Laaste dag in Haifa, Israel

Die Bahá'í Tuine lê uitgesprei teen die berg. Die volgende drie foto's is ook daar geneem.
The Bahá'í Gardens are spread out against the mountain. The next three photographs are taken there as well.





Die uitkyk oor die stad vanaf die Stella Maris.
The beautiful view over the city from the viewpoint at the Stella Maris.

Selfs ek wat geen see-mens is nie, moet toegee dat die see hier pragtig is.
I am not a beach bum but even I had to admit that the sea here at Haifa is beautiful .

Haifa is die grootste stad in Noord-Israel met ‘n bevolking van ongeveer 266 000 mense.

Ek het vandag ‘n bietjie “boulevard cruising” met die KLR gedoen. Ons het nou wonderlike weer hier met ‘n koelerigheid in die lug. Die stad lê teen ‘n berg. Waarheen mens ook al ry, is dit of na bo of na onder of langs die see.

Ek hou van die stad, meer as van Tel Aviv. Daar is ‘n definitiewe Meditereense atmosfeer. Die strate is skoon, die sypaadjies is groen en ek het baie tuis gevoel hier. Vir lang rukke het ek die strate net vir myself gehad.

Op ‘n paar plekke het ek ‘n baie fyn, subtiele soet reuk gekry. Êrens is bloeisels wat ek nie kon sien nie wat hierdie wonderlike reuk versprei.

My vriende gaan nou glimlag. Ek het dit selfs reggekry om vir ‘n lang ruk op die strand op rotse te gaan sit en net die lenteson te geniet.

Gister op pad terug van die See van Galilea het ek oor goeie paaie gery, oor ‘n baie hoë bergpas, deur klein bergdorpies. Selfs met die Lebanese grens net regs van my kon ek geen gevoel van oorlog en onvrede speur nie. Die vrede in myself het oorgevloei na die groen velde en berge om my. Die son was net warm genoeg om my gelukkig te hou. Die somer is nog nie hier nie.

Vir die eerste keer het die KLR begin aandag trek. Talle mense het kom hand gee. Hulle was baie verbaas om te hoor waar my reis begin het. Dit beteken dus dat ek nou regtig ver van die huis af is.

Ek het nou nog net Italië, Switserland en Oostenryk oor voor ek in Duitsland aankom. Ek het só uitgesien daarna om in Duitsland aan te kom. Maar nou begin ek myself te vra of ek al gereed is om op te hou ry …

Hoe weet ek wat nie nog alles op my en die KLR wag nie? Naboom2Germany? Naboom2 ??

Ek wonder hoe gaan dit met Lize in die kantoor. En met Suzanne. Niemand het vir my ‘n email gestuur oor hoe min hul my by die FSA mis nie. As daardie email sou kom …

A good traveler has no fixed plan, and is not intent on arriving.

~ The Way of Life - Lao-Tzu ~

Haifa is the biggest city in Northern Israel. The population is about 266 000.

I used the KLR for some boulevard cruising today. We have wonderful weather today with a slight hint of coolness in the air. The city lies spread out against a mountain. One either rides up the mountain, or down, or along the beach.

I really like Haifa, more than Tel Aviv. There is a definite Mediterranean vibe here. The streets are clean, the pavements covered in green. I feel at home here. There were not many cars on the streets, and for quite a time I had the freedom of the road.

A few times a faint, very subtle sweet fragrance from some spring blossoms was in the air. I could not trace the origin of the fragrance. It increased the feeling of well-being that I have.

My friends are going to enjoy this: I managed to sit down for a while on the beach on rocks to enjoy the mild sunshine.

Yesterday, returning from Lake Tiberias (Galilea) I cruised along well-built roads, over a high mountain pass, through small mountain villages, and even with the Lebanese border just a few kilometers north of me I felt such a peace in me and on the fields around me. The golden sunshine was just warm enough. Summer is still on its way here.

For the first time the KLR caught the eye of people wondering about the strange number plate. People came and shook hands, surprised to hear from where we came. That means that we really are far from home …

Before I get to Germany I have to ride through only Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Suddenly I start doubting, doubting whether I am ready to stop riding.

How do I know what experiences the KLR and I still have to have? Naboom2Germany. Naboom2 ??

I wonder how is Lize coping in the office. And Suzanne. No one sent an email that they don’t miss me at all. If that email comes … then …

A good traveler has no fixed plan, and is not intent on arriving.

~ The Way of Life - Lao-Tzu ~