Dad and I knew that the second part of this trip (when he was here with me) would be much less organized than the previous half.  The dig was a very scheduled few weeks and when there was free time there was always a group of people organizing something that I was free to join.  So basically I did very little planning.  The only thing I was in charge of planning was my 3rd hike up Mt. Arbel (approx. 4 hours) because I was one of two people who knew the hike that time.

Here is a picture from that hike...you tell me if 4 hours on three occasions in 100 degree heat was worth it...

the answer is yes, in case you didn't know. That is looking out over the Sea of Galilee.  The city on the far right of the photo is Tiberias and the dark patch of woods by the water on the left side of the photo is the Ginnosar Kibbutz where I stayed for the dig.  Amazing.

I really do miss the dig in some ways but this half of the trip has been so much fun.  I have never learned so much on any trip ever.  Nor have I ever had a desire to come back to my hotel and read/study every night.  Ha ha.  Scripture is different when you are reading about where you were walking 2 hours earlier.

Today is our last full day of exploring Jerusalem.  I have been kinda sick the last couple days.  I was able to ignore it the last two days but it finally caught up with me today and I had to come back to the hotel early to rest for a while.  I've been really dizzy for days on end...its kind of comical actually.  At times I walk as though I've had too much to drink.  My sense of balance is way off sometimes. 

Tomorrow Dad and I are going with Mary, a guide that the Truman University group (they were at the dig with me) used, to Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity, a refugee camp, shepherd's field, and the surrounding area.  There isn't as many sites to see there as there is important conflict to be aware of.  The danger is not posed to us but to any Israeli who would want to travel with us.  When we go, Mary will enter through a separate part because she is an Israeli citizen.  

Tuesday we are gonna go to Masada, Dead Sea, Ein Gedi.  Then we'll check out of our hotel here and head North to stay one night at the Kibbutz and visit the dig and the sites up that direction (most of which I've already been to).  I think it'll be a great way to end the trip...our last full night by the Sea of Galilee...perfect.  Then our flight leave on Friday morning at 12:40 am.  

Because I didn't blog much this past week (lack of internet access) there are lots of interesting stories that I haven't shared with you.  We'll have to save that for conversations in the States.

Some proof that Dad and I really have been in Jerusalem...

Haley Kate