Israel Trip

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Visit with Aunt Ora and Family

Today we set out northwards again to Kiryat Yam for a visit with my Aunt Ora (my father's sister) and my cousins Gabi and Eti and their families (Gabi has two children and Eti has one with another on the way in November). As usual, we were treated to a lavish lunch, and it was good to be able to catch up with all the news of the family.

Haifa and Asia & Gideon

Then we were back on the road towards Haifa for a visit with our good friends Asia and Gideon Levita, who were our amazing hosts for this leg of the journey. The Levita's are also longtime friends who are like family. The opened their newly remodeled home to us and made us welcome - John and I were assigned the 'honeymoon suite', a separate cottage with complete amenities on the property.

Daliyat al Carmel

We immediately set out on a whirlwind tour of Haifa and it's environs, starting with the nearby Druze village of Daliyat al Carmel for a little shopping in native handicrafts. Here we were privileged to witness masters at work as Gideon and Asia expertly bargained the price of our purchases down to reasonable sums.

Baha'i Gardens

We then drove down Mt Carmel with stops to view the famous Baha'i Gardens and the Shrine of Ba'b from above and below. Here are the words of Yona Yahav, the Mayor of Haifa, as he describes the 'eighth wonder of the world': "Magnificently designed, nineteen terraces gently glide towards the quarter of the German Colony. Spread down the northwestern slopes of Mount Carmel the Baha'i Gardens, colorfully planted in meditating beauty, carefully follow the hilly topography. Elaborate water fountains, sculptured ornaments, a wide variety of plants and other decorative elements are set in perfect harmony. Capturing the gaze and marking one's view from the ridge to the seaport is one of nature's major gifts to the City of Haifa - mountain meeting the sea along the golden sandy beaches. The unforgettably stunning panorama is laid out for the appreciation of all beauty lovers!"

We had dinner at a lovely restaurant in the German Colony at the base of the Baha'i Gardens, with a view of the gardens at night uphill and of the Bay of Haifa just a few blocks downhill. This area was originally constructed by the Templar Society in 1869, and has recently been renovated into a series of restaurants and boutiques while maintaining the original architecture of the structures.

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Copyright © 2005 by Oreet Herbst and John Knott