A touch of class in Tiberias

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During my weeks in Tiberias, after our digging day was over I would often escape from the crowded hostel room and walk up to a hotel with real class--"The Scottie." Just to walk around their gardens and to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Their brochure is titled "The Scots Hotel, St. Andrew's, Galilee, Owned and Managed by the Church of Scotland, Maintaining Christian Witness in the Land of Christ Since 1885."

The brochure continues:
"The city of Tiberias, named after Caesar Tiberius, was founded by Herod Antipas and is nearly 2,000 years old. During its history it has been ruled by Jews, Muslims, Druze, Crusaders, Turks, and the British, as well by the Romans. It was to here that, in 1885, David Watt Torrance, a 23 year old surgeon from Airdrie, Scotland, arrived to set up the Scottish 'Mission of the Jews' in the Holy Land."
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So this former hospital is now what has been converted.
Now it is a botique hotel complex, with its 19th century black basalt walls having been "sensitively refurbished." And a new modern wing was added.

Look at all the benches! Perfect for RuneE's "Bench on Friday" meme at Visual Norway.

These benches in a row sit in the fragrant herb (and other plants) garden. A pleasure for the nose as well as the soul.

Notice (if you enlarge the photo) the flag of Scotland.

This fine old bench is in the archaeology garden.

Nearby is a fishpond with underwater lights to illuminate the big ornamental fish!

Even the bench along the wall has underground illumination!

The view from the semicircular bench: ancient Roman capitals on pedestals and the Sea of Galilee.

The lovely gazebo . . .

. . . and its view of the lake.

The hotel swimming pool is just across the street, via a private wooden bridge.

Not bad, eh? :-)

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The old basalt Scots church and school buildings are also across the street.

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The interesting website, complete with history of the place, is http://www.scotshotels.co.il/index_en.html.

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