One would think that since Katrina and I were not having such a swell time at the kibbutz we would have tried to simply sleep our time away there, right? Wrong! She and I were up until close to 1am talking and joking. Most of the jokes I don't remember, nor would they seem funny to ya'll, but just know that we were both looking like burritos last night. No joke... We got up with the alarm at 5:40 and were ready, more than ready, to go by 6am. We watched some weird French TV until 6:30 and then we went to the bus to load. When I say load, I mean that we were the porters for this evening. We were trying to get us out of there on time, so Katrina climbed under and Cory and I handed her suitcases. I think we deserve a tip! Haha!
There was no chocolate pudding at breakfast today, but there was the next best thing...hummus in to go containers! And there was excellent jam as well, so Katrina and I took some of both (and some crackers) for a midnight snack tonight. After breakfast, Eugene and I hopped on this rocking log ride on the playground, soon to be joined by none other than Trisha! Apparently there's a great picture of it! Soon we (along w/Katrina and Yohan) were sliding down the slide, and Eugene and I went on the spinning tea-cup until he threatened me with vomit. Yohan and I tried to see-saw, but I went to the top and couldn't come down! Overall it was a great ending to the morning and set us off on the right foot for the day!
OK, time for my next helpful life tip (5? 6?). If you use the horn too excessively, people won't pay any attention to you! Drivers here are insane with the horn, so much so that it no longer does any good. While sitting at a red light, I watched as a car honked furiously at the car next to her b/c she knew the driver and he just ignored her for a full minute b/f she finally attracted him with her honking. So maybe if honking was less prevalent, it would be more effective. Just a thought...
We went to Zippori this morning and visited the remains of an old synagogue and villa. Both had amazing mosaics, but b/c we were on a hill, the wind made it just a little bit nippy. It was enjoyable, however, to do some hiking, and we had some free time to wander around the remains of the village there. And the villa we looked at had a mosaic that indicated the bathroom. Perfect. We'll talk about the psychology of knowing you have to pay to pee later...
From Zippori we drove to Nazareth. On our way there, I saw my first Israeli butt crack. There was a worker unloading who knows what, and yep, there is was, at least an inch of pure Israeli plumber's butt. Nice. Now apparently there are two Nazareths now and the one we went to is an Arab community, which was obvious from the start b/c store signs were written in Arabic first and Hebrew second, a switch from all the previous signs we've seen in Israel so far. We had to walk through another crowded marketplace to get to our destination: The Church of the Annunciation (which I kept hearing at the Enunciation, which made me think that it was sure funny to have a church dedicated to speaking clearly. No, it commemorates the place traditionally associated with the angel telling Mary she's knocked up.) We tried to go in the bottom enterance, but the guard told us no, we had to go in the entrance at the top of the hill. So we truck up there only to be told by the guard at the top that we had to go to the bottom. Well, by that point neither Claudia nor Trisha were taking his crap and we went right on in anyways. According to Trisha the guard threatned to call the police on us, but he obviously didn't b/c here I am blogging tonight. But let me just say, we were encouraged to give a donation to the church since there is no enterance fee, but b/c they gave us so much crap about entering, they got nothing from me.
