Our flight to Israel arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport about 9:00 am. In less than an hour we were in our rental car and on our way to Jaffa (Joppa), a 30 minute drive from the airport.
Jaffa
At Jaffa, Jonah “found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” – Jonah 1:3.
At Jaffa, wood was brought in from Lebanon for use in constructing Solomon’s Temple. – “Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.” – 2 Chronicles 2:1 “And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.” – 2 Chronicles 2:16
Again, during the time of Ezra, wood was brought in from Lebanon for use in the temple reconstruction. – “They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.” – Ezra 3:7
At Jaffa Tabitha was raised from the dead. – Acts 9:36-42
Stairs from Jaffa’s port area up to the old city. 
Tourists taking selfies at the purported home of Simon the tanner at Jaffa.
At Jaffa (Joppa), Peter was praying on Simon’s rooftop when the men sent by Cornelius came for him. Acts chapter 10.
Caesarea
Leaving Jaffa around 11:30 am we passed through Tel Aviv on our way to Caesarea. When we stopped for lunch we heard the hissing sound of air leaking from one of the tires on the rental car. Fortunately there was a tire shop nearby and we weren’t delayed long.
Caesarea was one of King Herod’s massive building projects including the Temple Mount and Masada. Caesarea has been called “Rome away from Rome.” The Roman centurion Cornelius was stationed at Caesarea when he sent for Peter.
It was at Caesarea that the Apostle Paul was “kept in Herod’s judgement hall” (Acts 23:35 until Ananias the high priest and Tertullus (a Jewish Lawyer) arrived from Jerusalem. Following his trial at Caesarea, Paul was sent to Rome to appeal his charges before Caesar.
At Caesarea are the remains of a man made harbor, a large hippodrome where chariot races were held, an ancient theater, an aqueduct, and remains of the city walls.
We departed from Caesarea in mid afternoon headed for the Sea of Galilee. Normally the drive would take about an hour and a half but we lost some time while looking for a viewpoint of the Jezreel Valley from Mount Carmel. We arrived in Capernaum about 4:00 pm, just as it was closing and the last of the tour buses were leaving.
Capernaum
With the crowds of tourists gone, we sat in the quietness of the late afternoon, gazing out over the Sea of Galilee, savoring the moment, taking in the place where so much of Christ’s ministry took place.
A Greek Orthodox Monastery at Capernaum was about the only place still open so late in the day.
Donkeys near the Greek Orthodox Monastery at Capernaum.
Capernaum to Jerusalem
Leaving Capernaum, we traveled South along the Western shore of the Sea of Galilee, passing the city of Tiberius and continuing South through the Jordan River Valley.
A tank that I assume is from the Six Day War was abandoned along highway 90. The highway traverses the Jordan River Valley from the Sea of Galilee all the way South to the Red Sea at Eilat.
Beit Shean
As we made our way from Capernaum to Jerusalem we made a brief stop at Beit-Shean. It was late in the day and well past visiting hours. We stood outside the fence and gazed at the ruins during the last light of the day. The archeological site at Beit Shean merits at least 3-4 hours. It can be very hot during the Summer and early Fall.
Continuing South through the Jordan River Valley there is a junction just past Jericho. To the South is the Dead Sea and to the West is Jerusalem. We turned onto highway 1 toward Jerusalem and began the ascent from the Dead Sea region, 1300 feet below sea level, to Jerusalem, about 2500 feet above sea level. Somewhere along the way we surely passed the place where the Samaritan came to the aid of a man that was robbed, beaten, and left for dead (Luke 10:25-37).
By the time we arrived in Jerusalem about twelve hours had passed since arriving at the airport in Tel Aviv that morning. After locating our hotel and a place to park the rental car, we set out to find something to eat along the Ben Yehuda walking street, adjacent to Jerusalem’s Old City.
Day 2 – Israel
Jerusalem
Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount.
Keeping everyone safe. 
Jerusalem Old City Muslim quarter.
Photo courtesy of Orna Wachman, Pixabay 
Getting schooled on how to blow a shofar.
On the morning of our second day we stopped for coffee along the Ben Yehuda walk street before entering the old city at the Jaffa Gate.
Inside Jerusalem’s Old City we took in the sites at the Western Wall and Temple Mount before passing through the Muslim quarter and exiting through the Damascus Gate.
The Garden Tomb is a short walk from the Damascus Gate.
By the time we finished up at the Garden Tomb we had been walking for the better part of five hours and welcomed a break. We ate lunch at the Ramon Cafe near Zion Square before walking back to our hotel.
The Dead Sea
After a short nap we discussed our options for the remainder of the day and decided to drive down to the Dead Sea, about a 40 minute drive East of Jerusalem.
Kalia Beach at the North shore of the Dead Sea is a popular soak. The mud is therapeutic and the water is almost ten times saltier than ocean water.
It’s impossible to sink but don’t get the water in your eyes as it is very unpleasant and the only way to get relief is by flushing with fresh water.
After a relaxing soak we hydrated with some fresh pomegranate juice and continued South along the Western shoreline of the Dead Sea.
We passed Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered and continued driving down the coastline as far as En Gedi.
Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered.
At En Gedi David “dwelt in the strongholds” as he fled Saul. 1 Samuel 23:29
Solomon likened his lover to “a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.” – Song of Solomon 1:14
We enjoyed a dinner buffet at the Kibbutz in En Gedi before driving back to Jerusalem.
The following morning we drove to the airport, turned in the rental car and returned to Sofia on a direct flight with WizzAir.