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See Israel THE NORTHERN COAST If you are looking for a great blend of beauty and history and a place that is a little off the beaten track, you should consider visiting the northern coast. Between Tel Aviv and Haifa you can combine breathtaking panoramas with both ancient and modern Israeli history. You can start with a visit to Caesarea, the port city dating back to the time of Herod who rebuilt and renamed a smaller port city that had already existed there. Walking on the boardwalk you can enjoy the blue of the water and the sky, set against the sand and the impressive Carmel mountains, as well as the shops and recently opened audio visual presentation. For a stark contrast to the natural beauty of the port, in the excavations you can see the huge amphitheater and hippodrome where it is likely that Rabbi Akiva was tortured to death. Caesarea was the seat of the Roman headquarters during the Bar Kochba revolt. Don’t forget to stop at the impressive remains of the Roman aqueduct – the best preserved one in the country! It’s really a testimony to the tremendous efforts that people expended to make Israel work which is a function and a reflection of their enormous love for the country. If you’re adventurous and the weather permits, you can go for a ride in the glass bottom speed boats at the adjacent Sedot Yam, or you can arrange to go snorkeling for tchlet at Dor. That takes about three hours and requires advance reservations. After spending the morning along the coast, it’s a very short drive to Zichron Yakov. Nestled in the Carmel mountains, the city provides a unique blend of artists, quaint cobblestone streets, and some amazing episodes in modern Israeli history. Zichron Yakov is the home of many of the early pioneer settlers and was founded by baron Rothschild in 1882. Among the most famous is the Aaronsohn family who founded the Nili organization which tried to provide secret information to the British to help overthrow the Turkish rule here during World War I. Make sure to visit the home of Sarah Aaronsohn and to hear her dramatic, heroic, and tragic story. Afterwards you an enjoy the beauty and serenity of the Rothschild gardens where the baron is buried. No trip to Zichron would be complete without a stop at the Carmel winery where you can not only see how the wine is produced, but also to get to taste the fruit of their labors. This trip can be done either as a day trip from Jerusalem or as an interesting route up to the Galil. Enjoy!! Shraga Solomon - certified tour guide To contact us at this website, send an email to here4theyear@gmail.com |
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