Capernaum

Back on the trail, I hiked through the tranquil countryside until I arrived at Tabgha Church of the Loaves and Fishes. According to tradition, this is the place where Jesus fed 5,000 people with a meager offering of five loaves of bread and two fish. The original church dates back to the 4th century. A second church was built on the same site in the 5th century, and despite being destroyed by the Persians, its beautifully adorned mosaic floor was later uncovered during excavations in the early 20th century. A temporary third church was erected in 1932 to safeguard the mosaics, but it wasn't until the construction of the fourth and final church in 1982, designed as a Byzantine basilica, that the wetland bird and plant mosaics were fully restored and showcased. A mosaic in front of the altar portrays two fish on either side of a basket filled with four loaves of bread. It is a depiction believed to mark the location where Jesus performed his miraculous act.

The trail headed north for a few miles until I turned onto a road that led to The Church of the Beatitudes. On this site, Jesus supposedly delivered the Sermon on the Mount, a set of teachings on morality, ethics and spirituality.

As I neared Capernaum, I walked alongside the Sea of Galilee (aka Lake Tiberias or Kinneret) and took in this vast body of water that was not a sea but a lake. Situated at around 700ft (210m) below sea level, the Sea of Galilee is Israel's largest freshwater lake and the second-lowest lake in the world. The Sea of Galilee is important to Jews and Christians, as it is thought to be where Jesus walked on water and where he chose some of his disciples to be his followers.

My next stop was at the ancient ruins of Capernaum. Once a thriving fishing village and centre for trade and commerce, Capernaum was Jesus' second home. Here he healed many people of their ailments and taught at the synagogue. The town was occupied for quite some time, from the 2nd century BC to the 11th century AD, when it was abandoned before the First Crusade.

Archeological excavations revealed the remains of two synagogues, one built on top of another and a house converted into a church, thought to have belonged to Peter, Jesus' closest disciple. Today, a modern hexagonal church sits on top of Peter's house. Oil and grain mills were also discovered, indicating that the land was used for agriculture. Although fishing was the major income source.

Capernaum is a sizable ancient town packed with the history of Jesus' life and his times. One can envisage him walking the ancient streets or sitting on one of the benches in the ancient synagogue.

I ended my journey here, sitting beneath a shady tree and reflecting on my travels along the Jesus Trail. This was an enlightening experience, hearing the stories of Jesus, walking in his footsteps, and imagining what life must have been like 2000 years ago.

Finally, let me conclude with my favourite street food dish - a falafel in a pita pocket filled with pickles, tahini, hummus, and cut vegetables. For an added kick of flavor, I added the spicy harif sauce. There's no better way to cap off my journey than with this scrumptious Middle Eastern dish.

Farewell for now.