roadtrip – Seite 8 – rene bauer photography

Israel – Sea Of Galilee

Very calm and quite lies the Sea of Galilee in front of me. To my surprise i was almost alone on the shore and enjoyed the calm atmosphere here.

The village Capernaum was already mentioned in the bible and supposed to be a place where Jesus lived and thaught his disciples. Here you could imagine, how he went out with them in a fisher boat, and eventually even walked on water. It was enough for me to walk on the pier, but started to consider to hike the gospel trail, which starts in Nazareth and ends here in Capernaum.

But not this time. Then a few kilometer further south i reached Tabgha with the church of multiplication, also known as the church of ‚the loaves and fish‘. That’s the place where Jesus supposed to feed the crowd of 5000 people by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fishes.

The amount of busses all around this church let me think they try this wonder again by gathering 5000 tourist here. Groups after groups arriving, squeezing themselves trough the entrance, praying, singing …and making selfies.

But then a wonder happened indeed. Suddenly I found myself alone in that relatively small church. While i still could hear some rustling murmurs from outside, i enjoyed the calmness for a few minutes inside the cool church.

My last stop at the lake was in Tiberias with his rich history. Nowadays a holiday spot and resting place for pilgrims. Along the lake promenade are cafes, shops and guys shouting out for a short boat trip on the holy Sea of Galilee.

März 9, 2023März 8, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, HOPE, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, travelTags: capernaum, church, genezareth, israel, jesus, kafernaum, lake, lakegalilee, multiplication, nature, renebauerphotography, roadtrip, seaofgalilee, seegenezareth, tabgha, tiberias, Travel, water Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Israel – The Golan Heights

Actually belongs the Golan Heights still to Syria. Since the occupation from Israel in the „Six-Day War“ it was never recognized internationally as part of Israel. But due its strategically importance, the latter never gave it back.

Despite the politically situation, the Golan Heights are known for its beautiful landscape and wonderful views.

Frankly, i’ve been too curious for both reasons. How it looks there, and is any tension to feel or to see when i travel there.

I started very early in the morning from the coast and headed straight to a point, which was marked in my map as memorial and picnic spot in the heights. An old tank was displayed there and some boards telling the stories of the battle in the ‚Six-Dax War‘.

I was honestly disappointed from the view there. Not only was it bit hazy, but also couldn’t see really far.

There was another mark on the map. Merom Golan, it says, was also a picnic spot or so. As i arrived there another ten minutes driving, it turned out as holiday resort. I turned my car at the security gate. Just few hundreds meters back heads a steep, winding road to the top of Mt. Bental with a wonderful lookout westwards over rolling hills of Golan.

On the very top, the view opens to south and east. A big, green valley lies in front, with a few wind mills and small lakes. At the horizon raises big, snowcapped mountains. Mount Hermon, as i found out, is 2’814m asl and already at Libanon – Syria border.

The peak of of Mt Bental is full of old bunkers, ditches and combat positions. It’s nowadays an open air museum, but no doubt, they would put it back into operation and reinforce it, whenever the situation get tense again.

I decided to travel along the ‚buffer zone‘ to the Gamla nature park and have a short hike there. But on my way i got stopped by some military road block, who asked me to turn around, since that road is temporarily closed. As if to underline the soldiers words, a big bang from artillery echoes trough the air. They’re on a training or maneuver, always ready to strike again.

On my way back i saw big trucks parking, ready to take tanks to move them from one spot to another. I rather took a look back to the beautifully and peacefully mountains on the other side.

März 8, 2023März 7, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: history, HOPE, humansofplanetearth, reportage, roadtrip, travel, UncategorizedTags: battle, border, bunker, combat, conflict, golan, golanheights, hills, history, israel, landscape, lebanon, libanon, lookout, meromgolan, middleeast, military, mountains, mountbental, mounthermon, renebauerphotography, sixdaywar, snowcapped, syria, tank, Travel, valley, view Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Old Akko – A Stroll Trough History

The next morning I returned to the old city centre of Akko/Acre.

Some remains in the old town are still witnesses from the past centuries. A combined ticket for the most interesting, historical sites brought me across the city.

