Vigay.com : Pilgrimage to The Holy Land, March 1978 (page 5)

After breakfast we went looking for a beach but could not find one. We found a little cove where Frances and I threw stones into the water. We could see snow covered Mount Hermon in Lebanon which is over 9,000 feet. We walked on a bit further and came to a little harbour where we met another man and Mummy and Daddy talked to him. We then saw a King Fisher flying about and lots of crabs in the Sea of Galilee. We also saw lots of fish.

We then walked through the town and saw people selling Sea of Galilee fish and loaves of bread. The climb back to the hotel was very tiring as it was on a hill and it was very hot. We were dodging from tree to tree to keep in the shade. We got back to the hotel a bit early so we sat in the lounge and waited for the others to come back. In the afternoon we went out looking for somewhere for Frances and I to paddle but we could not find anywhere again so we got a bus to the Hot Springs to find a beach but we couldn't find any. On the way back we met our coach so they took us to the River Jordan and we saw a man baptizing people. Then we drove to a Kibbutz and we saw lots of bananas growing. In a Kibbutz nobody owns anything. You all live together in one community. You all take it in turns to do the cooking and laundry.

We then returned to the hotel, had our evening meal and then sat in the lounge. Frances bought a clockwork frog and her and another boy on our tour who Frances had become friendly with called Dominic played with it while Mummy and I went round getting autographs of all the people in our tour.

Tuesday 21st

Today we got up very early as we were leaving Tiberias to go to Tel Aviv. As it is a long way from Tiberias to Tel Aviv the hotel gave us a packed lunch.

Our first stop was a little chapel on the Sea of Galilee where we had a communion service. It was a lovely little chapel with a big window at one end with a good view of the Sea of Galilee.

When we had had the service Mummy and I went down to the Sea of Galilee and got some pebbles.

We drove on through Magdala (where Mary Magdalene lived) to Tabgha, where it is thought Jesus fed the 5,000 on the loaves and fishes. We went in a small church and saw lots of mosaics including one of the loaves and fishes (see below).

At Capharnaum we saw the Old Synagogue and St. Peters house where Mummy collected some earth. All of Capharnaum was in ruins so we had to imagine what it looked like in the time of Jesus.

We then left the ruined town of Capharnaum and climbed the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus told the Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We then drove on to visit a lovely Kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee where we had a drink and ice creams. We saw a lovely tree with red flowers on it.

Our next stop was at Acre on the Mediterranean coast. Here we had our packed lunch and Frances paddled in the Mediterranean Sea while I sat on some rocks watching the waves.

It was a bit colder here, so we soon got into the coach again and drove to Haifa, Israel's main port.

At Haifa we saw a long pier going right out to sea with lots of boats. We saw a small gold dome which was the Bahai temple which is the centre of the Bahai religion.

We soon arrived at Caesarea which is the ancient Roman capital where Pontius Pilate lived.

We also saw the Roman Aquaduct that carried water from outside 12 miles away. It was built by Herod the Great.

We then drove to our hotel in Tel Aviv which was called The Country Club Hotel. In Tel Aviv I picked some oranges off a tree. At our hotel I bought a pen that lights up if it is dark.

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