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ISRAEL 5, Haifa: German Colony, Bahai Gardens, Oct. 15-16, 2009

Key to my stay in Haifa was taking a room in a boutique hotel in the German Colony established in 1869 by the Templers. Their goal was to gather in the Land of Israel, for only there would the Messiah appear. They founded seven colonies with a population of 1,700 in Palestine—700 in Haifa. All were deported by the British during World War II. Ben Gurion Boulevard, the main street of Haifa's German Colony, is lined with about 80 of what were formerly Templer homes built of stone quarried on nearby Mount Carmel in the 1870s. Many of the buildings have been restored and house boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Today, Ben Gurion Blvd is "a happening place."

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  • 1-The Colony Hotel is over 100 years old and was a hotel in its early years. My very quiet room was on the far side of the top floor (light-colored stone)— a floor that was added in the 2005-2006 preservation/renovation. The foreground avenue is Sderot Ben Gurion. The cars are parked on Mordechai Anielewicz St.

    1-The Colony Hotel is over 100 years old and was a hotel in its early years. My very quiet room was on the far side of the top floor (light-colored stone)— a floor that was added in the 2005-2006 preservation/renovation. The foreground avenue is Sderot Ben Gurion. The cars are parked on Mordechai Anielewicz St.

  • 2-The Colony Hotel, 28 Sderot Ben Gurion. In its early years, it was the Appinger pension. Once the pension became too small, the family decided to rebuild and expand it into a hotel. A Swiss architect who resided on Mount Carmel, designed the reconstruction plan, and the building reopened as a 50-room hotel in the late 1920s. More recently, the building was used as an old age home until 2005.

    2-The Colony Hotel, 28 Sderot Ben Gurion. In its early years, it was the Appinger pension. Once the pension became too small, the family decided to rebuild and expand it into a hotel. A Swiss architect who resided on Mount Carmel, designed the reconstruction plan, and the building reopened as a 50-room hotel in the late 1920s. More recently, the building was used as an old age home until 2005.

  • 3-Colony Hotel entry terrace. The sidewalk on the right fronts on Sderot Ben Gurion.

    3-Colony Hotel entry terrace. The sidewalk on the right fronts on Sderot Ben Gurion.

  • 4-Colony Hotel rear terrace, as seen from my room.

    4-Colony Hotel rear terrace, as seen from my room.

  • 5-Colony Hotel room

    5-Colony Hotel room

  • 6-Colony Hotel room

    6-Colony Hotel room

  • 7-Colony Hotel room

    7-Colony Hotel room

  • 8-Colony Hotel room

    8-Colony Hotel room

  • 9-Colony Hotel room, bath

    9-Colony Hotel room, bath

  • 10-Sderot Ben Gurion and harbor from Ha-Gefen (Vine) Street.

    10-Sderot Ben Gurion and harbor from Ha-Gefen (Vine) Street.

  • 11-German Colony lintel. "Instruct men in your ways, and to hope for John; and it will happen."

    11-German Colony lintel. "Instruct men in your ways, and to hope for John; and it will happen."

  • 12-German Colony Restorations Administration and Haifa Tourist Board, 48 Ben Gurion Blvd.

    12-German Colony Restorations Administration and Haifa Tourist Board, 48 Ben Gurion Blvd.

  • 13-German Colony, doorway to #27. "The Spirit and the Bride say come, Jesus." [Revelation 22:17]

    13-German Colony, doorway to #27. "The Spirit and the Bride say come, Jesus." [Revelation 22:17]

  • 14-German Colony (1872), adaptive reuse

    14-German Colony (1872), adaptive reuse

  • 15-City of Haifa Museum. Extremely well done and interesting exhibition of the city's history. The building was the Gemeindehaus (the community hall), the German Colony's only central community building and the first Templer building to be built (1869). (Doorway detail, next photo.)

    15-City of Haifa Museum. Extremely well done and interesting exhibition of the city's history. The building was the Gemeindehaus (the community hall), the German Colony's only central community building and the first Templer building to be built (1869). (Doorway detail, next photo.)

  • 16-Entrance to City of Haifa Historical Museum—the former community building also served as the schoolhouse.

    16-Entrance to City of Haifa Historical Museum—the former community building also served as the schoolhouse.

  • 17-Lintel over the door to the City Museum: "If I forget thee Jerusalem, let my right arm forget" [its skill. Psalm 137:5]

    17-Lintel over the door to the City Museum: "If I forget thee Jerusalem, let my right arm forget" [its skill. Psalm 137:5]

  • 18-Fattoush Restaurant, 38 Ben Gurion—one of many quaint cafes along the Blvd.

