Caesarea by the Sea-May 14, 2008

For today some more gorgeous views of the Mediterranean Sea. Unfortunately it is a hazy day.

The view south - that's a power plant way down there.

And the view to the north.

The building at the right in the distance is the resort we will see a little later.

Herod the Great built Caesarea as a luxurious coastal retreat. This photo shows the seaside rocks where he had a fresh water swimming pool built. I like to think of it as an early-day hot tub (with cold water) with an ocean view.

And, you ask, "Where did Herod the Great get enough fresh water to keep a swimming pool filled?" By bringing fresh water from the hills via this aqueduct.

A remarkable engineering job!

At the left and below are photos of a huge theatre built of cut stone that has been restored in the last few decades. The day we were there a crew was at work bringing in chairs for the floor seating and assembling the rigging for lights and sound.

This was in preparation for a modern concert to be held later that week.

I wonder what kind of music one listens to in a wonderul, historic place like this?

Below is the hippodrome, a horse race track along the beach. You can see the beach to the left and the seating to the right. It is huge.

More of the hippodrome. Can you find Ben Hur?

Below may be where the horses and feed were kept.

A modern restaurant and hotel built on this picturesque point.

Below is one of my favorite photos in this place. If you stick with me you will see lots and lots of these. Many-rocks-in-holes-in-the-ground. The leader of our trip, Mark Ziese, is an archaeologist, remember? You will meet him later.

Can you see the top of the arch in the right center of the photo? That is part of the old city under the city.

The next two photos may begin to really explain what our trip was like. Let's look at it like this. Here in the U.S., especially in the West, we have of a sense of when our country began as a civilized people-a few hundred years ago.

In Israel something was always there. Some people, or nation, or civilization was always there before. So now let's just build our new house, (or church, or theatre, or entire city) on top of what has always been there. Click on this photo to open if you can't read it.

And, look, there are lots of kinds of rock and stone laying around. Let's recycle them and put them in our new structure. It is much easier than cutting new stone or carrying rocks from somewhere else. And now we don't have to dispose of the old stuff. It will just be there in the wall and surely no one will ever notice. It brings new meaning to a favorite phrase we use while remodeling, "What did they do THAT for?"

Next stop is Mt. Carmel where Elijah battled with the priests of Baal.