Day 3: Mountain Climbing, snorkeling, Kibbutz Lotan, and Bedoin Tents

January 12th- Day 3

View from the top of Eilat Mountains

Top of Eilat Mountains

This morning we woke up to another traditional breakfast. We headed to the Eilat mountains, where we did a rather steep climb! I am currently at the top of the mountain where we can see Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The view could literally take your breath away! I still can't believe we are here! The climb down is supposedly difficult, which I am definitely a bit nervous for, considering my track record from yesterday. But, after we get down, we are going snorkeling, so I am excited to challenge myself and face another fear of mine. While in Israel, I am trying to keep an open mind and try everything! I do not want this amazing gift to go to waste!

The climb down was as crazy as promised as we literally crawled down the side of a mountain! It was insane but I felt so accomplished once I reached the bottom.

Climbing down Eilat Mountains

 I then conquered my fear and went snorkeling! We saw a lot of amazing fish, however I felt like I swallowed half of the Red Sea. After a quick change and lunch (some really yummy iced coffee too) we headed off to the Kibbutz Lotan, a self-sustaining kibbutz.We saw mud huts and made arches with mud bricks.

Israeli Coffee

Kibbutz Lotan

We then took a 2 1/2 hour bus ride to the Bedoin Tents where we had a traditional Bedoin meal and learned about Bedoin culture. We also had a campfire and stayed up talking for awhile. Another full and amazing day!

Mud hut at Kibbutz Lotan

Day 2: Shabbat, hike in Ein Gedi, Eilat

January 11th- Day 2

This morning we got up and ate a yummy buffet breakfast. Their breakfast here is definitely a lot sweeter than ours is. I ate a delicious potato pastry, that tasted almost like a blintz. We then headed out to a hike, which Moran described as "relaxing." I think her definition was slightly different than mine because we climbed up and down a lot! We even got to wade into a spring (under a waterfall!) That was definitely my favorite part of the hike.

Waterfall in Ein Gedi Nature Reserve

Everything was so beautiful! We came back and had a delicious lunch. Again, I ate some schnitzel. I also experienced my first persimmon, which I actually liked! The view from my balcony is absolutely gorgeous! I wish I had a beach chair to go sit out on the beach, as today is beautiful beach weather! Incredible! Or as we learned in Hebrew, "Chaval al hazman!" This evening will be our first night out in Eilat, after a quick Havdalah service of course.

View from my balcony

Israel is more beautiful than I could have ever imagined and I truly do feel as if I've come home. It is a strange feeling that is very hard to describe.

(Added later)

Last night was so much fun! WE went to an Israeli bar where we literally drank and danced the night away! I had an Israeli beer called Gold Star. It was a dark beer which I liked better than I thought. It was a great night and I'm glad that I got to experience a night out in Eilat!

Sam and I out in Eilat

Day 1: Masada, the Dead Sea, and Shabbat

January 10th- Day 1


After a 10 hour flight and a 2 hour bus ride, we finally made it to our hotel in Arrod. We got some much needed sleep and woke up to a small breakfast before climbing Masada. We left at about 5:30am to hike up the Roman Ramp to see the sunrise at the top of Masada. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy to actually see the sunrise, but it was still an amazing view of the desert. Moran(our tour guide) gave us an amazing tour of the ruins at the top of Masada. Some highlights included the oldest synagogue in the world, palace ruins, a Roman Bath house, and a traditional Mikveh. I learned that the Mikveh wasn't only used for conversion, but also for women to bathe in after getting their periods. After the tour, we marched down the snake path which ended up being more treacherous than we thought. When we got to the bottom, we had a buffet breakfast and then went to the AHAVA store where I bought a scrub made from the salts and minerals found in the Dead Sea.

Climbing down Masada

Mount Masada

Speaking of the Dead Sea, that was our next stop! We eagerly changed into our bathing suits, grabbed some mud, and headed to the beach! After rubbing the mud on all skin that was exposed, we raced into the sea. It was an indescribable feeling! Floating was hilariously fun and I even got to stand on a salt bar! The water was definitely chilly so we could only spend a few minutes in the water. Some of the other girls and I spent the rest of the time lounging on the beach. We then took a short bus ride to Ein Gedi, which is the kibbutz we are staying on tonight. It is literally smack in the middle of the desert, but is absolutely beautiful! We went to the kibbutz grocery store, which was fun to buy some novelty Israeli items, such as Israeli chocolate! We will be celebrating Shabbat this evening, which is casual, thank goodness.

Dead Sea

Covered in Mud at the Dead Sea

It is such an unbelievable experience being here and I am enjoying every minute of it! I can't wait to celebrate my first Shabbat here in Israel!

(Added later)

Shabbat was great! We started off by lighting shabbat candles and then discussing how different people celebrate shabbat. Then, we had some time before dinner so a big of us went and played catch phrase. For dinner, I had my first (but not last) schnitzel, which really just tasted like a big chicken nugget, however it was pretty yummy! After a very long day I look forward to a good night of sleep before tomorrow!