The Gates of Hell

Today the weather redeemed itself.  With two hikes in the itinerary, it was nice to wake up to the sun pouring down on our backs. 

The hikes were beautiful .  Our first hike was at Tel Dan.  This is quite a site with three significant eras of history to show for it.  I don’t have my notes to help me explain so that will have to be later.

Our next hike was long and had the muckkiest mud I’ve been through in sometime.  I don’t think any of us were able to see the hike for having to watch our feet.  But when we did look up there was a great waterfall to see.  This site is famous for Peter’s confession.  It is also famous for housing the “Gates of Hell”, a large pit that they thought was Hell because they couldn’t see its base.  This site is called Ceasarea Phillippi as a Biblical name, (named for Ceasar and for Herod’s son, Herod Phillip).    The falls here are called Banias falls.  It used to be called Paneas because the god, Pan was celebrated at this site too.  The Arabs that moved here did not have a “p” in their alphabet so the closest they came to saying it was “baneas”.  Eventually it came to be known as Banias. 

After our hike we were starving and drove to a Druze village where we ate.  The Druez are to Islam what Mormons are to Christianity.  Or at least that’s how our guide put it.  They are superstitious, but very nice.  The food was good too.  We had Druze sandwiches (yogurt and spices on pita) and schnitzel. 

The drive to get lunch and the drive away was beautiful.  We had a great view of Mt. Hermon, which is covered in snow right now.

I can't believe this is the picture I uploaded.  IT was an accident and it took like FOREVER minutes to upload, so I'm stuck with it for now.  Better pictures available for future viewing.

All of today took place in what was once Syria.  For the record, “Once Syria” is beautiful country.  We stopped on the way back and looked over to Kuneitra and the U.N. Peacekeeping Mission.  No-Man’s land sits between Kuneitra and where we stopped to look.  Kuneitra is in present day Syria. 

Today’s sites really did remind me of Ireland in how hilly and green they were, but they also reminded me of mountain trails in the Eastern US.  It was strange to look around and feel so familiar with my surroundings. 

I am glad that I will be going home soon.  Everyday, I miss home for different reasons.  And everyday, I wish folks from home were with me for things I know they would enjoy.  Being here has been wonderful.  The landscape is amazing and the people are kind.  I certainly understand more why so many people claim this for home.  But that being said, it’s not my home.

Love to you all!