Caesarea

Today I went to Caesarea, a costly and inconvenient journey that was fully worth all the trouble. Caesarea was begun by Herod in 22 BCE and was once one of the finest ports on the Mediterranean, testament to his megalomaniacal nature. Now the city is largely in ruins but it's still possible to sense the greatness of the city's past by walking around its archaeological remains. It's still a beautiful place, especially on such a bright, sunny day as today. I particularly enjoyed wandering up and down the old hippodrome, imagining the chariots that would once have careened past where I was now standing.

Despite knowing that it was a port, it hadn't really occurred to me beforehand how prominent the sea would be. Spectators at a chariot race or at a show at the nearby amphitheatre would be treated not only to the immediate entertainment but also to views of the glistening sea just beyond. After exploring all the sites, I made my way down to the beach and passed a very happy hour listening to the waves, gazing at the clouds, watching groups of birds migrate past in their long single-file lines and V-formations, contemplating the horizon and rather half-heartedly reading my book.

Now I'm back in Haifa, finally setting aside time to write these posts and looking forward to dinner with Arie, Judith and (I think) their daughter. They are also friends of Noach, who seems very concerned that I should have a good time whilst in Israel. I have no reason to worry him.