Photos From Israel

In May, 2008 I took a 10-day trip to Israel and Jordan. I started in the Jaffa (ancient Joppa) area south of Tel Aviv, then went north along to coast to visit Caesarea, Akko, and Haifa. After that it was back down south to Jerusalem, then out through the West Bank to the Dead Sea and the Masada fortress, and finally all the way south to Eilat where I crossed into Jordan.

(Click on a picture to enlarge)
In the back streets of old Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv	Tel Aviv from old Jaffa	HaPisgah Gardens, old Jaffa	The rooftop lounge at the Old Jaffa Hostel	Ottoman Turkish clock tower, Jaffa
Old Jaffa, ancient Joppa (think Perseus, Pegasus, Andromeda)	St Peter's Monastery, old Jaffa	Old Jaffa	Old Jaffa is now an artisans' quarter. They made this floating tree.	Roman-era ruins at Caesarea
One of the great ancient ports, built by king Herod	Mosque, Caesarea	Boats in Caesarea's ancient harbour	Caesarea's ancient harbour	View of houses, shops, and the bathhouse, Caesarea
Caesarea	Ancient mosaiac floor, Caesarea	King Herod's hippodrome (circus), Caesarea	Israeli flag, Caesarea	Herod's hippodrome, Caesarea
The Mediterranean and the hippodrome, Caesarea	Roman theatre, Caesarea	Roman theatre, Caesarea	Hotel room at Walied's Akko Gate Hostel	Ancient Akko's crusader citadel
Subterranean rooms under Akko's citadel	Subterranean rooms under Akko's citadel	A courtyard of Akko's crusader citadel	Akko citadel	Stores in Akko
Outside the Al-Jazzar mosque, Akko	A courtyard of Akko's crusader citadel	Akko prison, with the Al-Jazzar mosque in the background	Akko prison, with the Al-Jazzar mosque in the background. The prison was built by the Ottoman Turks.	Up to the VIP cells at Akko Prison
Not quite sure about the significance of this. May have something to do with the Baha'i	Cell window view, Akko prison	Cell of Ze'ev Jabotinski, leader of the Jewish Underground in the 20s	Death row cells, Akko prison	Gallows, Akko prison. The wreaths are for 13 Jewish resistance fighters executed here by the British
VIP cells, Akko prison	Exercise yard, Akko prison	Al-Jazzar mosque, as seen from Akko prison	Akko prison	Al-Jazzar mosque, as seen from Akko prison
Streets of Akko	Inside the courtyard of the Al-Jazzar mosque. The name means "the butcher"	Entry to the Al-Jazzar mosque	Inside the Al-Jazzar mosque, with some guys praying	Al-Jazzar mosque
Streets of Akko	Souq in Akko	Streets of Akko	Streets of Akko	Clock tower of Khan al-Umdan, an old traveler's inn, Akko
Random mosque, Akko	Inside Khan al-Umdan, Akko	Inside Khan al-Umdan, Akko	The Templar knights' crusader tunnel, Akko	The Templar knights' crusader tunnel, Akko
Guns 'n' Moses. That's Israel.	Fishing outside the walls of Akko	Waterfront, Akko	Steeple of St John's church, Akko	Akko
Donanian restaurant, Akko	Citadel and tower of David, Jaffa gate, old Jerusalem	View of the Dome of the Rock, from the Lutheran Guesthouse, Jerusalem	Friday evening Shabbat festivities at the Western (wailing) wall, Jerusalem	Friday evening Shabbat festivities at the Western (wailing) wall, Jerusalem
Shabbat begins, Jerusalem	Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque, Jerusalem	Church of the Holy Sepulchre, supposed site of the crucifixion, Jerusalem	Inside the church of the Holy Sepulchre	Inside the church of the Holy Sepulchre
Inside the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem	Inside the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem	"Greek choir", inside the church of the Holy Sepulchre	The Holy Sepulchre itself	Church of St Helena, inside the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
Chapel of the Discovery of the Cross, inside the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem	Citadel and tower of David, Jaffa gate, old Jerusalem	The Room of the Last Supper (Coenaculum), Jerusalem	The Room of the Last Supper was also the site of the first Christian church	King David's tomb, underneath the Room of the Last Supper, Jerusalem
Jerusalem	The walls of old Jerusalem	Absalom's tomb, Valley of Jehoshaphat, Jerusalem	Tomb of Jehoshaphat and tomb of Zechariah, Jerusalem	Tomb of Zechariah, Valley of Jehoshaphat, Jerusalem
Russian Chapel of the Ascension, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem	Outside the Church of All nations, in the biblical garden of Gethsemane, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem	The garden of Gethsemane, with 2000- year-old olive trees, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem	The garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is said to have been arrested	The church of All Nations, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
The grotto where Jesus is said to have been betrayed by Judas, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem	Entrance of Mary's tomb, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem	Altar of Mary's tomb, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem	inside Mary's tomb, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem	Al-Aqsa mosque, on the Temple Mount (Haram Ash-Sharif) Jerusalem.
The Stairs of the Scales of Souls, with the Dome of the Rock behind, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	The Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	The Dome of the Chain, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	Detail of the Dome of the Chain, Temple mount, Jerusalem	The Dome of the Chain and the Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem
The Golden Gate, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	Mamluk arcade, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	The Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	The Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	One of these (I think the front one) is the Dome of the Ascension, where Mohammed is said to have prayed before ascending to heaven
Islamic stone pulpit, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	Willemien, Tessa, and the Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	Andy and the Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	The Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem	Bab al-Qattanin (gate of the cotton merchants), Temple Mount, Jerusalem
Yad Vashem holocaust memorial, Jerusalem	City walls near the Jaffa gate, old Jerusalem	Citadel at night, near the Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem	Heading out into the West Bank, we crossed through the "separation wall", Jerusalem	Tessa's turn to drive, West Bank
Dropping below sea level, West Bank	Stopping for refreshments with Willemien, Justyna, and Tessa, West Bank	Andy and the Dead Sea, West Bank	Dead Sea, West Bank	Willemien vamps with the rental car, West Bank
Negev desert, going up the cable car to Masada fortress	Dead Sea, going up the cable car to Masada fortress	Masada fortress. Important symbol of Israel and Jewish resistance	Masada fortress	Masada fortress
View from the top of Masada fortress	View from the top of Masada fortress	Looking down on Herod's "north palace", Masada fortress	View of the Dead Sea from the top of Masada fortress	On the way down to the north palace, Masada fortress
Part of the north palace, Masada fortress	Masada fortress	View from the top of Masada fortress	Ein Gedi beach, Dead Sea	Willemien and Tessa, floating in the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi
Dead Sea salt on the rocks, Ein Gedi	Andy's shadow and salt mushrooms, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea	Andy floats on the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi	Dead Sea floaties, Ein Gedi