I have never ridden in a subway car with stair steps before!

Haifa is a major port city, and no, there is no escaping the ubiquitous cruise ship pier, even in Israel.

The city, built on the side of Mt Carmel, reminded me a lot of the beautiful city of San Francisco.

The globes are lit at night, making a beautiful lighted pattern which can be seen as a landmark from the port.

The 18 symmetrical terraces are impeccably landscaped and maintained with every blade of grass in place by 700 volunteers from abroad. The faithful are expected to make a pilgrimage to Haifa to for a contemplative walk up the 1,400 steps in the garden.

The Baha'i faith is based on equality, unity, the oneness of mankind, and harmony between religion and the sciences.

Beautiful views from the Baha'i Gardens. The only access to the garden is via guided tour, keeping the atmosphere pristine, quiet, and serene.

The key attraction in Haifa is the Baha'i Gardens, one of the most holy places for the Baha'i faith, one of the worlds youngest religions, originating in Persia in the mid-19th century.

The gardens were built by the Baha'i faith at a cost of $250 million USD.

Beautiful blocks of color throughout the gardens.

This is from the bottom of the gardens, which is the top of the street known as the "German Colony," looking up the nine terraces toward the shrine. Unfortunately, the beautiful gold-domed shrine in the middle of the gardens was being restored

A very refreshing mid-day stop between sightseeing at the charming outdoor garden of "Fatoush," where I enjoyed a refreshing lemon juice with fresh mint.