BET GUVRIN

The day was speeding past. Would we have enough time for our main tour? When we turned toward the ticket booth, a short but slow, line of cars was ahead of us. The park attendant recommended that we hurry to see most of it. There were several parts to this park but we only made it to four.

The cisterns

Stone staircase

At this spot in the hills consist mainly of chalk overlaid with harder rock.  
 "For thousands of years people have been cutting into the rock for quarries, burial caves, storerooms, industrial facilities, hideouts and dovecotes." ( quote from Israel Nature and Parks Authority)

We clambered  into several cisterns which captured the rainwater.

The bell shapes visible on the sides were nesting holes for pigeons. At times fugitives ran to this refuge, supporting themselves with the water supply and the domesticated birds.

 

Houses

 

Steps led us down into underground dwellings 
which were also carved into the rock.











Guy was in a room with an olive press.

 

 

 

 

 Caves

Sidonian Burial Cave

Which way do we go, to the cave on the left or to the one on the right? We chose the Musicians Cave.

  

 

And now we know the 'other' choice had more beautiful paintings. 

But we wouldn't have wanted to miss the Bell Caves, coming next .................