Golan Adventures

First I want to say that I am deeply sorry for my lack of posting, Laurel's internet is not as high speed as it was in the States. Also, she hogs it when it is working to talk to friends and family. By the time I get a chance to write the connection is lost!

Last Wednesday we began our excursion, and rode off to the Golan Heights after picking up the other half of WUJS from Tel Aviv. After a few hours of bumping riding we began our hike in the boiling heat. I was afraid my paint would melt off! Especially since Laurel insisted on keeping my in bubble wrap, deep within her backpack so I wouldn't crack. When she did let me out the scene was beautiful. I saw the town of Devorah, an ancient ruin from pre-Roman period. It was in the same condition as Laurel's apartment was when we arrived to Jerusalem (slightly disheveled). As we turned a bend long the trail we were face to face with the gaping mouth of a cave. The cool shaded area was a nice relief from the sweltering heat. We shared the area with some rather unwelcoming bats who were rather upset to be woken in the middle of the afternoon. When everyone was rested we hiked down a cliff on the side of a waterfall to sit by a shaded pond. The hike down was a lot easier, and I almost had to carry Laurel back up the side of the mountain. Sweaty and tired, we trudged onto the bus to ride to our campsite.

At the site we waited until 9pm for dinner! Laurel kept eyeing me strangely and I made sure to hide for fear she would eat me. After everyone was fed we went to bed under the stars, in the heat, and on a nice bed of rocks. Laurel slept fine, though I couldn't get comfortable. Maybe it was because she had hiked all day and I had just gone along for the ride. The next morning we were woken at dawn to the buzzing of flies, and the smell of coffee. Fed and "cleaned" we returned to the bus to hike along Chatzbani River.

The trail along the Chatzbani River was much cooler than the day before and we had plenty of opportunities to get our feet wet. The trail itself went headfirst into the river a number of times and we had to jump wobbly rock to wobbly rock in order to cross to the other bank. A few people fell in, though Laurel opted to put on her sandals and wade across. Her friend Benjy (known to be a descendant of a Hobbit) jumped nimbly from rock to rock without getting one toe in! He is sitting next to me AND READING OVER MY SHOULDER, so I feel I should include him in the adventure.

Before reaching our camp for the night, we stopped at the Syrian border to see various sites from the 6 day war. It was overwhelming to stand in a bunker that once held Syrian soldiers who shot down on Israeli Kibbutzim. These same bunkers that Israeli IDF soldiers shot into as they climbed up the hill, being picked off by the Syrians overhead. Now, Israelis are debating whether or not to return the Golan Heights to Syria in exchange for peace. Standing on the hill one would never know that the country across the valley was at war with Israel. The air is peaceful, and there are no obvious signs one can see with the naked eye.

That evening we camped on the Kineret, or Sea of Galilee. Even at 5pm the water was hotter than bathwater! We swam for a while, and by the time we were done dinner was ready and the heat had not subsided. Another night under the stars, though this time instead of sleeping in the company of flies we slept next to herds of stray cats.

Laurel is giving me the stink eye. I think she wants me to hurry up so she can go to class. Who goes to class? Especially when they are not even in college any more! Seriously, sometimes I just don't understand her.

Mo - the Shalom Gnome