The day began with my alarm going off at 4:45 a.m. Intentionally. My goal was to beat the sunrise and get down to the shore of the Sea of Galilee before the sun came up. Got there at 5:20 am. and no sun yet so mission accomplished. Spent the time taking pictures, enjoying the view and gathering shells. Daylight came but the sun never did quite make an appearance - at least not by 6:15 a.m. when it was time to head back up for breakfast and get ready for the bus.
We stopped at the baptismal site where the Jordan River emerges from the Sea of Galilee at the southern end. This is not the site where John baptized Jesus - that's closer to Jericho and is actually at a spot where the Jordan River is in the country Jordan. It was a great way to begin the day and Julie led the group in a service of renewal of baptism.
We visited the ruins of the Roman city of Beit Shean. I climbed the Tel there and had a great view of the surrounding countryside.
Next stop was the Kibbutz Nof Ginnosaur where we viewed the Jesus boat, an ancient boat from the time of Christ that was discovered buried in the mud by two members of the Kibbutz.
We stopped at the Chapel of the Primacy of Peter next. This Chapel commemorates the location where Jesus made a post-resurrection appearance to his disciples, sharing breakfast with them after they had been out fishing for the night. It is at this breakfast that Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him, Peter responding each time that he does and each time undoubtedly remembering the three times he deniied Jesus in the courtyard outside of Jesus' trial. There is a breathtaking statue at this Chapel of Jesus and Peter.
The last stop of the day was a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. The weather has been beyond beautiful so far and this was surely true during our boat ride.
Had a nice run in the late afternoon and then Julie and I went walking with another couple from our bus. Then dinner and off to pack bags - leaving Tiberias in the morning
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