We headed up to the Golan and the Galilee this past weekend with Paul and Jen Nikkel (classmates from Prov who we were surprised to see at the University). This is the view of Tiberius from our Hostel Balcony (a great deal for only $10 a night).

Here we are at the springs in the Tel Dan nature reserve. It was so cold it hurt. Jer and Jen after cooling off in the springs (and filling the water bottles). Here Paul and Jer are picking some wild grapes. They thought these were safer then the prickly pears they ate off the cactus. Jer had these tiny little sharp hairs all over his tongue for a couple hours. Below: I think Jer is laughing because he's tasted the grapes and they are awful, and now he is making Paul eat them.

The picture below is of the waterfalls at the Banias. The Banais is a nice place--also known as Caesarea Phillippi (in the New Testament). See below for pictures of Herod Agrippa's palace which is also located here (as well as an impressive Temple to Pan).

Below is the Sea of Galilee just before sunset when we took a swim. The beach is very rocky as you can see, but the water is fairly warm.
Jer just above the Sea of Galilee. Below is a picture of Nimrod's Castle, built during the crusader period. Above is Jer at the excavations of Herod Agrippa's Palace in Caesarea Philippi.I am exploring the old tunnels of the Palace.
Before heading back to Jerusalem we stopped for a picnic (pita, hummous, eggplant and lemon fanta - a true Israeli meal) and a quick swim. Behind us is Mt. Gilboa. I'm not sure what the name of this river is, I'll have to ask Jer.
We arrived home Saturday night and by Sunday it looks as if we were back in Toronto, but really, there is an Ikea in Israel. We picked up a table for Jer and a few other things and loaded it into our car and then headed back in for some food. Jer is with two friends from school -- Eric and Tracy -- who are American, but made their first trip to an Ikea here in Israel.