winairtravel

I was on the fourth day of my grand Israel tour during my birthday week in 2009. After a hasty Mount of Olives tour with my Nikon DSLR battery dead and with only my iPhone available to take pictures and videos, I went back to Mount Zion Hotel in Jerusalem and packed my things. I needed to travel to the north.

The same taxi driver who toured me around Mount of Olives took me to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station where security was so tight. I bought a 45-shekel bus ticket and boarded the 1230PM Egged bus trip. I left Jerusalem teary-eyed while listening to Paul Wilbur’s Shalom Jerusalem, the same song I was listening to when I arrived in Jerusalem. I really could not prevent the tears from falling and it was good I had my sunglasses on. I arrived in Tiberias after an almost 2 hours scenic bus ride from Jerusalem around mid-afternoon without any clue on how to get to my hotel. Tiberias would be my base for my next two day visits to Mount Tabor, Nazareth, Cana, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha and Capernaum. I took a taxi from Tiberias central bus station for 5 shekels.  An old, very pleasant Arab-Israeli driver with whom I spoke a bit of Arabic, took me to my hotel, a former Sheraton property now called Moriah Plaza Hotel.

As I arrived in the hotel I noticed the commanding view of the Sea of Galilee!   This was taken from my room’s balcony.

Most rooms have the view of the Sea of Galilee (also known as Kinneret).

My room was indeed very nice. Of course I had this bed all to myself as I was all alone!

This was the TV and study area.  Unfortunately, I had to pay extra for the internet.

Nevertheless, I liked the room.

The bathroom is the most important part of a hotel room that I usually check in detail.  For this one, I rated it as slightly above average.  Not shabby, not too grand.

After getting over my hotel room madness, I went out to the streets of Tiberias. I just walked around town until I finally headed to my destination of the day.

Decks.  A highly-rated restaurant in Tiberias.

I went up the restaurant that seemed like Noah’s ark.

I was actually early for dinner so the place was still empty but it gave me the chance to choose the best seat.

I chose one at a corner overlooking the sea.  This was an emotional moment for me, as I was waiting for my orders I read the chapters of Luke from the Bible that happened here more than 2,000 years ago. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, walked on the waters of this sea!

Initially I only had my Frommer’s Israel travel book and my iPhone from where I read the Bible that got me teary eyed.

Then came the wine.  I ordered an authentic Israeli wine from Carmel region.  Although not yet as popular as the French, American, Australian and South African wines, I have high hopes that Israeli wines will be available widely all over the world in a few years time.

And finally came my orders.

St. Peter’s fish that actually looked and tasted similar to tilapia.

..my favorite lamb chops….

…and chips with herbs.  Food was great…

and so was the view to my right…

and underneath with young Israelis dipping in the beach.

I could never have been happier that day. Delectable food, excellent location, nice price. Nice price? Hmmm it was actually a bit on the expensive side but I already knew about it before so I was not surprised.

As it grew darker, I just finished sipping the full-bodied wine that got me a bit tipsy but still…..

….I was able to walk back to my hotel where I rested early for the next day’s busy tour to other parts of northern Israel.  Shalom!