Make hummus, not war.

A blog post by Melissa. Akko is mentioned in Egyptians texts, but it really didn't get going until it became the Crusader capitol. Akko was the Christian pilgrim's place of rest and protection after a long voyage on the Mediterranean from Europe to the holy land. The crusaders were forced out by Mamluks (who apparently have no other claim to fame since no one has ever heard of them) and Akko was forgotten for about four hundred years in a pile of rubble. The Ottoman Empire saw its value though, and built mosques, market stalls and buildings from what remained of ancient Akko to create the charming fishing village and trade port it is today. I hope it remains as it is, a little bit undiscovered.

Although the city walls are old and crumbling, men, women, children and life spring from everywhere. This is a place where Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Baha'i all thrive in peace. It was very refreshing and beautiful to witness. Some may say its because there have been so many different families that have lived here for generations that come from all parts of the globe and different ways of life. I personally think it all comes down to the hummus. The best food, and more importantly hummus, in Israel is in Akko. Just to prove my point, I took some pictures of our hostel breakfast. 

So, what do you think? Can delicious food create world peace?

As we walked around the city, the narrow street got more packed as we walked towards the fish market. During our walk we saw a group of boys climbing to the top of the city fortress wall and flipping into the Mediterranean. 

Sitting in the sun by the turquoise waters, I can really see why this place has been considered a respite for many people that come here, whether they are Christian pilgrims, Arab-Israelis, or tourists in search of good hummus.