Saturday's Trip to Mini Israel (with more photos)

Halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, in a place called Latrun, is a park with many of Israel's historic sites in miniature. Since we haven't been sightseeing much in the last few years, this was an excellent opportunity to see a lot of the country in just a few hours, and get excited about visiting some of the sites for real!

We filled up three cars and off we went! We started our tour of the park in Haifa, and it didn't take us long to spot the Shrine of the Báb and the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. We were quite impressed by the level of detail that has gone into these miniatures, a few 'anomalies' aside. Other places we saw that we are familiar with are the Convention Center, Yot Bata restaurant with the cable cars from the Stella Maris, the bay and the port and the Egged Bus station.

We then walked on towards Akka, and were surprised to see so many sites associated with the Faith: the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, the Mansion, the House of Abdu'llah-Pasha, and the Most Great Prison! Also there was the mosque of Al-Jazar, which is a familiar landmark in Akka. Then on to the Galilee, Golan Heights and Nazareth. Here Menchie was so amazed to see the Church of the Annunciation that is built so beautifully.

In Jerusalem we paused for some time by the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. Again here we were very impressed with the level of detail that had gone into the design of these buildings. Via Eilat we ended our tour in Tel Aviv, where Maarten enjoyed a football game at the Ramat Gan national stadium. Other familiar sites we saw were Cesarea, Masada, Dan Panorama hotel, Ben Gurion airport and a lot more! Despite the heat (it was 34 degrees) Enna-Marie was also quite entertained by it all and didn't complain much!

On the way back we stopped at Columbus restaurant in Herzliyya before arriving back in Haifa again at around 10.30!


At the entrance area with Jamak, Maarten, Enna-Marie, Kirsten, Martijn and May

Mommy Mench and Enna-Marie getting ready

Haifa Convention Center

Yot Bata Restaurant and the cable car from Stella Maris

Group photo at the Shrine of the Bab and the Seat of the Universal House of Justice areas

Shrine of the Bab

close up Shrine of the Bab

Terrace One

Upper Terraces

Seat of the Universal House of Justice

Shrine of the Bab and the Seat of the Universal House of Justice

Schoot family, Maarten using our new baby carrier

Port Area and the Refinery

Haifa City Hall

Enna-Marie coping well the heat of the sun

Akka area

The Mansion and the Shrine of Baha'u'llah

House of Abdu'llah-Pasha

Ancient Synagogue, Capernaum

Church of the Annunciation

Salesian Church

Mt. Hermon

Dome of the Rock



with Kirsten

Dan Panorama Hotel

Masada

Group photo taken as the day ends