1st post from Israel

I'm sitting in the bar (drinking red wine, of course) in a guest house located on the Sea of Galilee. We can walk down to the water from the hotel. I plan to do that before we leave--we're here for three days. I can't tell you how incredible it is to actually be in the Holy Land and experience everything you've grown up with hearing in Sunday School and reading in the Bible. I've always loved all of my trips to Europe where everything is hundreds of years old, but it can't compare to this where everything is thousands of years old! Yesterday, we toured the city of Caesarea built by King Herrod with its hippodromek, theatre, palace, etc. Today we visited the crusader section of the city of Akko. Tomorrow we'll be in Nazareth. The food has been fabulous, and our group is really wonderful. It's really nice to be in a group of only 16 as opposed to groups of 50 that I've been involved in with my student tours to Europe. More later when I get the chance. Shalom!