The Church of the Annunciation. Yeah. Let me just describe it first and then I can go into my thoughts on it. The first floor we went into held the sanctuary which was elaborately decorated. Throughout this room and outside were images of Mary from around the world. Beneath the courtyard outside was the excavation site of some caves from around the time of Mary and Jesus. Directly underneath the sanctuary was the shrine with the actual cave traditionally associated w/Mary's home. On a positive note, I did find the different images of Mary interesting b/c they all represented their nation's culture. On the other hand, this massive, beautiful, and obviously expensive church--which was built in the not too distant past--is in the middle of what I saw as an impovershied neighborhood. (I say what I perceive as impovershed b/c I'm not too sure what the standard of living in Nazareth is like. I don't want to assume. But to give you an idea, when we left the church a man w/a fester sore on his leg sat by the street begging for money. Take that as you will.) Also, I know that all the countries in the world which donated money (you had to donate to be able to contribute a piece of at) have people living in poverty who could use help. So couldn't that money have been spent more humanely? But then again, a part of me also wonders if having that gorgeous church is helpful to the Christians in that area, a place which lifts then spiritually and takes them away from the rest of the world around them. So which is better? Also, I am more and more starting to take issue w/all these "holy" sites the commemorate one thing or another, when in actuality, we don't know where most of the stories take place, or if they even took place at all. For me, I don't need a shrine or a church or a plaque to strengthen my faith. Show me examples of what life might have been like based on the evidence, and let me go from there. Isn't there a danger if these so-called "holy" sites that people began to believe that these events literally took place there? I am not so egotistical to think that I have the answers, just the questions...
Lunch and the afternoon was spent at the Nazareth Village nearby. This is a recreation of a 1st century Nazareth village, with buildings similar to what would have been around in Jesus' time. We had a biblical lunch b/f the tour. Lunch was absolutely superb, and 100% vegetarian! The flat bread they made was heavenly and there was plenty of hummus for all. The tour was interesting. The tour guide, Rani, spoke well and explained all about farming and herding and making wine and making olive oil... That was all great. But then we went inside the replica synagogue and he went off, preaching to us, and spouting quite a supersessionist attitude. He told a story about how he talked about Jesus to some Jewish people he was giving a tour to and they asked him for the Second Testament at the end. Really? So even when he is showing around people of other faiths he keeps the same attitude of we're better than you? And notice how the story was a good one b/c the people asked for the Second Testament at the end of the tour. Yeah. After that I couldn't quite get over his attitude and language. But I will say that the tour was better than I thought it would be. It was a little too showy, but at least is was way less hokey than I imagined it would be.
We then drove out of Nazareth on our way to Tiberias, and can I just say, those roads in Nazareth are not meant for tour buses. They are winding and narrow and there was one occasion when we almost ran into about bus. They were inches apart...I, of course, fell asleep on the bus, though I tried not to again. Oh well...
Tiberias. Ah! That's an ah of absolute contentment, not horror. Our hotel is directly on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The shower is fantastic (yay I'm clean again!) and the view from our room (and balcony) is absolutely incredible. I can see the water shining in the dark. Katrina, Brandie, Cory and I went for a walk b/f our meeting and dinner. Brandie, Cory and I walked on a little ledge that jutted out around the entire front of our hotel. Katrina didn't go b/c of the height thing. Then the three of us did some rock climbing, I dipped my toes in the water (of course) and we picked Katrina back up and walked into town. Nothing too exciting happened on the walk, but there we go again, it's still our favorite time b/c it's so free. We haven't done any shopping yet, but we're saving that for Jerusalem when we have even more free time. Oh and Claudia is going to help us go hookah shopping in Jericho and apparently will even teach us how to use them. Haha!
As Katrina would say, I was wearing my grouchy pants at the evening meeting tonight. I was tired, but it's more than that, I'm starting to get frustrated with some things. I don't really want to go into them now b/c well, I don't want to be a debbie downer right now, but maybe I'll bring them up soon. I must say though, thank goodness for Katrina and Brandie. We have our own little debriefs throughout the day and that helps keep me sane. I can only hope they are just as helpful to the two of them.
A comment on the title tonight and then I'm off to bed b/c us 3 Stooges are walking at 6:30 tomorrow. Many of us are using the stairs at this hotel b/c it's only one floor up from the main floor, and soon after getting here, Trish tripped on her way up on the 2nd step from the top. Then, just a short while later, us 3 chicas were coming up the stairs and Brandie and I both tripped up that step within second of each other. Katrina is making fun of us by this point, but later when she and I were coming up from mailing postcards, she tripped on the same damn stair!! I think we're going to have to take a poll tomorrow b/c I swear, that step is out to get us!
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