May 27-28 - Haifa and Akko

May 27 – Haifa

Today we had a private tour organised. We were going to visit Rosh Hanrika and Akko,the ancient crusader city below the current old city.

Rosh Hanrika is right up at the border of Lebanon which is a closed border with a UN contingent separating the two countries. However, here there is also a historic WWII site as well as a nature reserve where you can walk through a series of tunnels which are water caves. Very beautiful.

We had an unscheduled stop at the Baha'i most holy place just outside Akko. The gardens are really beautiful.

Akko (or Acre, when Anglicised) has a wonderful colourful history dating back to before the Crusades. However, it was the arrival of the Crusaders which established much of the excavated city below the current town.

After a walking tour through the city below and much of what is above,we had a welcome break from the extreme heatand enjoyed some local hummus in a cafe in the bazaar.

We headed back to the ship earlier than expected as we were all exhausted from our wandering around in 40 deg heat!

Haifa is the centre of the Baha'i faith in the world and this temple and gardens can be seen on the hill behind the city

A familiar sight in and around Israeli waters - manned gun boats

Looking south down the coast from where we have come

This is the gun boat you can just make out off the coast in the above photo

So here we are at the border with Lebanon

We are literally yards from the border with Lebanon which is heavily fortified

These little rock hyrax were sunning themselves on the rocky cliff

Entering the tunnel which was built during WWII. The railway lines are still visible in places

An interesting history

Down in the sea caves

There's that gun boat again - facing its guns north towards the Lebanese border

Inside the sea caves

There is a cable car which can bring you down to the sea caves from the top of the cliff

The white buoys are border markers stretching out into the Mediterranean Sea

Centre right you can just see the remains of the original bridge across this gulch which was blown up to stop advancing enemy after the war

Entrance to the tunnel

A very well preserved Roman aqua duct which carried water to the city of Akko

This is the most holy place for those of the Baha'i faith

The peaceful entry to the gardens

The ancient city of Akko

The walls are often used for projection of historical events

Lots of these panels explaining the life of people here during the time of the Crusaders

An ancient washing station outside the mosque, this is predominantly a muslim city today

A traditional dish for lunch - chick peas, huumus and oil served with flat bread

Our guide took us to a shop which sold beautiful baklava and you could buy a portion of halva with various nuts

These tunnels have only recently been opened to the public. There is still much more to be excavated of the old city

Out again into the heat at the harbour

This area was once part of the old city, but it's now under water

It was so hot, my sunshade was certainly put to the test

We passed this synagogue on our return to Haifa. One man built these mosaic panels over a period of years

May 28 – at sea

Today was another day at sea, but we were able to enjoy a tour of the Bridge. Something we have been looking forward to.

Captain Gustavo