Happy Wanderers: November 4, 2022 - Friday

In keeping with our concern for Alice’s injured foot, we chose Leisurely Galilee as our excursion for today.

Our first stop on this 9-hour tour was the River Jordan. On our way we drove through Cana, the town where Jesus performed his first miracle, transforming water into wine for the wedding feast. The visitor center at the River Jordan provides toilets and changing rooms. People changed into white robes and walked to ramps that allowed them to descend into the river’s waters without getting into the muddy river bottom. There were ministers with these groups who directed their baptisms. It was very moving.

At another ramp, people were able to remove their shoes and roll up their slacks before walking into the water. standing there they felt the fish nibbling at their feet. One woman said it was like the Thai fish foot massage she had experienced. We did not partake.

The inevitable gift shop stood between the river and the coaches. We transited with our hands in our pockets.

Now we drove along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This sea though not very wide is pretty long. We could see the other side in most places, but we could not see the other end. There were some small boats on the water. We were told the wind could pick up in the afternoon and make the water very rough, so boating was limited to early in the day. We thought of the story of the apostles in their fishing boat when a storm came up.

Our first stop was at the Church of the Multiplication commemorating the miracle of the loaves and fishes. This church was built in 1981 and features a 5th-century Byzantine mosaic floor depicting the miracle.

Then we drove to the top of the Mount of Beatitudes. Here a domed Catholic Church memorializes the Sermon on the Mount. Beautiful gardens surround the church and the associated monastery. From the garden terraces we had sweeping views of the Sea of Galilee. We both managed the ups and downs of the paths and steps nicely.