OAT Israel: Akko / Acre

The Crusaders took control of Akko (aka Acre) in 1104 and immediately began to contruct a series of fortifications.  The Muslims gained control in 1187 but surrendered the city to Richard the Lion Heart (King of England) and Philip Augustus (King of France) in 1191.  The Hospitallers, a monastic military order established to treat the sick, moved their headquarters from Jerusalem to Akko.  Eventually the Hospitallers were deemed too powerful and were replaced by the Knights Templar. We wandered through tunnels and past 15-foot thick walls into magnificent halls.

The Muslims regained control in 1291 and Akko became part of the Ottoman Empire.  When Ahmed El-Jazzar decided to build a citadel and palace in the late 18th century, he filled in the Crusader buildings with dirt.  Excavations began in the 1950s.

The El-Jazzar Mosque, consecrated in 1781/2, is the largest mosque in Israel outside Jerusalem. 

We all enjoyed the somewhat corny tour of the late 18th century Hama al Basha bath house.

OAT Israel: Nazareth - Basilica of the Annunciation

According to Roman Catholic tradition, this modern basilica is built over the site of the Annunciation where Mary learned from the Angel Gabriel that she would become the mother of Jesus. 

The story of the Annunciation is told on heavy ornate doors.

Many countries have donated mosaics venerating this occasion.

OAT Israel: Baha'i World Centre in Haifa & Akko

The Bahá’í World Centre is the "Spiritual and administrative heart" of the Bahá’í community and includes the Shrines of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as well as the Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Centre, Centre for the Study of the Texts, and the International Bahá’í Archives.  We had only enough time to admire a view of some structures and the extensive gardens on the slope of Mt. Carmel with the City of Akko across the Bay of Haifa.

OAT Israel: Caesarea

 Herod the Great (reigned in Judea 37 to 4 BC) built Caesarea from 29 to 22 BC and dedicated this lavish city to Augustus Caesar.   The only written evidence (outside the Gospels) that Pontius Pilate existed was discovered in Caesarea.

The port, on the Mediterranean between Tel Aviv and Haifa, was considered one of the most ambitious engineering projects in the Roman Empire.  

 The city lost importance after 614 AD until the port was restored during the Crusades. The Mamelukes destroyed the city in the late 13th century.

This Roman Theater would have had a brick wall behind the stage so the audience would not be distracted by sea views.  We learned that a Roman Theater designed for plays is a half circle vs. an Amphitheater designed for gladiator entertainment and a full circle.

Roman Mosaic in seawater pool.

 Herod's Promontory Palace

 Crusader Wall

Roman Aqueduct supplied water from the Carmel Mtns

OAT Israel: Jaffa - Ilana Goor Museum of Ethnic & Applied Art

My favorite art museum is now the Ilana Goor Museum in Jaffa.  Ironically, many do not consider Ilana an "artist" but rather a "designer."  I found her work visually compelling and quirky.  

She lives in a wing of the museum and hangs her art everywhere. 

Ilana bought a crumbling 250 year old home belonging to an Arab family forced to flee when Israel became a country.  It was in a dangerous area at the time but she bought it for "the view".  When she discovered their hidden belongings during restoration, she took great pains to find the family and return these treasures.

 Our enthusiastic docent regaled us with stories about Ilana and her art. Note the ceiling fan hanging from a giant copper pot.

It was a beautiful day in her upstairs courtyard.

This "shoe" door handle was only one of thousands of quirky touches throughout the museum.

Skydiving

I finally took the leap (literally) and completed a special item on my bucket list - skydiving.   My tandem instructor HazzMatt had over 8500 jumps to his credit.  Apparently, having a competent tandem instructor was less important than finding a fantastic photographer to make my keepsake video. Ori succeeded in making a great video and taking lots of pictures.  Aunt Gloria provided moral support.  

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We exited the plane at 14,000 feet and fell at 120 mph for about a minute before opening the chute at 6,000 feet.  It took about 5 more minutes of floating (I loved this part) before landing softly. 

Ori the Photographer

OAT Ultimate (South) Africa - Overview

Overseas Adventure Travel Ultimate (southern) Africa is one of my favorite trips for many reasons.

Once we arrived in Johannesburg, we were shuttled to a comfortable airport-area hotel. The optional tour of Soweto included visits to neighborhoods (some quite posh, others very poor), Regina Mundi church and Hector Pieterson museum.  I left with a much greater understanding of Apartheid history. 

We stayed at four very different camps in Botswana (Chobe NP, Okavango Delta), Zambia (Kafue NP) and Zimbabwe (Hwange NP).  I loved flying on the small planes between camps. We flew very low and could see herds of elephants and pods of hippos.

We saw 38 different types of mammals including a leopard which completed my "Big Five" list.

 

 

We saw over 115 species of bird and the occasional snake, spider or reptile.

 

We ended our tour in a very nice lodge in Victoria Falls with a view of a watering hole and a hotel shuttle bus away from Afternoon Tea at the historic Victoria Falls Hotel. 

Victoria Falls itself has been on my bucket list for a long time and did not disappoint.  We toured both by helicopter and along the scenic paths through Victoria Falls NP.

Coincidentally, all 13 of us in our group were women.  All were experienced travellers with a great sense of humor.  We took good care of each other with our oft repeated motto "It takes a village ..." 

Our fearless leader was Wallace Gwatidzo who kept us safe, informed and entertained.  He was determined to impress us with the wonders and hospitality of southern Africa, especially his native Zimbabwe.  Every child we met wants to be a doctor or a bush pilot or a guide.  Wallace and all of our safari guides were enthusiastic ambassadors for their countries and natural treasures. 

Final Note: Normally I complain bitterly about OAT air arrangements (once OAT wanted to route me from Houston to Panama City via Miami with a 5 hour layover instead of sending me on any number of 4-hour non-stop flights) but the arrangements on this trip were as perfect as could be. A non-stop overnight flight on BA to London Heathrow; a day room at the lovely Sofitel in Terminal 5 where I could take a shower, nap, and leave my luggage safely; and another non-stop overnight flight to Johannesburg.  On our return there were delayed flights, missed connections and lost luggage - but this was no fault of the itinerary or OAT.