22 December – Haifa, Israel

So after a day at sea we docked at Haifa and had an early morning wake-up call as some excursions were leaving at 7.00am but everyone had to go through Israeli immigration. This was the first port requiring us to get visas/landing permits. Even people not planning to get ogg the ship had to go on land to get a permit.

It was cold today. I went off to the immigration process at 7.30 planning to then walk into Haifa but I was inadequately dressed and had to return to ship to collect a coat.

The only definite plan for the day was a massage at 1.00pm the was pre-booked. So we set off looking for the fruit and veg market mentioned on the tourist map but never found it. Even asking directions of some ladies on their break did not help as they did not know of any local markets.

We found ourselves climbing uphill and following staircases between buildings so decided to go to the Baha’i Garden and Shrine which is at the top of a hill. We walked about half way up but finally exchanged dollars for shekels and as Judith raised her hand to point a taxi pulled up and we hopped in.

The access into the upper terraces are via guided tours only. The start from the top throughout the day but they are in different languages. As we arrived after 10.00 the next English tour started at 12.00 which was too late for us to get back to the ship. So we joined the Russian tour….as you do….. We had to stay with the group and were given an English leaflet.

It is an extensive garden with 17 terraces and about 750 steps down to the middle terraces which are open to the public. The garden is designed for meditation anf reflection. It is a very formal design and layout.

After the tour we visited the shrine to the Bahá’u’lláh which may or may not be his actual burial place…..it wasn’t very clear. The principals of the faith ….the equality of all faiths, equality of people, desire to control extremes of poverty and wealth, universal education seem very admirable, but then I read the prayer at the shrine with references to as accession of believers into heaven and infidels being cast down and I was totally desolutioned.