Israel - Holy Cultures Day 7
Israel - Holy Cultures
Day 07 - Thursday, October 21, 2010 - Gamla Nature Reserve/Visit Kibbutz El Rom/Home-hosted Lunch in Druze Village
Our alarm went off at 6:45 – this is getting to be a habit! We looked out to see the beauty of the Sea of Galilee right below us. The temperature was 73º and the humidity was 80%.
A young man brought us a breakfast basket to our cabin at 7:30 with pancakes, eggs, fruit, cheese, juice and about five different types of bread.
Everyone gathered at the parking area at 8:30 and we met our new driver, Yossi and boarded our new van. Andre was called back to Tel Aviv to take on another group and we reluctantly had to say goodbye to him at dinner last night.
We had a 20 minute drive to the Gamla Nature Reserve, the sight of battles from the 1967 War. The Syrians had cut off the water going into the Jordan River and were firing rockets from the north and the Egyptians shelling from the south.
At the same location in 67 AD, during the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans, another battle was held. We could see the walled city of Gamal where 7,000 people perished defending this ancient land.
While we were walking at the Nature Reserve, Lynn stumbled and fell, breaking her wrist. We drove back to town where Ran took Lynn and Lake to a clinic and we went to get fuel for the vehicle.
Ran rejoined us and told us that our friends were on their way to a hospital in Tiberias and we continued on to visit Kibbutz El Rom. This Kibbutz is located near the battleground of the Valley of Tears, one of the defining moments of the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
We watched a very emotional video of actual battle footage and learned more about the struggle of the Israeli tankers against the Syrian Army.
At the Valley of Tears Memorial, we overlooked the battleground. In the near horizon we could see a new settlement in Syria, only 1.5 miles away. Since the War, the border is closed but peaceful with no hostility coming from the north.
The wind on the ridge was incredible with sand storms and gusts of 32 mph blowing the hot sands north to Syria. As we left the memorial Ran stopped the bus so we could take a photo of the signs reminding everyone of the still present land mines in the area.
Yossi drove another 20 minutes to the small Druze village of Magdal-Shams where we were welcomed to a home-hosted lunch provided by Fauzia and her daughter in-law.
Our typical Arab lunch consisted of rice with almonds, white beans in a light tomato sauce, stuffed grape leaves, tomato and cucumber salad, and a ground meat patty. We had a type of honey sweet baklava for dessert.
We thanked our hostess at 2:45 and made the trek back to our kibbutz. Ran invited us to go to the local kibbutz grocery store at 4:00 and then to have a wine tasting gathering at this cabin at 5:00.
At the grocery store, we all bought something to share at the party and we had a delightful evening on Ran’s porch as we watched the sun go down and the lights twinkle around the Sea of Galilee below us. The great news is that Lynn was able to join us with a brand new cast – what a trooper!
The party could have gone on all evening but at 6:30 Ran reminded us that it was time for dinner and the party was over. To be continued as this group is especially cordial and the conversations are always lively.
Accommodations: Peace Vista Lodge, Golan Heights, IL- - - Meal: B, L
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Comments
Our Cabin, #9
Ancient Walled City of Gamal
Valley of Tears Syrian Tank
Land Mines!
Having a Good Time
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