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Of course, I didn't spend all my time in Nazareth. I also went exploring. Here are some of the places I visited. Akko
Boats in the ancient harbour of Akko (Acre). This is a great place - I spent hours sitting by the harbour, watching people and boats, drinking Carlsberg beer and listening to the café's Roxette's greatest hits album.
I spotted this young chap fishing near the harbour. I don't think he caught anything. Dead Sea
This is the dirt track by the Dead Sea, leading towards the spring of Ein Gedi. It's an old tourist cliché that if you photograph an ibex here, you can never find it when you get your photo developed. I think there was an ibex here originally, but I'm darned if I can find it now. You're welcome to try. It was here I first met my very good friend Dr Ariel Chipman, who kindly took me under his wing a bit when I returned to Jerusalem. Masada
Sunrise from the fortress of Masada. We hiked up the Snake Path before dawn - in the darkness - to capture this magical moment. I don't think they let people do that now, which is a pity, if true. As the sun breaks past the Jordanian hills, it's like the lifting of a veil, and Masada springs into life. Yafo
This is an old Ottoman building in Yafo (Jaffa), just south of Tel Aviv. I stayed at the Old Hostel here - a most bizarre experience, given that there were some very strange and public fallings-out between various members of the (largely overseas student) management. Nevertheless, a great rooftop bar, where I and a Danish chap sat out for a very long time, trying to see the meteor shower forecast for that evening. And getting rather drunk. That's when one's philosophy is at its best. Bethlehem
Hic Jesus Christus natus est de Maria Virgine - "Here Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary". Whatever. It's a far cry from the traditional stable. Bethlehem is a strange town - the name of the main square, "Manger Square", alerts visitors to the fact that, as far as pilgrims are concerned, this is Tacksville. Nevertheless, you can't come to Palestine without visiting here. Beit She'an
The layers of archaeology in this place are astounding. From the dawn of civilisation, up to the time of the Byzantine Empire, it's all here. Including the earthquake-collapsed Roman shopfronts, complete with naughty dead thief discovered pinned under the ruins, a bag of gold coins still clutched in his skeletal hand.
There is also an exceptionally preserved amphitheatre. The Romans cared a lot about the Arts. Caesarea
This is Caesarea's phenomenal moat, constructed by the Crusaders. Clean lines, dressed stone, etc. Apparently after Saladin kicked their asses out of here, the place was forgotten (and lost) for the better part of a millennium. Which has resulted in much of it being very finely preserved. There is an old church that collapsed mid-construction, and the fracture marks on the columns look as clean as if they had happened yesterday. Tiberias
On the shores of Lake Tiberias, the famous Sea of Galilee, Tiberias is an enigmatic place. This old chap and I were waiting for the same bus.
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