)

Herod had the Romans build an Aqueduct 10km long to bring fresh water to his palace at Caesarea. Miles of aqueduct still stand after over 2000 years!

After a climb up the broken end of the aqueduct Bonnie walked upstream. 

Inviting, eh?

ZIPPORI

Nazareth on the hill opposite Zippori

With Zippori in the foreground, you can see Nazareth on the hillside, a short distance away. There were many laborers and carpenters needed to build the city. Joseph and Jesus most likely worked here, walking over daily from Nazareth.

Column sections toppled by earthquakes.

There were houses between all these foundation walls.

Zippori is a large area of Roman ruins with mosaic floors and a block Roman road.

Tumbled column sections were hurled down by a strong earthquake.

This was a typical Roman road. The roads were sophisticated set with an angular block pattern, covered sewer lines and curbs.

The rock road was rutted and grooved by chariots going back and forth. The width of the chariot wheel influenced even modern day train track width!

Amazing and intricate mosaic designs covered the elaborate floors of the Roman bath houses.

Can you imagine how long it must have taken, and how much man-power was used to build this city?

A weaving pattern

The "Mona Lisa" of Israel. =)

This amphitheater faced west where the breeze would help carry the voices of the hypocrites (actors).

Mustard flowers among old olive trees.

A beautiful herd of tranquil horses grazed next door to the Zippori ruins.