I woke up (the morning after my last post) to clear skies. I packed up and said goodbye to the warmhearted students and walked out the hostel gate feeling like I was pushing my way out of the womb into an uncharted world. I had become accustomed to the comfort and security. But it was time to cut the cord. I stood on a bluff overlooking the Mediterranean, took a deep breath and let my jitters be carried away with the wind. And boy was it windy!
It felt nice and familiar to be back on the trail. I plodded across rolling sand dune’s along the coast without a specific destination in mind; my plan was to go until my ankle said stop. Three or four hours later as I approached the ruins of ancient Caesaria, I knew that was far enough.
The pay booth was closed but the gate was open and the old city was all but deserted. I wandered around looking at the extensive remains of the magnificent coastal port that was once a cultural and commercial powerhouse. The innovative architecture was rebuilt by Herod in the first century in honour of Augustus Caesar.
Storm clouds had been blowing in from the east and by early evening the rain hit with a vengeance. I was sitting under a three sided makeshift archaeological structure covered with vapour barrier within the ruins pondering what to do for the night. As it continued raining, the twilight deepening, an idea was taking shape. Hmmm…do I dare? It would be pretty exciting. I had a look around and found a mound of black landscape fabric behind a shed under the enclosure. There wasn’t room to put up my tent but I would have shelter and be off the ground. I didn’t want to draw attention by lighting my stove so there would be no supper or tea but it was an opportunity that was simply not to be missed.
K
Later, In the dark, snug and comfortable on the landscape fabric, wind and rain tearing ferociously at the vapour barrier, waves crashing against the Byzantine break wall, the intoxication of actually sleeping within the famous ruins made my skin tingle. I fantasized that I had crossed some Narnia like portal and would wake up to the sounds of the Roman marketplace. Instead I woke up to the sounds of workman’s voices. I stayed quiet as a mouse and didn’t move. But I was discovered anyway. When the two workers saw me, they put their hands over their heart and brought me water and cookies and told me to be careful; soon the snakes would be coming out from under the black fabric to sun themselves on the rocks, then headed off with their wheelbarrows and shovels. I packed up pretty quick.
The shvil left ancient Caesaria following a Roman road along the coast, abundant with ruins, and every so often you could see intact mosaics and small pieces of broken pottery. I was in my glory stuffing the pottery into my pack (reminding me of when Sabrina and I backpack through Greece and carried slabs of marble that we found). Eventually though, I decided that it was foolish for me to carry the extra weight, so I regrettably left my treasures behind and consoled myself inhaling handfuls of the wild Rosemary that grows everywhere here.
In the days since, I have been back in my tent (sometimes cozy, sometimes cold and wet) and continued north with judicious baby steps. The trail turned inland at the Arabic fishing village of Zorba. I crossed Mount Caramel and dropped down into the gardens at Zihron Ya’ akov. But that is a story for another post.
The Flip Side of Fifty 
Exciting again. I know that tingling feeling. Had it in Ireland where St Patrick is buried. Oh and I read recently breathing rosemary is very good for the memory!
That tingly feeling is a spidie sense kind of thing I think. Good to know about the Rosemary. ( I believe I will plant a bunch of it :))
I am in total awe of the incredible structures they built thousands of years ago.
Fabulous pictures!
Yes, it’s are to wrap your head around how they even managed it. Some of the blocks are bigger than anything you see today.
You are such a brave woman and I am loving that I know you and hugely enjoying your adventures through your writings. Who would have even thought of snakes during a rainstorm? If you find any Roman shards of glass lying around (usually iridescent), try not to get it wet…I will make you something from it. It is absolutely beautiful!!!! I went digging for it in Umbria last year. Found quite a bit. Israel is well known for it.
Thank you for sharing your journey.
Love,
Annxo
Hi Annie, great to hear from you. So glad you are enjoying the blog. It really is a great adventure and it makes me happy to share it. Thank you for reading it :)! I will keep my eyes peeled for Roman glass. That would be so cool. Would love to get together when i return. Lots of hugs, Arlene xo
Arlene my friend! Jim and I are loving your posts and are fascinated at your decisions to continue, or stay a while, take this road or the next. We are on our own journey right now – currently in the central highlands of Guatemala meeting the beautiful locals and enjoying their culture and landscape…
That is so awesome Jan. I think of you often and wonder how you are doing. So happy to hear from you!! (I am not on Facebook but is there a blog I can read about your adventure). Are you based in Belize as you thought or are you also travelling here and there wherever the wind takes you.
Just finished catching up on your latest blog… how much further do you have? No we are not based anywhere – we have a camper on our F150 that has fridge/freezer, toilet shower, cooker and we go wherever and whenever we want to (we wild camp everywhere we go). We travelled down the west coast from Vancouver, across from San Diego to Texas where we crossed into Mexico and explored the Gulf coast, into the Yucatan and the Riviera Maya for just over two months. We LOVED Mexico. We only spent two weeks in Belize – in all not really a place we would return to. We found it expensive, but did enjoy meeting the people. For instance, we spent one night in a gravel pit chatting with the Mayan and his son who were being paid to watch the equipment of the Mennonite owners. Wish you could see our facebook stuff – unfortunately that’s enough work for us and we don’t have a blog. So we are currently in Guatemala, loving the remote central highlands. We plan on legging it to Antingua tomorrow to take in the Easter celebrations, then to Lake Atitlan. Jims two kids are joining us mid-April and we found a surfing beach on the Pacific coast to set up camp for a couple of weeks. Then we would like to head into El Salvadore and down to Costa Rica…
Keep in touch and keep safe… Jan and Jim
What a great adventure you are having! Will be awesome to catch up when you return and see your pictures. Glad all is well and you are living such a dream. Stay safe and lots of hugs, Arlene xo