Shiloh, Archaeology, North Bethlehem, and the Herodian

From Anna-Lee
Hello everyone,
I am sorry that this is going to be short but I am very exhausted and tomorrow sounds like an amazing nightmare.of busyness.
I will tell you about our day and leave the mystery of tomorrow for the end!

Shiloh was very interesting, it is an active archaeology sight. I saw lots of pottery from all the way back to the days of Samuel the prophet. We watched a movie where Hannah prays for a son. I found that quite powerful. Then she has Samuel and comes back to the temple to let him be raised by Eli the high priest! Then you see Samuel grow up, but that was the most powerful part for me.

Our guide who was very funny, showed us where the Temple that Eli and Samuel would have been. He showed us a picture of what it would have looked like.

Olive press that was excavated

We went shopping at a town north of Bethlehem - that was quite the task. I got some amazing stuff that was all made here in Israel.
I will mostly leave the Herodian to my mom as I am starting to feel pressed for sleep.

Tomorrow we are needing to get up at quarter to 6 in the morning to get to breakfast at 6:30 and make a mad dash to the temple mount. If we don`t get there way before opening then we are in danger of not getting through there high tech security.
I will be amazed if I am almost faint when we get back to the guesthouse tomorrow.
Anna-Lee

From Linda
One thing I had wanted to see while in Israel but didn't really think I would, was an active archaeological site. Today, we got to see two of them!
Anna-Lee already explained Shiloh, but we also got to see the Herodian - Herod's Palace just outside Jerusalem. He had 6 palaces to escape to just in case.

Herod took part of a mountain away and added it to another to build his palace higher.

In the reception area of the Herodian palace.

It was quite the hike to the top.  Very steep. My legs are stiff! And then to get down, we climbed down into the water tunnel.  Lots of stairs.

Walking together in the water tunnels. No water.

Outside the Herodian

Alright. We spent a lot of today in the West Bank. Actually our hotel last night was in the West Bank. Today we went into Occupied Territory. But really, we are safe. No matter the news you hear back in Canada, there are very specific targets in very specific location, and our guide is very careful not to take us in areas that he is not sure are safe. I am glad we did not miss today.

By the way, I've been meaning to mention how Israel is feeling about the Canadian election.
In case you think Canada is not important to Israel or that Stephen Harper did not have much influence...
The day the results came in three Israeli people we came in contact with all said things such as "We are sorry to hear of your election results."
Today they are still talking of it. Our guide at Shiloh said they were actually afraid because Stephen Harper is no longer in power.

The infamous wall - has actually decreased terrorist attacks significantly.

Flying the Palestinian flag.

And finally...

Lunch in an Arab town. Very friendly, very nice. And we had shwarmas.

We did not go to "Bethlehem."  The touristy Bethlehem. Instead we went to a section in north Bethlehem. A likely little known site of a first century home in this area. You know - "knock knock, there is no room at the Inn."
Here is what the homes looked like and how they were used. Revelation.

Walk into the home and find a small cave. This is where they would bring the animals inside in the colder weather. It helped not only the animals but the warmth of them warmed up the home for the people too. Up some stairs to the main living area where they cooked and slept and stored all their implements. Above that was a small loft. They used this area for company. Every home had one, and it was open to travelers - or not - no room in the "inn" if it was in use already. Instead, perhaps Mary and Joseph were offered the cave part of the home where the animals stayed with a fresh manger of hay. Makes really good sense to me.

Entrance to the animal cave part of the home

Listening to our guide explain the Bethlehem house