Day 2 - Haifa to Nof Ginosar (and the start of Shabbat)

Each day, a different trip participant or family will blog about our experiences in Israel. Day Two's post is written by Ron Cole, together with his wife, Heather, and daughters, Sarah and Ellie:

After getting to Haifa from the airport we had a minute to stop and realize where we were. Looking out over Haifa from the top of the mountain and seeing the Mediterranean Sea made for a beautiful scene through our eyes and our hearts. It was a rough night trying to sleep. Sarah and Ellie were still on Wallingford time and Heather and I struggled to just rest. The girls were up at 3am local ready to go.. with breakfast at 7. We did squeak in an hour or two and started our first full day with a bus ride to Safed (you pick the spelling you like).

All along the way our tour guide Muki (Moo-Key) explained the villages and the farming areas. One of us asked where the farmers were, as the fields did look unattended. Many of the farmers are not working the land right now, because this is a sabbatical year, ending in just a few more weeks. The olive trees dominate the landscape with fields of mango, bananas and pomegranate sprinkled throughout. Different orchards on different sides of the mountains due to the different temperatures during the day and night. 

The vineyards were on the other side of the mountain as we came down from Haifa due to hot days and cooler nights on that side. We now had to drive 3/4 of the way across the width of the country.  An hour later we were in Zefat (maybe you like this one). 

T'svat (how's this one?) is a relatively poor community as it has a disproportionate amount of Ultra Orthodox citizens with large families. With the father not working, it strains the local economy. It's a city littered with artwork in public spaces and has a great artist community. 

The skills of our bus driver were tested with the very narrow streets and tight turns. It was probably fun for him as he took the turns faster than I would've on a bike!

We started with a walk down "Main Street" which was lined with big bright art galleries and little shops, with a few small Synagogues mixed in. There are many small synagogues with 15-25 members each. All with their own prayer schedules. Muki told us his shul back home has 15 members, "Just a minyan and a half."

We toured the history museum where the curator told us much of the history of T'zfat (yep you got it) and had the relics of normal living at various times. I think I would've been a bucket retriever if I lived here long ago. If you dropped your bucket into the well, just call Ron!

Next the art of Cheese. (Please have a tasting!)

The Meiri family has been making cheese in Tsfat (nope, not done) for 8 generations. Their house sits on top of a natural spring, which they use to cool the milk after pasteurization.  They are a small artisan cheese making family, but very well known and respected. We saw the spring and the production area. Back upstairs.... YES, SAMPLES!  To say delicious would be cruel. It was Achla Sababah!

After lunch we visited glass blowing artist Sheva Chaya. Born in Denver, she told us of her journey through art and how she came to live in T'svat (lol), all while glass blowing a small salt bowl before our very eyes. (I bought it) 

We left having learned and shopped and headed for the long ride to the Sea of Galilee. 30 minutes later we see it and it's breathtakingly surreal. The haze of the day made it that more magical. 

After checking in and visiting the pool, we dressed for Shabbat services. We lit our candles in the lobby with others and we all gathered on the pier overlooking Yam Kinneret. As we prayed and shared, love was obvious and gratitude was the thread through us all. It was very emotional. 

It is Shabbat now, and the Sea is a few tears deeper...