Repository: UIHistories Project: UI Library School Alumni Newsletter - 17 [PAGE 5]

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N trtth where we were to have luncheon. After a veiy poor meal, we drove f u i e "Workshop of Joseph the Carpenter," to the a l l e « O T r t h p i S of & Ed, most interesting of all, to the Church of the Annunciation which lies within hm | e inclosure of the Franciican Monastery. We were now, of course, in Galilee, and on leaving Nazareth, we soon taw Lr to the north the snowy top of Mt. Hermon, "Little HernW' having been •sible earlier. The road wound through the hills, taking us past many places of Bcred interest—"Cana of Galilee," now marked as are most of the placet of fete by a church or chapel; the picturesque hill called the "Horns of Hattin" E d miscalled by the Crusaders the "Mount of Beatitudes," though a later traption makes it the scene of the "Feeding of the Five Thousand, and also the ^ot where Saladin won a famous victory. J Just as we crossed this ridge I had my first glimpse of the Sea of Galilee. J had thought that I had seen the world's most beautiful lakes;—I was wrong, I had not seen the Lake of Gennesareth as it is often called. As we drove toward the lake, having decided to visit Capernaum before going on to Tiberias to spend the night, Mt. Hermon rose before us, seemingly just at the head of the lake, Eut in reality many miles to the north. I Capernaum, the home which our Lord chose after he was driven from [Nazareth, must have been a lovely little town, lying on the lake shore, surrounded by fertile fields and shaded by splendid trees. The location is now the home of a Franciscan monastery, whose members are carrying on archaeological pork begun many years ago. Not much of interest has been unearthed except pie remains of a large building, probably the Synagogue of our Lord's time hich is in excellent preservation. As time was passing rapidly, we decided not to continue to the mouth of the ordan, but to retrace our way toward Tiberias which we reached shortly before unset Here I made a serious mistake. As the Sea of Galilee was only a short 'stance from my hotel, and the day was still warm and pleasant (Tiberias, like Jericho, lies far below sea level) I ought to have insisted upon a sail on the Sea; tut alasl I was tired, having been driving, looking, dismounting, remounting, and driving some more since eight that morning; and I postponed my sail until porning. There was plenty of time next morning, and I was rested, but alas! the Sea had a voice in the matter, and as I can't swim, I decided regretfully to [defer the sail on the Sea of Galilee until some future visit! The moral is obvious. I There is not much of interest in Tiberias itself—just a modern, rather picturesque, walled town, noted chiefly according to the Arabs, for its hot baths (natural) and for its fleas (also natural, I assume) neither of which I sampled. IThe hotel was comfortable—not luxurious—and I was tired enough to go to bed parly and sleep fairly soundly. Next morning, the air was warm enough to be out of doors, and I spent the |time between breakfast and the hour of departure, looking at the views, reading y guide-book, and regretting my error of judgment of the previous day. already mentioned. At about half-past ten I and my luggage were packed into a car and we started for the railway station several miles away at the foot of the Sea, a place called Es Semakh. At first, I was disappointed to learn that I should leave the car at Es Semakh for a railway train, but the journey progressed, I changed my opinion, for the afternoon furnished an interesting contrast to the drive of the preceding day. When we left the car I asked Solomon when the train would be in, and I noticed he evaded the question. When I insisted upon an answer, he seemed to think that perhaps it might be along in a half hour or so; hut it couldn't \\ depended upon! This was about 11:30, and that wretched train never show I up until after onel However, it was interesting to watch the people who came and went, for no particular reason, so far as I could see, as few of them turned out to be fellow-passengers. At last the train pulled in and I climbed on. 1 seemed to be the only first-class passenger in the entire long train, "Solomon" traveling

second-class, but coming frequently into my compart incut to make sure that 1

was still there! We waited jusi thirty-five minutes at Ks Semakh, so 1 utilised the wait by eating my picnic lunch provided by the hotel as the train carried no restaurant car. The lunch was abundant, hut not particular!) appetizing, and m\ luncheon-hour was soon ended Then I amused myself by watching three very

attractive and also very dirty children who teemed equally i n t r u s t e d in my

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