After the full on day yesterday, we decided to take it a little easier today. Avi collected us from MH, and it was a bit sad to leave the tranquillity of the place (and also the greenery), but off we went just ½ hour behind schedule at 9.30am (yes, Andrew that was you!).
We first drove to Rosh Hanikra, and went down into the grottos by cable car. It is a fascinating place to visit, again, because of the history and its connection to WWII. It is not only a most beautiful natural place, with white chalk cliffs, and caves, but it was also the site of a tunnel that ran between Lebanon and Israel. The tunnel was built by the ANZACS, and Sth African soldiers, as a means to support the allied effort to bring in supplies for the British in Palestine. It only managed to transport 300 survivors of the death camps before the tunnel was partially destroyed in order to stop the access.
Next on the agenda was the ancient city of Akko or Acre (depending who named the city). This picturesque city in ancient times controlled the coastal region of this area. The city has incredible significance for the Muslims (it houses the 3rd most important mosque in the world), and we toured the ancient medieval centre of the town, with its’ multitude of secret tunnels, that were built as a form of protection against the violent Crusaders. The ancient network of tunnels were only discovered last century when one of the inhabitants of Akko had a blocked cistern, and as a result they found that the water was dropping into a cavity (the tunnels). As we were walking around, the midday call to prayers began being sung over loudspeakers throughout the entire city. A very surreal experience.
We splurged for lunch, and ate a fish restaurant with table service, and looked out the window to the Mediterranean. The boys ordered an incredible entree of mixed seafood with Israeli pasta (which is really small balls of pasta) in a soy-based sauced.
We then had only one more stop to go on our way back to Tel Aviv – and that was the city of Haifa and a breathtaking view of the bay from very high up Mount Carmel. The city of Haifa is built on a steep hillside, but is much larger in population than we have seen for the last couple of days. We stood above the Bahai Gardens for the most spectacular view of the entire coastline that we had driven down that day.
We arrived in Tel Aviv around 5.30pm and said goodbye to Avi for now.
Dinner was free-wheeling it, we had no idea where we were going. Hence, we walked back and forth in front of the hotel a few times (well, about 30 minutes of indecision). We then headed in the direction of Jaffa, and actually came to where were we wanted to go. Along the beachfront to one of the multitude of restaurants. Henry met up with Elliot J, and went off in the distance after dinner. Becca also met up with Carly F, and went off in the distance, so Andrew, Zac and I returned to the hotel.
It was a special night in Israel last night, called White Night, where shops and restaurants are open until dawn (about 5am). There were people dancing in the streets, beach volley ballers playing on the beach and concerts going on all over the city. Just an incredibly vibrant feel to the place – a celebration of life!!
Tomorrow is a free day, and I am sure it will be a very late breakfast for all of us, as we are feeling a little tired. It is also Henry’s Birthday tomorrow, and I am feeling very guilty as he is very low on the present front this year. It will be presents in lieu!!
C
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