Caesarea National Park

Caesarea is another place mentioned a few times in the Bible.  It is probably best known as the city where Cornelius the Roman centurion lived (Acts 10), but it is also the city where Paul is taken to under the cover of the night when his nephew uncovers a murder plot (Acts 23).

Caesarea National Park

There was a lot to see here!  At eight-thirty in the morning we rode bus 5 to the Tel Aviv-Savidor Center train station and rode the train Caesarea-Pardes Hanna.  We missed Bus 80 by a few minutes, and since this bus makes its route every three hours, we decided to ride Bus 11 to the Caesarea Golf Club and walk to the National Park from there.

Part of the path we took to walk to the National Park.  It's about the only part that's shady!!!!

The walk to the Park was not long, but in the heat of day (it was around noontime), along with almost no shade, the trip was exhausting.

We passed by a piece of land used for growing bananas during the walk:

Banana trees under mesh net

After we had walked for about forty minutes, we saw...

...the old city!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We paid the entrance fee (174 shekels for two adults and four kids aged 5-18) and entered the gate.

Remains of fortifications during the Crusader period.

What is left of the harbor Herod the Great built at Caesarea.  Its foundations and holds are made of volcanic ash, which hardens to cement when under water.

The old arena in Caesarea where gladiator fights, chariot races, and other bloody sporting events used to be held.

This interesting structure is right outside the arena.  Can you guess what it is?
Toilets!!

Public Bathhouse

Remains of the public bathing house (see descriptions below)

Southern area of public bathhouse

Northern area of public bathhouse

A bathtub in the bathhouse???

Ahh...there was lots more to see but time was running out.  We left the site, caught Bus 80 (yay!!!), and returned home.

Caesarea is nice, but I think I like Jerusalem better.