Most fascinating for me was the Templar Tunnel, which leads 150 meter long under the old city and was used from the crusaders. It was only recovered in the 1990′ by coincidence.

But most surprising was the citadel of the crusaders, with its knights halls, hospice and many more buildings. The remains are nowadays under the later build city. So, a self guided tour brought under the streets and opened up ancient streets, walls, churches and so on.

There was also a museum about a Turkish bath, known as hammam. In the different room are statues and video explanations to show the history of this particular hammam and how these bathrooms works in general.

The Ramhal synagoge is famous for its earlier Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lozato, who’s a very important religious leader and academic.

In the city wall is one more museum. It exhibits a collection of everyday objects, tools, but also clothes and jewelry from the begin of modern Israel.

März 7, 2023März 6, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, reportage, roadtrip, travel, UncategorizedTags: akkon, bathroom, crusader, hammam, history, israel, lozato, medieval, medievaltown, middleeast, museum, rabbi, RabbiMosheChaimLozato, renebauerphotography, synagoge, Travel, tunnel, turkishbath, underground Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Within The Mighty Walls of Akko

Akko, also known as Acre, has a rich history for around 5000 years. Many folks and and groups fought for it, because of its strategic location at the sea with a calm bay.

However, who is interested in history, please use the link provided (as usual 😉 )

My first day in Akko startet with a little breakfast surprise from my host. After that first coffee i was ready to explore the strong city walls and the areas within.

In the morning i found it quite empty. Happily, i walked around, found some small alleys, walked trough the market or watched the kids playing soccer between the mighty walls. Sometimes a stop for a coffee or a small bite. Just enjoying myself and imagine the life in times of the crusaders…

März 6, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, landscape, portrait, reportage, roadtrip, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: acre, akko, ancient, city, citywalls, door, grafiti, history, israel, market, medievaltown, middleeast, people, port, renebauerphotography, sea, streetphotography, town, Travel, walls Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Caesarea Maritima, Israel – Ancient Roman Life At The Sea

It’s not the most impressive Roman remains. Neither by its size, nor its preservation or buildings. The location is it, what makes it for a nice stop on my way up north along the coast.

And the location gave this town also the name: Caesarea Maritima For more details to its history follow the link i provide.

Altough there was already a few bus loads of tourists, the site wasn’t overrun. At the amphitheatre, overlooking the sea, a group of young Americans sang even a few short songs for the audience. I enjoyed it with the crowd, but later i went my own way.

The trick is, to bring patience and let pass the tour groups, try to move between the groups and find farther niches, which let me imagine how the life was around 2000 years ago.

Looking over the mosaic floor trough the archway and stepping out on the terrace to catch some sea breeze. Life wasn’t that bad here 2000 years ago…

März 4, 2023März 3, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, history, reportage, roadtrip, UncategorizedTags: amphitheatre, ancient, archeologicalsite, archeology, byzantine, caesarea, coast, israel, livingatthesea, middleeast, mosaics, renebauerphotography, roman, romanempire, ruins, seaside, telaviv, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Beachlife

Talking about beaches i’d rather prefer a lonely spot under a palm tree, where i could read and enjoy a sea breeze.

The city beaches of Tel Aviv are certainly different. That means not less interesting. In the opposite, it’s not even mainly a beach to sunbathe and for swimming. The latter is officially forbidden on many stretches anyway. But it’s the place to meet people, going for a run or any other sporty activity, including playing ball sports with friends.

On a Shabbat, the Judaism day of rest, commonly known as Saturday, the public transport aren’t working and most shops, bars and restaurants are closed as well. The beaches, on the other hand, are always open. So they become the meeting points. People come with friends or family to picnic, roam in the park, listen to street musician or gathering for whatever their interest is.

A group placed a huge tripod on a place, attached ropes and rings on it and started doing acrobatic performances for the spectators.

A bit further i heard drums and followed the beat sound. At least a half dozen men practicing Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art, where the participants rather dance than really fight. It looks spectacular anyway.

More peaceful sounds from a saxophonist, who’s sending the descending sun his last greetings.

