Time to say good-bye to Tabgha and the Pilgerhouse.
But first breakfast. We meet the Catholic priest again. We finally introduced each other. Helmut Daniels tells us more about the Pilgerhaus building. He knows a lot about it since he is on what we would call the board of directors (I think).
The original building from the 1890's was built with the black basalt stone. He showed us some beautiful original tile floors in little side rooms. He also told us that the original dishes had been made by Villeroy & Boch. At reconstruction of the buildings broken dishes were found. Villeroy & Boch was amazed and happy to recreate the pattern for the hotel. Fishes all around the rim. You can see it in the previous blog. What you can find out when you chat with people. I enjoyed it.
But unfortunately we had to cut it short. Josef had punctually arrived at 9 am. It had originally been arranged for him to bring us to a bus station in Tiberius. In the evening, Yom Kippur is starting, the holiest day, and everything shuts down. Yesterday we had asked Josef whether he would bring us to Tel Aviv instead and we would pay the difference. First he made a face because he said that if he is too late back sometimes people are throwing stones at cars which still are driving. No driving allowed when the sun goes down. But we said we don't mind going early and he was ok with it right away. (When we had told Helmut Daniels the day before that we had arranged a taxi drive to Tel Aviv, he mentioned the stone-throwing right away too. He knows a lot)
The drive took about 2 hours but Josef was very entertaining. Everybody calls him by his nickname Chiki and he told us how he got it too. Funny. He is a strong soccer fan. His wife is from England and when they visit his in-laws his dreams come true. His favorite soccer team: West Ham! James' nephew Jimmo will like that. There is at least one West Ham fan in Israel.
The best was that talking with Josef gave us another glimps into how "ordinary" people feel here. He lives in a kibbutz and loves it. Most people everywhere just want to have a chance at being happy with their families, children, grandchildren. We laughed a lot. We highly recommend him and if you need a taxi driver in that area:
Time went fast with all the talk. Since we had been in this hotel already twice we knew the area around a little and let him drop us off a little more convenient for him. Construction of the roundabout in front makes it difficult to get to the door by car.
We checked into our hotel. The young man at the reception recognized James and brought us right away the suitcases we had left in storage. But first he told us that we needed to go and get some provisions. EVERYTHING will be closed starting at sundown to sundown tomorrow.
First thing was to go to the ATM because may be that will close too? James of course had been there previously so that was done quickly. Then we went in search of food. James had been in the mall before a shabbat. So this is similar. Food stalls cooking for take-out all around the mall. Fascinating.
We got sandwiches here. They were hot but we decided we could eat them cold tomorrow for lunch and put them into the fridge in our room.
Our room is on the same floor as last time. This time we can see "the girl on the tekephone".
We went out to find a street cafe somewhere for lunch today closeby but didn't. Instead we finally found a supermarket and bought some other things. Going back to the hotel we changed our plans. Hot sandwiches for lunch today on our rooftop and picnic for lunch tomorrow. (We will get breakfast in the hotel tomorrow morning though because it's included in the room price. No maid service though which is fine with us)
It was nice.
Because Yom Kippur is starting soon Happy Hour was from 4 to 5:30 pm.
We did go for some nibbles at the sister-hotel across the street again. It was not quite so nice this time because there was no shade and we were not really hungry.
An hour later at 5:15 pm we decided to walk to the beach. When we passed an ATM it was confirmed: we could not have got any money.
Cars on the roads are already much less and most shops are closed too.
We walk on the breakwater. It is so nice and lots to see. Some are fishing on the harbor side. I could watch the waves forever. Waiting whether a big one is coming. Peaceful.
In the cracks of the stones salt.
The way back to the hotel is a new experience too. Really, no cars. People walk in the middle of the road. Major roads! Young parents with strollers. Little kids on tricycles. It was great.
Contemplation about the Jesus Trail experience:
We didn't know what to expect. I thought though that we would go more from A to B "straightline". Jesus would have gone from A to B with a purpose not sightseeing. We went every day in a more roundabout way which was scenic. But then, Jesus' ways have probably evolved into the modern highways now and going a longer way ended up for me more time to contemplate. I don't know whether I had to do "my suffering" going over the Horns of Hattin and especially Mount Arbel (seriously doubt Jesus would have done that). He walked without most comfortable hiking boots, state of the art hiking poles and sunscreen. How about enough water? The greatest feeling though was to be in all the places Jesus really most likely had been. As one of my friends said: feeling Scripture come alive.
I am sure it will take a while for me to "digest" all of these experiences. We are very happy that we have done it! We are so very thankful that we were able to have this opportunity to learn and grow. And we are most thankful that the Lord watched out over us.
Just amazing to think where you have been and what you have done. How completely mind expanding this trip must have been.
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