Palace of a King

This is another view of the huge and lavish palace of King Herod the Great. He never did any building in a small way but this one was for really showing off to the Romans in Caesarea.

The columns in the distance are still part of the palace.

Artificial Port @ Caesarea

This is what is left of an artificial port that King Herod built at Caesarea. The site along the coast that Herod chose for the city did not have a natural harbor or port so he went to the great expense to build one. He used a new Roman invention called hydraulic concrete - that is concrete that sets under water.

The sea filled in the port with sand long ago and this is what is left of the docks which are now quite a bit inland.

Digging In Caesarea

There is an on going dig at Caesarea as the city built by King Herod the Great was huge and a marvel of its day. The tents here are covering dig sites that need protection from the sun and they provide a place of relief from the sun for workers.

Caesarea was a planned city from the ground up.  It must have been quite beautiful when it was new.

Herod's Palace At Ceasrea

At Ceasrea we toured the ruins of King Herod's palace there. He had them all over Israel. This one was fancy with almost modern plumbing - running water - baths - toilet that flushed down a sewer line and into the sea.

Caesarea Theater

This Roman theater in Caesarea was built by King Herod before Jesus was born and it is still in use. 

My Camel Ride

My first and only camel ride was on this docile beast who wasn't.

The ride itself was not so bad though a little wiggly at the top. The getting up and down was awkward  but OK.

It was the getting off that put me off camels as it tried to bite me and when it could not it spit on me. IT must have been chewing tobacco for that spit was oh so awful. I had to toss out my shirt as the stain never came out.