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
This evening a special friend came to see Enna-Marie. That she wasn't too pleased with his visit you can see in this video...
Mommy plays this great CD "BeBop your Best" from Red Grammer for me all the time, and I love it so much that I can't help but dance to the music. OK, ok, its not real dancing yet, but at least I'm trying! :)
At eight-and-a-half months, Enna-Marie has turned into a little explorer. She now crawls through the living room with ease, and pulls herself up against the box, the table, the couch and the TV stand. Last weekend we started our baby-proofing efforts, but it seems we may need to have another round. It seems she's already hooked on the tv-series Friends... Everytime we watch an old episode, and the opening tune comes on, she turns her head towards the tv and is glued to the screen until the tune finishes! Afterwards, she' goes back to play or crawl. She also loves it when daddy plays guitar and sings, and as you can see in one of the video's, she's already practising herself! Well, she's actually saying the "ba-ba-ba-ba" which she just learned today.
What she doesn't like so much is the little toy car that winds up and then drives off the table. Every time it 'crashes' she gets scared and starts to cry... Or the little monkey in Baby Einstein... it has the same effect on her...
What she's practising now but hasn't mastered yet is standing unaided! She's halfway there, but will probably fall a few more times before she's mastered that skill! In terms of food, she started eating cheerios and oatmeal cereals, mozarella cheese, and plain yogurt (this she really loves), apart from the regular meals mommy Mench prepares for her (carrot, sweet potatoe, white potatoe, squash, green bean, egg, chicken, turkey, rice cereal, banana, juices, etc.)...
Climbing up against the TV stand...
Hmmm.. which toy should I play with now?
AHHHH.. It's that baby-einstein monkey!!
This is my handsome friend Naim, he is turning 4 months old. He and his mom Carole visited us recently at home...it was nice playing with him. I even shared my book as he enjoys seeing different colors already.
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
