2009 Middle East Travel Seminar

Today we visited the city of Joppa or Jaffa in the Bible. In the Roman Catholic St. Peter's Church we were told that this is where Peter was when he was called to the home of Cornelius.
We saw the ancient city of Joppa which was an Egyptian city under that name. Where Peter was headed was a Roman city that Jews ordinarily wouldn't go and there he baptized the first Gentiles. I still can't believe I am here. We also visited Caesarea Maritime and went to the National Park there. We saw the ruins of Herod's palace, a Hippodrome and an arena and then ruins from the time of the Crusades. All of this is right on the Mediterranean and it was a beautiful day. More tomorrow...