    18-Fattoush Restaurant, 38 Ben Gurion—one of many quaint cafes along the Blvd.

  • 19-Sderot Ben Gurion, the Bahá'í World Centre, and the northern slopes of Mount Carmel, as seen from the Colony Hotel's upper terrace. The golden-domed Shrine of the Báb (which, unfortunately for me, is under renovation) is the holiest site of pilgrimage for members of the Bahá'í Faith, and is also the faith's central administrative center. The gardens were open only at the top two and bottom two terraces.

    19-Sderot Ben Gurion, the Bahá'í World Centre, and the northern slopes of Mount Carmel, as seen from the Colony Hotel's upper terrace. The golden-domed Shrine of the Báb (which, unfortunately for me, is under renovation) is the holiest site of pilgrimage for members of the Bahá'í Faith, and is also the faith's central administrative center. The gardens were open only at the top two and bottom two terraces.

  • 20-Haifa, Baha'i Gardens, seen from my hotel. Eighteen monumental terraces soar 750 feet high, from Ha-Gefen (Vine) Street at the bottom to Yefe Nof (Panorama Street), the highest level seen in this night view.

    20-Haifa, Baha'i Gardens, seen from my hotel. Eighteen monumental terraces soar 750 feet high, from Ha-Gefen (Vine) Street at the bottom to Yefe Nof (Panorama Street), the highest level seen in this night view.

  • 21-Baha'i Gardens from the bottom gate (at Ha-Gefen)

    21-Baha'i Gardens from the bottom gate (at Ha-Gefen)

  • 22-Baha'i Gardens, from the second plaza. The Baha’i Gardens are 530 miles due west of Babylon, whose Hanging Gardens were legendary.

    22-Baha'i Gardens, from the second plaza. The Baha’i Gardens are 530 miles due west of Babylon, whose Hanging Gardens were legendary.

  • 23-Baha'i Gardens from the top at Yefe Nof (Panorama Street) looking down Sderot Ben Gurion to Haifa's bustling computerized port. The Templer vineyards occupied this area down to Ha-Gefen (Vine) Street. Their houses occupied the flatter lands from there to the harbor.

    23-Baha'i Gardens from the top at Yefe Nof (Panorama Street) looking down Sderot Ben Gurion to Haifa's bustling computerized port. The Templer vineyards occupied this area down to Ha-Gefen (Vine) Street. Their houses occupied the flatter lands from there to the harbor.

  • 24-Baha'i lamppost

    24-Baha'i lamppost

  • 25-Baha'i Gardens wall lamp

    25-Baha'i Gardens wall lamp

  • 26-Baha'i Gardens, lower fountain, gate, and Sderot Ben Gurion, looking toward Haifa port.

    26-Baha'i Gardens, lower fountain, gate, and Sderot Ben Gurion, looking toward Haifa port.

  • 27-Baha'i Gardens lower fountain, and roundabout on Ha-Gefen Street at Sderot Ben Gurion.

    27-Baha'i Gardens lower fountain, and roundabout on Ha-Gefen Street at Sderot Ben Gurion.

  • 28-Baha'i Gardens lower fountain

    28-Baha'i Gardens lower fountain

  • 29-Baha'i fountain, lower gate. The Gardens were reopened in 2001 after 14 years of massive redesign and reconstruction.

    29-Baha'i fountain, lower gate. The Gardens were reopened in 2001 after 14 years of massive redesign and reconstruction.

  • 30-Baha'i Gardens, lower terrace detail

    30-Baha'i Gardens, lower terrace detail

  • 31-Baha'i Gardens detail

    31-Baha'i Gardens detail

  • 32-Baha'i grounds

    32-Baha'i grounds

  • 33-Baha'i eagle, about 3 feet tall.

    33-Baha'i eagle, about 3 feet tall.

  • 34-The Carmel from the Bahai Gardens

    34-The Carmel from the Bahai Gardens

  • 35-Haifa Port from my hotel room

    35-Haifa Port from my hotel room

  • 36-Haifa Port from just below Yefe Nof (Panorama Street).

    36-Haifa Port from just below Yefe Nof (Panorama Street).

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    11-German Colony lintel. "Instruct men in your ways, and to hope for John; and it will happen."
    12-German Colony Restorations Administration and Haifa Tourist Board, 48 Ben Gurion Blvd.
    13-German Colony, doorway to #27. "The Spirit and the Bride say come, Jesus." [Revelation 22:17]