Trail Mosaics

Today we hiked the first day of the Jesus Trail - from Nazareth up 400 plus stairs through dry lands, past a few cows, beside some roads, over to the old city of Zippori, then a pine forest and some Muslim neighborhoods and dusty paths to finish in Cana of Galilee, water to wine. We hitchhiked back to Nazareth, finally catching a ride with a single guy who messed with his phone and swerved all over the road. He was rushing to the bank, and left us in his running car for 10 minutes while he scampered off to the bank with a wad of cash before driving us to the Old City Nazareth.
The hike was hot and dry producing good conversation, country air again, a ruined town on a hill (Zippori) full of amazing mosaics.
As we trotted along we thought so often of Jesus' dusty feet, sauntering walk as he told stories, need for water in a dry and thirsty land...

Philip's David Clymer pose, ready to take on the trail.



Modern mosaics...




...and ancient mosaics.



The most famous mosaic at Zippori is an unknown lady in a mosaic celebrating Dionysis; she is called the Mona Lisa of the Galilee.
Zippori was a new and blossoming city in Jesus' time. Joseph and Jesus probably found building work in this city only a few hours walk from Nazareth.


Mosaics in the synagogue.

At last! Cana!