Friday, November 13, 2009

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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17 comments:

  1. Let us know what you lead a tour. I'm signing up. Spectacular place. I want to be there NOW!

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  2. This is a whole set of beautiful pictures. That blue light is really nice.

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  3. High class was the correct word here. Never have I seen so many different and exquisite benches in one place. I don't dare ask what a the price og a night would be.

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  4. Jan GDP, come on over. You'd better find a real guide, however.

    Gunn White, thanks. I think so too.

    Abe, actually the blue light is what first caught my eye from the street, so I ventured in with my camera.

    Rune, I checked the website. One night for 2 adults, with bed and one meal, would cost between $315 and $525. Oi veh!

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  5. Looks like a grand, fancy place! Is that where the "who's who" congregate?

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  6. Thank you for the tip, buyt the server that should have told the price was down. No matter - it looked gorgeous.

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  7. Re your comment: Almost as bad as here :-)

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  8. Lovely place for a vacation after digging into the piggybank, and the benches are located in perfect spots.

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  9. I always find it strange and wonderful at the same time when hotels are located in very historical buildings. Wonderful post as always.

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  10. Wow! What a beautiful assortment of "high class" benches. You captured them so well. What a place that must be!

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  11. Dina, what a charming atmosphere in these images. Beautiful place which really is worth seeing.

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  12. Wow! You've got a whole bunch of gorgeous, interesting benches. Excellent!

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  13. i like that swing bench and the view from the semi circular bench ... it looks like a perfect place to have a time with yourself, a cup of coffee or tea, and a good book.

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  14. Beautiful, I can imagine staying there.
    You're right about the chicory, by the way, but the chicory we took along was the salad kind.
    I stole the title for my CC post from Tom Lehrer, I love that song ;)

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  15. I love those Roman capitals. In a place like that I'd spend all my time letting my mind time-travel.

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