2nd Day - Ziua 2

Tiberias - a city on the shore of the Galilee Sea - was definitely worth visiting. First of all, tourists are none existent (especially not at this time of the year), secondly, it is very authentic. The 26°, the soft wind and sweet fruit smells turned our walk into an unforgettable one...very relaxing!

Already at the beginning of the day, I totally changed my perception of this country. I always pictured it dry and without a green vegetation, but what I found was exactly the opposite. Israel is green...at least now in January! :)

There are so many date plantations and fruit trees...that I almost believe I'm in Brazil! ;) But then the countless mosques and synagogues as well as falafel stands at every corner, reasure me that I'm indeed...in the Holy Land.

Signs of a Crusade invasion can be found all throughout Tiberias: the city wall, the fortress, some churches...But what I really liked, was the market - shuk. I haven't eaten "borekas" (rum. "merdenea") for a very looong time...Yammy! And of course, other specialities and vegetables reminded me of my early years when I helped my grandma out at the market...

Water pollution, lack of water...are just two of the problems the Sea of Galilee is facing while abandoned boats are its accessories. Still, one can chill without being disturbed at its shores and enjoy watching birds and other creatures bathing in its waters.

Before taking a taxi back to our accommodation, we met Itzik. :)) But who the f*** is Itzik? :)) Just some guy owning a fresh fruit juice shop, who managed to conquer our tastes with two delicious juices. Yammy!

Enough said...here are some pictures to get into the atmosphere of Tiberias:

or for a closer look:

Tiberias

Tiberias, orasul de pe malul Marii Galileei chiar a meritat vazut. In primul rand, sunt foarte putini turisti, mai ales acum in Ianuarie, si an al doilea rand este unul dintre orasele autentice. Plimbarea a fost foarte relaxanta...26 de grade, putina briza si mirosuri imbatatoare au facut vizita sa fie una de neuitat.
Deja de la inceputul zilei mi-am schimbat perceptia despre tara asta in totalitate. Nu stiu de ce imi imaginam Israelul ca fiind o tara uscata cu foarte putina vegetatie...in schimb am descoperit exact opusul: Israelul este verde! Plantatiile de curmale si alte fructe ma fac sa cred ca sunt intr-un alt loc exotic, in schimb sinagogile si standurile de falafel ma trezesc la realitate. Sunt totusi in Tara Sfanta.
In tot orasul se gasesc urmele unei invazii Cruciate (nu stiu dc asa se zice si in rom): pereti de cetate, biserici...Cel mai mult insa mi-a placut piata. Am mancat iar - dupa nu stiu cat timp - niste merdenele cu branza...atat de bune...Yammy! Si mi-a amintit si de perioada " frageda" cand o insoteam pe bunica-mea la piata "Dacia".  ;)
Din pacate seceta si poluarea isi lasa urmele si in Marea Galileei. Totusi e atat de relaxant sa stai la mal si sa observi pasari si alte creaturi facand baie la mal...fara a avea gandurile de zi cu zi.
Inainte sa ne intoarcem, l-am cunoscut pe Izik...un tip care are un magazin de sucuri naturale. Ne-a servit cu niste sucuri, extraordinar de bune si naturale...

Cam atat despre Tiberias. Detalii acasa! ;)