Trip Day 24 - Nazareth to Zippori to Cana

Sunday September 24

Breakfast at Fauzi Azar Inn at 7:30

At 8:10 am we were on the trail. 

The book says "The Trail climbs out of Nazareth by way of 406 steps". 






 

We arrive at the top where there was a great lookout in about 30 minutes. My FitBit said I had done 2000 steps. A huffing and a puffing. 

Yes, great view. 

Downhill. Yeah. 

We consider ourselves very good trail sign spotters ad especially being two. Didn't see any and ended in a dead end. 

Looking helpless I guess When a woman who was outside at the last house motioned us to walk over the field which really was a bit of a trash dump. We looked at her puzzled but she was friendly and encouraging. So we did and after climbing down an embankment found a trail sign soon.   

After the above picture our trouble began. We walked for quite a while in a valley which reminded me of the shepherds' field in Bethlehem. But trail signs became more scarce. We saw one which wasn't drawn bent as we were told left or right leading signs would be. It was a straight sign which was leaning to the right. We decided that it was jostled and went straight. We still really don't know how but we ended up in an area with building and other trash etc. Then we came to a real road with lots of traffic. Nothing to continue on the other side. This was not as it was supposed to be. 

We guessed and went to the left. A driver of a big truck with the window down shouted to us in either Hebrew or Arabic with a very friendly face and pointed in the other direction. The only thing we did understand was Zippori. So we thanked him and turned around. 

But after a very short walk we came to a gas station. So we decided to ask there. Even showed our maps. No friendly response. 

A man came in who spoke English and did give us advice about were to go (in line with the truck driver) but he also added to be careful because there were so many Arabs here. Everybody else kept telling us not to worry. 

We looked at the maps again. Thought we knew what had happened. We walked on the busy street to the highway which we were supposed to cross, turned left and after a while found a trail sign on a bus stop booth. We missed going through a forest I am sure. 

On the other side of the highway we turned into a road to Zippori and there were trail signs too. We were now looking for the National Park which we were told  to look for. After a while the road had another going off to the right with a sign to the Park. But at that corner we also saw a trail sign hidden behind some weeds showing us to go up a steep embankment. And then we were on a lovely forest trail showing us a few more times that we were on the right way. 

The post had barbed wire on it so I better took my backpack off to squeeze by. Happy to report that there are no tears on our clothing.     

We arrived at the guard house for the Zippori National Park. The guard told us it was a mile to the visitor center (and a mile back to the trail). As much as we would have liked to see the Roman villa from Jesus' time and the mosaics, it was a really hot day and we still had a way to go so we decided to go on. The guard let us fill up our empty water bottles. 

Now I have to tell about Zippori. The Bible in its original writing does say that Jesus and his father were builders (not specifically carpenters). There are not many trees in Israel to do carpenter work with. But plenty of stones. And a builder can do stone work. 

We were told several times on our tour that most likely Jesus and his father went from Nazareth to Zippori to work on the new Roman constructions which were done there at that time. He might have used a donkey to go to work but he definitely didn't get lost by insufficient trail signs. 

This was the trail from that Park. We were sure it used to be a Roman road but most of the stones had been repurposed over those 2000 years. The stone next to James was smooth with some grooves in it. I was pretty sure it was an original one. Seen similar in spain. 

Turn right and then up the hill. Up up up. By now it was afternoon and uphill is always my problem. I am getting better with my breathing but had to stop every so often. It was so nice though. So peaceful. Hardly any noise except for birds.  





We came to the town of Mash'had. OMG more uphill. Suddenly there was an open shop. A hole in the wall type. Or "horn of plenty" and Helen and Sarah know what that means. 

There was a man sitting in one of the chairs motioning me to sit down which I did. James bought a couple of energy drinks and candy bars from him and after a while I felt good again. 

Amazing what that pause did. I could enjoy the walk again. 

A wedding must have happened here. A decorated car and house. Lots of ribbons from the roof and the wind made them sing. 

Right next to the "wedding house" the trail sign said left. But there was no road. We went left on a gravel way but it only went around another house being built. 

There was another "shepherds' field" though. The edge was full of trash. Surely that's not where we being sent. 

Oh yes it was. After a few meters we did finally see another sign. 

Finally at Cana 2:20 pm we arrived at the Guesthouse Cana. 

FitBit says: 28,334 steps 12.2 miles (19.6 km)

The book had said 9.9 km to Zippori and 5.6 km to Cana = 15.5 km or 9.6 miles

The Guesthouse people couldn't have been nicer. Friendly to the max. Christian Arabs and so proud of their Guesthouse. We settled into our room and had showers. NOT on-suite but we managed.           

Then we decided to see the Cana Wedding Church. We were so lucky because our Guesthouse was right around the corner. The guidebook had said it would be closed but when we walked past it was open. 

Great crowds of people where there. And a service had begun recently and a chain hung between the last pews so not to enter. But the last pews had kneelers so we stayed to the end. The service was in Slovenian for a Slovenian group but it was still meaningfull to us. The group then took photos which looked like a bishop or cardinal but we made our way forward. 

Here comes the soppy part. James and I faced each other in front of the altar and told each other that if we weren't already married, we would marry each other again. 

The service for the Slovakian group had wonderful singers and I hope to add a video later, and here it is:
VIDEO   (0:35)     

Afterwards we went around the church and entered the basement. Since we didn't have a guide we don't know too much about it. It must be the original synagogue though and they claim the have one of THE original seven wine jars there. I can't believe it is stone though with those thick walls. It looked more like a baptism font to me. But does it matter?   

The courtyard in front of the church was full with people from all over the earth.   

James took this photo of people in their native outfits.      

James went shopping for tomorrow and I went back to the Guesthouse to blog. 

On the way I found the shop with this picture over the entrance of the wine jars interesting. 

James came back with a snack to tie us over until dinner which is included since we hadn't had any lunch. 

At dinner there were only 4 of us. Mark the Jesus Trail boss and Lisa his new employee. They were on the trail too to check and paint all the markers. James and I wished they were a day ahead of us. May be we wouldn't have gotten lost twice. Sigh. 

The dinner was very nice and delicious. Our hosts tried hard to make us happy. 

Time to get organized for tomorrow. Oh yes, we also had done some washing earlier. It hangs outside on a line. We leave it there for the night and hope it's dry tomorrow morning. 

Night night.