Oct 1 – Beit Alpha and Scytopolis

Our first stop was at a kibbutz where we visited the site of Beit Alpha, a 6^th century synagogue.  The only remains were of an almost pristine mosaic floor.  The floor featured a zodiac mosaic and the story of the sacrifice of Isaac. 

Drawing of the Mosaic

We then stopped at Beit She’an (known as Scythopolis during the Hellenic period).  It is now the largest, open-air archaeological site in Israel.  Most of what the ruins that are visible are from the Roman era...they just built right over the Greek site.  

We visited the baths

and the theater.

This site has more upright columns than any other place we have visited. 

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More Scytopolis
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We passed along the Jordan border again.

This area south of the Sea of Galilee seems much more arid and less developed than the areas further north...

although there was still the occasional date farm.

We stopped at the Jordan Valley Monument.  This monument to peace that was erected after the 1967 Six Day War.  It is made of scrapes of military arms that were put together to look like an anti-aircraft cannon. It wasn’t open so we could only see it from the road.

From there it was on to Jerusalem.  We stopped at an overlook so we could see some of the city.  The city is surprisingly hilly.  Don’t know what we expected but it wasn’t hills. 

We did have a decent view of the Dome of the Rock, an Islamic Mosque.

Then it was on to our hotel.  It is nicely located in a nice walking district with lots of squares and restaurant and shops.  Only downside is that it is very difficult to get the hotel with a car.  Manny had quite a time getting us there so that we could unload our luggage. 

This was the view out of our hotel window at night.