Overview

This route will climb from the low-lying coastal areas of the Western Galilee into the hills that lie eastward. This scenic, sprawling part of the Galilee is more densely populated. Its many communities form a mosaic of different cultures, languages, and styles of living. Until the recent war, these communities had always been a safe distance from rockets landing further north; residents could hear them strike but had never been hit directly. Last year, however, this area was a direct target and suffered considerable damage.

Detailed route

The first leg of the journey will be along the road stretching between Acre (Acco) and Carmiel.

An Herb with a Long History and Bright Future

Our first stop will be the village of Makker, near Acre. There, we’ll meet with a group of “graduates” of a women’s empowerment course who formed a cooperative for growing zatar (the biblical herb hyssop) (#75) and marketing it as a culinary delicacy. Over a cup of coffee and a sample of these delicacies, we’ll speak with a member of cooperative.

Manal’s Women

We’ll continue on to Kfar Yasif, our second stop. We’ll tour this ancient site and visit the studio of Manal Morkous (#151), an Arab sculptor and artist whose main theme is women – particularly the status of women in Arab society.

From Kfar Havradim to Peki’in

Traveling along a lovely scenic route, we’ll stop to hear the unique story of Kfar Vradim, established in 1984 as an industrial town that aspired to high quality living.

 We’ll then move on to the neighboring villages of Tarshiha and Miilya, where we’ll stop for a lunch of traditional Lebanese food at Miriam Hadad’s Al Rabiya Restaurant (#131). The route then continues through the Peki’in Valley, where we’ll visit an oil press operated by Muhammad Amar (#132), who will explain the uniquely high quality of Galilee-produced olive oil. There, we’ll also see the artificial bonsai trees crafted by Yael Turgeman (#44) from Nahariya, and the polymer clay art objects designed by Milat Duek (#21) from Kfar Vradim.

The Druze village of Peki’in is our next stop. After a brief tour, we’ll meet Nagah Khir and sample her delicious bread and pastries (#133), which are gluten-free but imperceptibly so. Also, Erika Doron (#153) from Avdon village will display her beautiful silk scarves.