To Armegeddon and beyond...

The Jezreel valley, or the valley by Meggido (Armeggedon), is a fertile, lush valley.

Much of it was malaria-infested swamp until the Israelis started draining it.

Many Arab families sold their land here because it was almost worthless, and

had been for centuries.  At the time, they were ecstatic in being able to sell; now they claim they were cheated.  Such are the intricacies of politics here.

In February, grains are already "knee high". The land produces several crops a year.

 Almond trees are in blossom.

Overlooking the port city of Haifa, a very prosperous area.  And since Israel recently discovered

a large natural gas reserve just off-shore, they have fuel for at least 100 years

and coal-burning plants are being refitted for gas.  Golda Meir had once said,

"Moses wandered for 40 years and then chose the only land that didn't have oil".

It's kind of hard to imagine Elijah contesting the priests of Baal here, yet Mount Carmel overlooks Haifa.

Watching cruise ships in the harbor made me want to do a Mediterranean cruise--Greece, Italy, etc.

 On to Caesarea, the Rome away from Rome built by Herod the Great in honor of Caesar.

I've reflected before on the fact that so many of the world's great monuments were built by megalomaniacs--someone with enough power that no one's going to say, "You're crazy!"

So a city was built by the sea with a magnificent harbor and breakwater, amphitheater, hippodrome for chariot races, and palace. It became the Roman capital for Palestine.

 This place had all the latest amenities, including public bathrooms. 

There was a channel of running water below several stone slabs for sitting.

Unfortunately, these are really public since they are located in the main entrance to the hippodrome.

(Modeled by Kevin and Craig Davis)

After the "interesting" public bathrooms in China, all the real bathrooms in Israel were

appreciated!

 Part of the remains of the palace where Paul testified before King Agrippa (grandson of Herod the Great) and Festus, the Roman governor. As a Roman citizen, Paul was arrested illegally by the Roman soldiers at the temple, but I suppose they thought they were doing him a favor, saving him from the enraged Jewish crowd.  Paul eventually set sail from Caesarea for Rome, to appeal to Nero, the Caesar at the time.

And when it came time to execute Paul, he was put to death with the sword, since he was a citizen.

In contrast, Peter's death was by crucifixion.

 Also found at this site was a tablet mentioning Pontius Pilate--the only existing proof of his existence.  

And so it is with those who think they are important.

 An aqueduct brought fresh water 8 miles south from Mount Carmel.  It was built with a 1/1000 drop.

To Herod the Great, no problem's too big.

From our first sighting of the Mediterranean as we flew south from Moscow to Israel, Alice and I had been wanting to dip our toes in the water.  Really wanting to!  Being in a such a location as Israel--something I never thought I'd do--just didn't feel real until our feet were wet.

I just love water!  Lake, ocean, river!  

I could have spent all day here, listening to the waves and wading.

I wish our Bohai Sea looked even a little like this!