18 Jan 09 Ein Kerem

The weather was perfect today for hiking around the town of Ein Kerem, the birthplace of John the Baptist. We visited the Franciscan Church of the visitation, the spot where Mary visited Elizabeth, John the Baptist's mother. Spring of the Vineyard was a beautiful fountain named after Mary. The mosaics and a grotto inside of the birthplace of the Baptist were stunning inside and outside of the church. The Hadassah Hospital complex just above the town is internationally known for Marc Chagall's stained-glass windows, depicting the 12 tribes of Israel. We wandered the mountains and did a lot of walking because none of us had a map. But it was quite the adventure with a lot of good laughs and good sports.