Israel at dig site

We have been here a week. Barbara fell the first day. It was determined she would not come up the mountain anymore. People have been very very kind. Me? Not so much. This puts me in an awkward situation.

She has stayed in our very nice hostel room mostly alone in the mornings while I work on the mountain. She was to help with pottery but Tuesday she fell there too. Doctors have said her hand was extensively bruised in the first fall. She did not hurt herself in the second fall. I think people are scared to be responsible for her anymore. So I tell them she can play on the internet in the morning like at home. That would work except she has mostly slept.

She interviewed with an expert, retire neurologist who is now a professor at U. of Haifa. He says the falling, dizziness, and vertigo could be the result of the change in medicine she had in Houston. She has been told she can step back on her medicine in slow stages. She is taking one less pill now to see if that helps.

She would like to go back up on the mountain but we hope she will not. The first week is over. We have rested Friday and Saturday. The second week starts on Sunday.

We have tried twice to drive 20 miles to Tiberius to go to church. There is a Scottish Presbyterian church somewhere in Tiberius. But we cannot find it. Again this morning we went on Sabbath to try to find it. On Sabbath there are few cars on the road, some people are obviously coming or going to service (walking). Most everything is closed.

The hotels must be open. The beach resort areas are open. We found a filling station/convenience store open this morning. I was glad to get out of the room and drive around. It was a little like exploring.

We then came back and had a leisurely breakfast with many of the people still here at the kibbutz. Many have gone on tours, self directed or with groups. I met Jewish people from Britain, Australian, Philadelphia, and Poland. Mostly they are young students. Oh yes, an older lady from Portugal originally. Any local Israelis on the dig have gone home for the weekend.

This is a picture of my first week group at the Basilica of Hippos/Susita. We had a pretty good time. This group includes people from France, Italy, and local students from Haifa.