Last Day in Israel - Haifa Akko.....

Today is our last day in Israel!  Gosh how quickly these 10 days have passed! Yes! Especially when you are having FUN!  We decided to go to the northern part of Israel, a drive along the coast and see Haifa and then travel a little further to a town called Akko (also called Acre) We were encouraged to go & see this town by our host of our B&B.

So with the rented car...Wow it was just wonderful to have a car to get around in!  We were spoiled with our drive from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv!  Finding our B&B.without buses or trams...well you can understand - we felt spoiled to have a car again! 

Renting Rooms through "Air B&B" ( A very handy way to find a room to rent in a private home!)

So....Let's enjoy our final day here in Israel with a automobile!A real car Nico...to drive again.... after the whole year! 

We headed north - and driving was so pleasant in Israel...highway is very nice...& signs are well noted!

 When we arrived in Akko we drove into the Old City which had a moat all around it!  Love to see that...so massive those walls with blocks of  rock stacked and chiseled and built up - I always  think  of all those hard working people who did this labor in the past...such hard hard work and all this is done with the most simple of tools!

The little Fiat...drove really nicely!  Simple & practical!

Akko-Acre Read up on this area and the History connected to it!

We walked the streets & it was interesting to see this harbor town/fort. 

We followed the signs through many corridors to the Templar Tunnel~

We turned a corner and came upon this cute entry into an inside market place...lots of things for sale for the tourists! 

This archway was all made up of rounded ocean/river rock~

 Friday afternoon things begin to slow down & get quiet in Israel.  Families prepare at sundown to remember their day of Rest....which is Saturday here in Israel. 

Shabbat The Jewish Day of Rest

In Jerusalem we experienced the tram & bus system stopping around 3 pm...so it was either taxi or walking..which in our case last week Friday...we walked!  Yes most likely 5-7 km! 

But it was surprisingly quiet ~

Right across from the Tunnel entry  was this bathroom...."2theloo"  & there was even a small gift shop on the way into the "Loo"!  

Funny!

Read up on the Templar Tunnel ~ Click here!

Nick & I had to bend way down in sections to walk down this corridor!
Do you see the padding above his head...well for some tall people that aren't looking....OUCH! Quite considerate to have that pad up there!  I am sure they had some people "crash"and walk out of the tunnel with a big "ouwie!"

This tunnel was long - and very nicely renovated.  When I see all these old things - I just imagine what hard work it was for the men in those days...torches and dust and no protection...if anything went wrong!

 Here is where the merchants would unload their  goods in the storerooms below, and they would sleep on the second floor above.

 Being a port City ...can you just picture that scene?  I can...! 

 Lots of people from different ethnics...coming together to sell their wares!








This was a scene on a wall...gives you an impression how it might of been so long ago!

 We were out of the tunnel and back in the outdoors...and the wind was blowing and the waves was crashing the walls below!

 We were tempted to sit right here and have a bit to eat...but we resisted...we wanted to see more!

But what a scene huh????  The ocean was aqua blue!

 Hey is that a Dutch flag hanging from that balcony???  Red white & blue...could they be Dutch soccer fans by any chance!   

Most likely!

Such pretty scenes...my camera kept clicking!!!

We both enjoy walking along the harbor looking at boats...and there comes in a sailboat...we both thought of you Nicky..up there in the San Juan islands...enjoying time with the family on your boat!

Nice! 

 Here's an electric bike...which we see people ride around on - more here in Israel then elsewhere.  It was a cutie - and they run really fast! 

  This was standing on the ground - some kind of smoke apparatus - yet it had water on the bottom of it...not quite sure how it works!

 

 This little girl's Daddy was having so much fun...he had a remote in his hand and was steering this little girl around in her "NEW BEAMER!" It made me think of my little Skyler...wouldn't she just love this...and Papa too I think...huh Jas???

all at once a worried look..... "Daddy aren't you going a little too fast ...I'm holding on for dear LIFE!"

 Cute huh?

We left Akko and decided to try to make contact with our friend Toni's sister Lynne who lives here in Israel!  Lynne has lived here since 1979 quite a long time already!  She came to work in a Kibbutz and then met her husband!  
Read Up on the Story of working on a Kibbutz 

We had emailed her that morning and "Yes!" she responded!  Oh good now find the town she lives in!  Close to Hadera and very close to Caesarea!  Well we passed both those places on the way to Haifa...so we should be able to find it!  We connected with Lynne and received directions - and it was so fun to meet my sweet Toni's sister!  And yes she looks and mimics and talks like my Toni!  Definitely family! 
Nick & I met Asaf her husband and also her son & grandson who were visiting!  Toni had recently been here for 3 months herself and Lynne was excited to share with us! 

We decided to go check out Caesarea after all - Toni had said how cute the town was "and that we really need to go see it!"  So we did...and she was right...it was very cute indeed!

There was sad dunes along the way to Caesarea ~what fun!




Caesarea  (Link to read up on it)

We parked the car and walked towards where the crowd was going...and came upon this darling place!

Oh the Boulevard was so cute...with lots of eateries, a park overlooking the old ruin, and a beach!

In the distance there was a tent, and crowds were dancing out on the beach!

Here are the old ruins of fort also built on the water!  I had recently heard about TV National Geographic about how King Harod had built this fort

Caesarea Herod's Harbor  (Link t read up on more history!)

Nick & I went in for a light dinner...and again...the salad we ordered was absolutely delicious!  So fresh with a delicious dressing with grilled mushrooms...fresh bread & hummus!  Oh Ellen be careful with that bread...it is deliciously DANGEROUS!  They make delicious salads here in Israel! 

 Walking back to the car Nick noticed this King Size olive tree!

And it was full of olives! 

Oh I have not seen such a LARGE olive tree before!

It was 6 pm - and a nice cool breeze was coming & yet it was time to head back but we sure enjoyed the stop before heading back!  Taking in the view, and thinking "Toni I am so glad you mentioned Caesarea...I agree it is really nice!" 

We headed back on the highway and we were back in Tel Aviv within the hour.  Getting back to our rooom & we had a chance to chat a little more with Paulus (the other guest ~ ) Our host & hostess were visiting their family this evening for Shabbat!

We got most of our luggage packed because it would be an early rise in the morning!!!  Wow what a really nice last day in Israel!

Thank you Lord!