
After breakfast we got on our Bethany Tour bus with our great driver Dari, who was amazing, especially showing his skill in Jerusalem taking us down a few narrow, steep streets where most drivers do not go.
He was friendly and patient, we found out he was Druze which is an offshoot of Islam and a minority religion in Israel, he has 6 kids and is from Jerusalem.
Our first stop of the day was the old city of Hippos. Hippos is on top of a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Hippos means "horse" and apparently from a certain angle looking up at the city, the topography looks like the head of a horse. This city is from the Hellenistic period in the 2nd century BC. The first residents were pagan who later converted to Christianity, also there was a small Jewish community. It is now a National Park area and we were told to stay on the path!
It was an exceptionally beautiful morning with perfect temperatures for a morning hike. I really loved this place and could have spent 2 more hours here exploring and finding a place to sit and take it all in...
Jesus is telling his followers - "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
Our next stop was Capernaum. Jesus spent much time in Capernaum and met his first disciples - Peter, Andrew, James and John here.
Our days are full, next stop was the Dan Nature Preserve, also in the north of Israel.
Our last stop of the day was the old city of Magdalen on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. This is where Mary Magdalene, one of the women who followed Jesus was from. They have excavated a synagogue here that dates to the 1st Century, the time of Christ. It is possible that Jesus did teach in this very synagogue.