Tel Aviv and Caesarea

Monday brought us to our final Airbnb apartment of the trip, a comfortable and modern set of rooms overlooking a ruin named the Tel Afek fortress on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. Our journey from Jerusalem proved much easier than expected, as we took advantage of a very new, recently constructed high speed train that runs between the two cities. This ride proved reminiscent of those experienced by two our our party on the exceptional Shinkansen bullet trains of Japan, and it was a group of three happy travelers that reached Tel Aviv (in only 23 minutes).

For our last full day in Israel (and of this trip) we drove north to visit the ancient port city of Caesarea, built by of Herod the Great around 25 BC. Renowned for its large artificial harbor, Caesarea prospered for centuries under different rulers before finally being abandoned in the 13th century, after the conquest of the Mamluks. Today the ruins of the city are mostly contained within the walls constructed during the Crusader occupation, but several notable Roman remnants, including the ruins of an aqueduct, bath house, circus, and amphitheater, lie outside these fortifications. 

Our visit brought us among these ancient edifices next to the clear waters of the Mediterranean, whose picturesque blue hues are quite pleasing to one used to the opaque waters of Charleston. A plethora of tourist shops and restaurants have sprouted up among the ancient remnants in modern times, though our frugal party steered clear of these additions, satisfying itself instead on the ruined piles of antiquity that dot the landscape.

Our relatively early arrival, combined with the size of the site, and our dwindling appetite for ancient ruins, resulted in an unusually early departure around noon. With such an abundance of time before dusk we headed due south to Tel Aviv, for a drive along its scenic beachfront. This ride terminated in a brief stop at the ancient port city of Jaffa, which has been absorbed by the sprawling Tel Aviv. Here we once more gazed upon the clear waters of the Mediterranean before returning to our Airbnb, for one final night's rest before embarking on the long journey home.

-Theodore and Nathaniel

 

A monument near the spot where the surrender of Jerusalem was accepted during World War I

 

On the train to Tel Aviv

 

Fortress at Tel Afek, as seen from our Airbnb

Tut and Tut in front of the Roman aqueduct

The clear waters of the Mediterranean

Crusader wall encompassing Ceasarea

 

Through the vaulted entrance

 The remnants of the artificial harbor constructed by Herod the Great

The hippodrome (circus)

The whole crew in Jaffa