We had a very busy day yesterday visiting with new Ethiopian
friends and Israeli friends we have known for years. As soon as our lunch guests left we raced to the moneychangers
to get shekels for our trip to the Galilee and found we were too late. They
were closed. So that delayed our leaving Jerusalem this morning.
We walked to the money changers at 8 this morning just as
they were opening and paused to have another cup of café afuk with chocolate croissant. We will certainly miss both of those
when we leave and will avoid weighing for at least one month when we get home.
We got our little car and experienced a terrifying time as
we drove down the hill from Jerusalem. At least it was terrifying to me since I
wasn’t driving. David was. I felt like we were on a roller skate surrounded by
large trucks and buses driving wildly out of control. But that’s just me. We
got on Israel’s version of the Interstate, highway 6 and stopped at the first,
what you would call in the states, rest stop. It is nothing like a rest stop in
America. We went in a little coffee
shop to get coffee and use the restroom.
I will post a picture of the restroom for your enjoyment. It was one restroom for both men and
women. What a shock to us oldies!
Israel has moved on. A religious
couple stood at the door staring at the sign in disbelief that they were to
both go to the same bathroom. But when you gotta go, you gotta go. I think this was another first. I don’t
think David and I have EVER washed our hands together in a public bathroom!

As you can see on the door both boys and girls are welcome here
We drove on to Dalit ha Karmel, a Druze village, to visit
our old friend Fuad. He had a heart attack last year and we were not sure he
was still there. But he was, still in business trying to sell us everything in
the store. We came away with less
money than we intended. But it was good to see he was still working and
enjoying life.
We arrived at Vered Hagalil, a place we have visited for
about 35 years. It was a little
sad to see how it has changed.
David tried to tell the girl checking us in how many years we have known
Yehuda and his wife Yona, owners of the place. She didn’t care. It was all
business to her. Yehuda died two years ago and life goes on. They have a new
dining area and other new buildings on the property. But the Sea of Galilee that G-d created is still the same. Just
as beautiful as ever. We are
sitting on our tiny porch enjoying the view of the sun setting on the Sea
before going to enjoy the new dining area.
We visited Caesarea on our way to the Galilee. It was a beautiful day there by the sea.
Blessings to each of you from the Galilee.