Eight days in Israel was far too short a time. We packed our days full but in the end we were only able to explore a small portion of the wonders the country had to offer. After all, there are only so many places a group of our size can visit in a day, and after the fourth or fifth location it starts to feel like your just checking off a list and immediately back on the trail. That point comes quickly, I am finding, especially when the human connection is not being made. My two friends and I started skipping evening meetings to explore on our own. This enabled us to meet people and learn, learn, learn.
We left Jerusalem several days ago, stopped in Bethlehem and ended up in Nazareth. Instead of a hotel we stayed in an a mansion that was being converted into a hostel. It had incredible architecture as it was a few hundred years old! During our days we explored spectacular sites, and once again the evenings held new faces, interesting food and good discussion. Both Israelis and Arabs were full of the interest and desire to share. What I learned from these talks will have to be shared at a different time as I still need to digest and gain the perspective that only distance allows me.
Our final full night in Israel was spent in a hotel on the top of a mountain overlooking the Dead Sea. Both jewish and Beduihn people camped around us in enormous tents. Their Seder celebrations were heard and experienced by us long into the night.
Here the landscape took my heart and made me feel great joy. The vastness of the desert and the sea surrounding us. The heat coming not only from the sun but in some cases visibly from the earth was an experience unto itself. There is an emptiness in the desert that seemed to me filled with life and the promise of a rugged yet peaceful experience. Flash floods occur there often causing the landscape to alter itself. Deep rifts and caves are everywhere which sparked my imagination and drove me to think of artwork to complete in the future.
Unfortunately we were unable to swim in the Dead Sea, group dynamics and the planning had not been put into the idea. Fine, I will just have to return!
Today we woke up early (big surprise) left our mountain and made the three hour drive to the Jordanian border. We crossed without incident, met with a new driver and headed deep into the desert to a small town about thirty minutes outside of Petra. We plan on spending the whole day there tomorrow, soaking up the enormous site. The site is so vast and filled that at this time a mere 17% of it has been excavated.
Our hotel here is another story all together. A five star resort boasting multiple restaurants, pool and Turkish bath…ohh yes, a welcome change. My friends and I headed immediately to the spa where we endured marble steam rooms with flowing water and a soap massage. 🙂 My friend pointed out that a career change is in order so we can afford this a couple times a year…no argument there!
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