Mount Arbel, Mount of Beautitudes, Capernaum (Israel)

Trail marker on Mount Arbel
Orange dot means this is where Jesus walked.

We started today with a hike up Mount Arbel. This was the first place where we saw the stones marked where Jesus had walked. In Israel, trails are marked with painted colored stripes. The trail where Jesus walked is noted with either an orange stripe or an orange dot. Once we reached the top, we had beautiful panoramic views of the Sea of Galilee. Our view encompassed Migdal, home of Mary Magdalene (Magdalene means from Migdal) and the Sea of Galilee.

2000 year old boat excavated from Sea of Galilee

Our next stop was at the Ginosar Kibbutz. A kibbutz is a collective community. When someone joins, all their possessions become part of the community; and, they all share everything. The draw of the Ginosar Kibbutz is a 2000 year old boat found in the Sea of Galilee. It was exhumed in 1986 and carefully preserved. The museum shows a video (in English) and displays the boat. To top it all off, we took a boat ride in the Sea of Galilee, although in a modern boat.

The disciple Peter's house in Capernaum

We continued around the Sea of Galilee to our next stop, Capernaum, home of the apostles Peter, Andrew, James and John. Even today, one can view the ruins of the apostle Peter's home! Although, it is a bit shadowy under the modernistic steel frame church built above it. Capernaum also has the ruins of an old synagogue. The upper ruins are more recent. Yet, the lower ruins of the synagogue were around when Jesus and his disciples were in Capernaum.

Looking down the Mount of the Beautitudes 

At our final stop, our tour guide gave us time for reflection. We were atop the Mount of the Beatitudes. It was so beautiful and lush -- we could have been on a tropical island! Interestingly, although we often think of Jesus standing atop of this mount and preaching down at people, in fact, it's the opposite. Jesus stood at the bottom of the Mount; and, the people sat above him. The Mount is a natural amphitheater.

Another part of trail Jesus walked