View from the hotel on the morning of the first day of our Israel trip in May, 2018: The Tel Aviv beach and the ancient city of Joppa in the distance.

We were not in Israel to lay on the beach though. We were there to see the biblical landscape, which we found nearby at the biblical landscape preserve, Neot Qedumim.

Other aspects of the biblical landscape, an olive press and watchtower.

Another example of the many biblical connections at Neot Qedumim, references to two different kinds of trees, a quote from the Psalms.

Some experts said that date palms and cedar trees don’t grow together, but at Neot Qedumim, they do.

Neot Qedumim visitors can also climb a sycamore tree, just like Zaccheus (right photo). In the left photo, at an ancient well, our Neot Qedumim guide Yair, orients us to the land of Israel.

The ancient well helped Yair illustrate the story of Isaac and Rebecca, with Zach and Sarah in the title roles.

A dozen thirsty camels were lined up, waiting for a drink.

Rebecca had a big job ahead of her.

We all had a chance to plant a tree, a small hopeful gesture for the future of the Holy Land.

Not far from Neot Qedumim, the high rises of Tel Aviv and its suburbs, many constructed since the last time I visited. Israel’s population now nearing 9 million. That’s double what it was when I was visiting back in the mid-90s.

We visited Israel during its 70-year anniversary celebration. So a visit to Israel’s Independence Hall on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv was in order. It’s located in the home of Tel Aviv’s first mayor, Meir Dizengoff. That’s him, on the horse there (or a reasonable facsimile).

Inside we got the story of how it happened, 70 years ago.

One of the things I noticed about this visit, lots more people riding electric scooters and electric bicycles. And not just in the big cities, but small towns also.

We also visited old Joppa, where archaeologists have discovered remains from the period when Egypt controlled this part of the Middle East.

The view of the Tel Aviv beach back towards our hotel.

On the left, a statue depicting some of the stories of the Old Testament. On the right, I discovered Gordon Beach is right next to LaLa Land.

Some of us took a walk along the beach. These volleyball players had just finished playing and asked me to take their picture, so I did.