GPS is no guarantee, but at least the scenery is good.

The plan was to leave Hashmonaim at 9:30, but we didn't get out until 11, so something on my jam packed itinerary was going to get chopped, it was just a matter of what and why. We left the Modiin area and headed to the coast, going north.

 Our first stop was in a place called Alona Park. It is a hike in an ancient water aqueduct dug by the Romans called Mey Kedem. www.goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/attractions/Pages/Alona%20Park,%20Mei%20Kedem%20(Ancient%20Water)%20.aspx  We flashed our Matmon card (best purchase ever!) and entered at a discounted rate. We watched a movie offered in English or Hebrew (we obviously chose the English one) on how and why the aqueducts were built and how far they go etc. It was a bit cheesy with an Indian Jones theme, but informative and set the scene. You cannot go into the tunnels without an escort. Our guide, Ofir, lead us through letting us know when uneven ground was ahead or if the water was going to get suddenly deeper. We were prepared with water shoes, bathing suits and headlamps. Love those things. The water was between ankle deep, and up to 70 cm (about waist high for some of us). Levi walked with Meir, the water would reach his chest at some parts. I put Bailey in a front carrier. She loves the water so at deeper places I crouched down even further so she could put her feet in and splash around. The tunnels are about 2 meters below the earth. You can see where the Romans (probably slaves) notched out places to put their candles and built sieves to prevent alligators from coming in. The water was chilly, but we got used to it VERY quickly and it was a relief from the crazy heat and humidity of the day.

Our next stop was Cesaeria. That is where the aqueducts finished. We didn't have an exact place to plug into the GPS, so we wandered around a bit before getting to the National Park and the excavated ruins. Yay Matmom, we entered for free! The visitors center has a wonderful movie (and in a very well air conditioned room) on the history of the area done with computer animation. After you can watch another movie (we didn't) or check out the interactive holograms. We went to see what Rabbi Akiva had to say about his time (he was apparently killed very brutally in Cesaeria) and then went off to see the ruins first hand.

It is very beautiful set along the Mediterranean. The kids loved to see where the horses and chariots raced. We climbed along some of the ruins until we reached the some what restored amphitheater. They use it for concerts today and was being set up for something in the near future. It was interesting to see all of the modern sound equipment facing the ancient stone benches and arches. We decided to head back to the car and move on with our trip, but we could have stayed there for much longer. While we were walking around it was breezy and pleasant, but as soon as we left the waterfront we were hit with the intense heat and humidity. Popsicles and ice cream for everyone. We also downed liters of water.

Our next stop was Eliyahu HaNavi's cave. Not his grave, because of that whole chariot of fire thing. I had been there before and knew it was nothing major to see, but Dovie's Haftorah portion about Eliyahu challenging the Baal worshipers happened right there and our second son is named Eliyahu, so I felt it was important enough to stop at. Unfortunately, the GPS made getting there a challenge. Finally Dovie said, "I see Jewish people up there!" We were, like, that is nothing special, this place is full of Jewish people.  Finally when we figured out where to park, we saw a bunch of Hassidim. He said, "See, Jewish people!" We walked up the 100s of steps, did our tehillim bit, took some photos, discussed Dovie's Haftorah and thought seriously about riding the orange ball cable cars up the mountain.

 By then though, everyone was getting very hungry and it was getting late. Haifa doesn't have much to eat in way of Kosher Mehadrin food besides a formal fish place that I found online, so we decided to ask the information center. Once we finally found the place, it was closed, but HaShem sent me my own Eliyahu HaNavi in the form of a yarmulke wearing man with his family sitting right next to the information center eating their meal. I asked them about the food and they directed me to a Medhadrin Cafe Cafe at the end of the next street. By the time we all ate, it was too late for my final stop on my itinerary, the Rosh HaNikra Grotto. The last cable car goes down at 5 in the summer. Oh well.
We drove to Kibbutz Moran Country Lodging -- Zimmers and checked in with a very helpful Yossi.
We have two cute rooms with queen size beds, 2 full beds and a crib. We have 2 bathrooms and 2 wet bar areas. The rooms have TV (which was exciting for my kids since they have been doing with out until they turned them on and found nothing was on!) and most importantly air conditioning. Everyone showered (even Bailey, who until now has only taken baths, but it went very well) and off to bed. I told the kids I have big plans for tomorrow, so they better get to sleep now!