Trains, Haifa and Gilad Shalit.

I had thought about adding the Jerusalem Archelogical Park, but that might be a post all in its self.

Martin and I wanted to see Haifa.  We debated about taking the bus or the train.  Since I have a facination with trains, the train decision was obvious.  We took the train to Savidor Center in Tel Aviv.  When Martin and I left Israel, we had not figured out which platform to be at for the correct train.  I will have to find a time table book (which I saw different people looking at.)

I like the open layout of the stations.  Here is the Savidor Center:

Martin and I sat back for the long ride ahead.  The countryside was amazing.  I have traveled across the United States many times, but nothing compares to Israel.  This picture was taken just south of Haifa (not the best photo):

Martin and I took the bus up to The Colony Hotel (thanks Sheli for the sugguestion) not far from the Haifa HaShmona station.  I was very impressed with the neighborhood around The Colony.  Should I ever have a house built, I would like it to look similar to The Colony.  Here is a front view of The Colony:

Here is a view looking out of the room:

Martin sure enjoyed the room as well:

Here is the view looking (north) towards the Port of Haifa:

Although I am not fond of the Bahai Shrine, I still found it amazing to look at:

Martin took a tour of the of the Bahai Shrine the next morning.  I sat near the train station waiting for him afterwards.  We boarded the train for the long ride back to Jerusalem.  I was not used to having security check at a train station, but then I remembered where I was.  The view from the train (again) was priceless.  Here is a view of the Mediteranian Sea:

Living in the United States, media coverage of issues in the Middle East are spotty at best.  I had hear about the situation with Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit.  The majority of the news that I heard from was through my friend Uri Gobey and his Israel Muse News blog on FaceBook.  I was a bit angered at times, becase what happens in the Middle East effects the Western World.  Martin and I passed by this tent vigal for Gilead Shalit many times while we stayed in Jerusalem:

I continued to follow Gilead Shalit through the Israel Muse News blog, and was finally happy to learn that he was finally released.