It doesn’t mean the day comes to an end quickly now, but while in some places another party starts, i join a group of sunset watchers on a quite corner and look back on another beautiful day in Tel Aviv.

März 3, 2023März 1, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: HOPE, humansofplanetearth, portrait, reportage, roadtrip, tradition, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: acrobatic, beach, beachlife, beachvolleyball, capoeira, family, friends, fun, gathering, israel, life, middleeast, people, performance, renebauerphotography, sport, streetmusician, streetperformance, sundowner, sunset, telaviv, Travel, weekend Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Old Jaffa

Where all began. Old Jaffa is the oldest part of the region and nowadays a main tourist attraction.

From far I can see the impressive silhouette of the old city and its strong wall towards the sea. I approach it along the beach. Suddenly i stood in front of these walls, on a square with little shops, bars, cafes, galleries and street musicians. Not only the tourists, but also the locals like this place to go out and enjoy the almost medieval atmosphere.

A board over a small entrance to steep staircase says ‚Welcome to Old Jaffa‘ and indicates an entrance to he small alleys of the old town. I tried to hide from the many trippers. Indeed i found some lonely, nice corners to enjoy some minutes of solitude.

Reached the top, there’s another square. A big fountain and the St Peter’s church on one side, more bars and souvenirs on the other. A small bridge leads to the Abrasha Park, with a beautiful view over the city and beaches. Time to go back there, i decided

März 2, 2023März 1, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: history, reportage, roadtrip, travel, urbanlifeTags: citywalk, curch, israel, jaffa, medievaltown, middleeast, oldjaffa, park, people, renebauerphotography, sightseeing, streetart, streetlife, streetphotography, telaviv, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Urbanlife

Tel Aviv.

A vibrant city indeed. People strolling along the pedestrian zones, sitting in one of the many cafes at a square or in a park or just going shopping in one of the big malls. The mild climate makes it even more comfortable to be in the streets and parks, especially now in the wintertime.

So far not really different to many other modern cities on the world. But then, there’s that mix of smaller, older buildings between big, modern skyscrapers. I can’t make it out a clear line between living area and business district. It’s all fluently.

It’s also lively and colorful, as i find bigger or smaller graffiti everywhere. And a lot of movement too, not only by car, but many by bicycle and e-scooter. A network of bicycle paths makes it easy to navigate trough the city. It’s fun to take one of the rental e-scooter and roaming trough the neighborhood. From time to time i have to stop for a photo or a nice cup of cappuccino, of course.

Februar 28, 2023Februar 28, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: HOPE, humansofplanetearth, reportage, roadtrip, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: architecture, bauhaus, bicycle, cafe, city, citylife, downtown, grafiti, israel, jaffa, middleeast, mountedpolice, people, renebauerphotography, reportage, shopping, streetart, streetlife, streetphotography, telaviv, Travel, urbanlife, yafo Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Tel Aviv – Marathon 2023

It was pure coincidence i was on side of the track of the annual Tel Aviv Marathon yesterday.

The blocked road and a water supply station got my attention when i was wandering along the seaside.

The marathon is started just now, i got informed. So, i took my camera out and started to shoot.

And i keep pressing the shutter since there was so many motivated, smiling, waving, thumb-ups and even hearts.

You all guys get my fully respect!

I decided to publish the pictures on my blog. If anyone recognize him-/herself and want that photo, just send a message.

Februar 25, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: HOPE, humansofplanetearth, reportage, roadtrip, tradition, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: event, fun, israel, jogging, marathon, motivation, renebauerphotography, run, smile, sport, telavibmarathon2023, telaviv, telavivmarathon, TelAvivPlaytikamarathon, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Roma – A Glimpse Of Eternity

A winter day in Rome, known as the eternal city, is perfect for sightseeing. If the sun is shining and the temperatures are mild, even better.

I was surprised how quick i went trough all the entrances and security checks on the main tourist spots.

I’ll spare you all the details of the history and backgrounds, but will link the main attractions to Wikipedia for all those who seek more informations for their own trip to Rome.

For all those ones interested in some pictures, just do it my way: grab a coffee and enjoy what you’ll see: