Our day began with the diamond factory in Tiberius. We managed to get through the tour, the movie, and visit the show room and we did not buy anything!!!   

The citizens of Israel are taxed, and they can be anywhere from 32% up to 50%. Israel's government does provide assistance to their citizens who live below the poverty line. They are provided with socialized medicine and they have the choice of several different HMO's, but they don't have vision or dental insurance provided. They are charged for the health insurance, and have to buy additional coverage if they would like.

Yesterday was the election in Israel. (1-22-13)
The Sea of Galilee was next. We were able to take a boat ride on wooden boat. The weather was wonderful, it was warm, but overcast. The weather was really hot yesterday and Avi (our tour guide) said this is why it is hazy. Once we were boarded the boat, we were leaving the dock and over the inercom came the Star Spangled Banner, and they raised the American Flag.   Avi also had a special treat, upon request from Wild Bill (Bill Dawson), he played Country Roads while we were on the Sea of Galilee. 

The Jordan River, along with two other rivers are the three major tributaries that meet to form the Sea of Galilee. The water level of the sea has raised greatly since the two years before when Mom and Renee visited. The country had experienced a great drought that had been going on for approximately 20-25 years. During this drought they found a boat which was preserved in the mud, and the water level decreasing, allowed them to excavate the boat. It was 2000 years old and found in 1986. Some of the freshwater fish that are in the sea are carp, tilapia, and sardines. The valley is also known as "Valley of the Doves".

Lunch was by the sea. Renee sat in the garden and ate with a cat, while the rest of us ate on the porches and we had pizza!

Our last stop of the day was the Roman ruins that were destroyed by an earthquake, Bet She'an. The theater would seat 7,500 people, and they calculate that at it's peak, the city was home to 120,000 - 130,000 people.  In 749 AD was the damaging earthquake that destroyed much of the area, including Bet She'an.

 Ancient restrooms (below)
Louise Henthorn, Renee Goddard, Becky Moyer, Jennifer Eller

We did not get to visit Jerash, but it is the 'twin' to Bet She'an, the same time period, same size, and destroyed by the same earthquake. The earthquake affected all the of big capital cities. Philadelphia (not the one in the US, Jordan had a Philadelphia before the US).