We ended our Israel tour on the first day with a trip to Nazareth before going to Tiberias to check into our hotel. Nazareth was the place where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and Jesus) made their home. It was also the place where the angels came to Mary and Joseph about their upcoming baby. Two churches now stand in the place of the supposed sites where Mary and Joseph lived, but unfortunately we did not manage to go there.
What we managed to do though, is to go to a replica of a first-century Nazareth village, the supposed village in Jesus' time. Nazareth is now a more modern town with adobe houses and more modern structures, so some of the people there managed to make a replica of what the village was like long, long ago.
A "village" guide led us through rooms filled with ancient artifacts, then led us into the outdoors to go for the village tour proper. He led us past shepherds herding sheep and goats, past a mini vineyard, into those small and dark ancient houses, how the local people made their living, and into an old-fashioned synagogue. We even saw "Joseph" and his capentry workshop!
View of Nazareth
Can you see the modern houses now?
Timeline showing Jesus' time and the Romans' conquest
A donkey hiding his head in the "village"
Sheep rearing in the village
Me with a shepherd
A little goat
A well
Inside a first-century house
Outside a first century house
This is "Joseph", in his capentry workshop
"Joseph" showing us how to make a stool
Tools of the trade
Our guide giving us a demonstration
The women doing weaving
Different kinds of coloured cloth. Purple was the most expensive as only royals wore them.
Interior of an old synagogue, possible where the Holy Family went to pray
After the tour, the guide gave us an oil lamp made of ceramic, made from the "village". I really like it, but unfortunately, it is not an Aladdin's lamp!
After the tour of Nazareth village, we went up to the Mount of Precipice for a panorama view of Nazareth.
View from Mount of Precipice
View of Nazareth
Our tour guide showing us mustard seeds in his palm
After Nazareth, we proceeded on to Tiberias and checked into our hotel. And this concludes my experience in Nazareth!
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