So yesterday was a long and hot day. We headed off to Mount Carmel to do three activities: off-roading, mountain biking and rappeling off a cliff. We started out mountain biking going up a huge hill (maybe not for the cyclists) but I had to get off the bike and walk the rest of the way. After the hill there unfortunately wasn't a long breezy downhill but a pebbly path we had to walk the bikes down followed by a stream we had to bike through. Wasn't too much of a problem for me to get through but a few people who froze right before the water got soaked as they tipped over in the water.
After that was over, we loaded in some air-conditioned land rovers for a bumpy ride up and around the mountain towards the area where we rappeled. We fitted with harnesses and carabeeners and slowly lowered ourselves down the face of the cliff. I've done it before and it's really not that exciting to be honest besides the first minutes or so when you go from parallel to the face to perpendicular. There's a nice adrenaline rush that comes with it, but after you start lowering yourself down it's kind of low key.
After that we loaded back on the bus and waited for probably an hour for the men's volleyball team to finish whatever activity they were doing before we headed to the Sea of Galilee up in the northeast. The Sea is the lowest freshwater lake in the world and the largest in Israel and is pretty vital to the water supply in the country. The place is just magical with the views of the Golan Heights.
We were the last bus to arrive at the sea so we only really had about 45 minutes before the buffet opened but I did have enough time go on a few runs on the waterslide. After the light dinner we had a bonfire on the beach and had a precamp wrapup where we sat in a circle and each said a few words about the experience of touring around the country and seeing the sights and learning the history. I talked about how this trip has really made me feel a much stronger connection to my culture and heritage that I wasn't expecting to feel to the degree that I have. From wrapping Tefillin at the Western Wall, to floating in the Dead Sea, to walking the narrow streets of the old city to hiking down Masada, to the group bar mitzvah at Hebrew University this has truly been the most memorable week of my life.
Later today, we're heading to the hotel Dan Cesarea where we'll be staying for the next two weeks. We'll also be going out at night since we won't have to wake up at 6 every morning. Sooooo stay tuned for what's to come.
from bedouin feast night
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