Although this does not look very appetizing, it was delicious. Traditional Middle Eastern meal called "aroos al-wadi (pride of the valley) which is baked bread with minced, spiced beef baked on top, and a traditional Fatoush salad of tomatoes, cucum

Haifa has a very efficient train service that runs from the port station on the north side of Mt Carmel around the shoreline to the beach station on the south side of the mountain in about 15 minutes, just in time to catch the sunset!

This could be an idea for my new profession!

Goldstar beer is a popular Israeli-made brew.

I took this picture of this creative castle on the beach of Haifa for my brother Don, who has expressed cynical comments in the past about cookie cutter molded "Walmart Castles."

Watching the sunset over the beautiful Mediterranean Sea from Haifa's Hof HaCarmel Beach.

The beach as a nice boardwalk lined with outdoor seaside restaurants suitable for savoring the sunset!

The same little train that runs between the port and the beach also goes north to the nearby port town of Akko, about 90 minutes away. The old walled city is located on a promontory jutting out into the sea.

The train runs along the seashore, so I desperately wanted a window seat on the side of the train with a view. This was the only remaining window seat. I enjoyed the view, but spent more time trying to make sure his loosely dangling rifle was not about

Structure outside the Al-Jazzar mosque, built in 1781.

The ancient city of Akko is best known for it's subterranean crusader city, the Knights Halls being located 25 feet underground.

During the British Mandate period from 1915 - 1948, activists of Jewish Zionist resistance movements were imprisoned here.