MON 20 : JERUSALEM - HAIFA - MT CARMEL -NAZARETH

MAY  20^th, MON: JERUSALEM ->HAIFA -> Mt. Carmel - Nazareth

After breakfast, we started our journey to Ein Karem, located on hill next to the little spring, where still now there is spring flowing with cold water.  We climbed up to the Church of Visitation, the city of Judah, birthplace of John the Baptist, son of Elizabeth and Zachariah, who was 7 months pregnant at the age of 70 while her husband Zachariah was above 80.  The Archangel Gabriel declared to Mary during Annunciations when she disbelieved.    Mary went to visit her cousin, when she sang a hymn of praise (the Magnificat). Here the Magnificat was printed on ceramic tiles on the wall in different languages.

We travelled and got to see beautiful Mediterranean Sea, to the city of Caesarea to Haifa, Israel’s largest port city, built on the slopes of Mt. Carmel.  Visited the Mount Carmel Church, where we attended mass.  Visited the Famous Persian Hanging Garden for a view of the Bahai Shrine, above and also city below.

We were tired and hungry.  We were taken to a lovely restaurant where set lunch was given which we enjoyed but the treatment by the waiters was horrible because we were Indian, and we could see preferential treatment to the foreigners in the tables behind us.  Bharati had a tiff with waiters and it was brought to the notice of the Manager and they apologised.

We then visited Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding feast.  We visited the church and here below in the church, they also had a fossilised jar, in which the water was changed into wine.

We visited the site of grotto where Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary, that she would bear a son Jesus.  The Grotto and its surrounding were turned into worship and   beautiful Basilica of the Annunciations was built. There is a chapel built where she lived, fireplace etc.  

The church has beautiful statues/pictures of Mary from different countries.

From here we visited Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus and the home of Mary and Joseph, the place where Jesus was brought up, the location of the Carpentry shop of Joseph.  The Church of St, Joseph built on this site.