omanot

This weekend was the last one of this summer vacation therefore we decided to go camping. Since it is very hot in Israel, the only place we can camp during the summer is the Kinnereth, (The sea of Galil).

The kinnereth is our only sweet water lake so everybody goes camping there. Even thought it is rather small it is always overflowing with campers and vacationers.

Of course, when you think of camping for the weekend you don’t take into your consideration that probable half a million people had the same thought just like you did so you leave your home optimistic as for being alone on your vacation.

You still try to smile after sitting 3 hours in your car in a never ending traffic jam on the way to the north. And slowly you start to accept the truth that you won’t be the only person in the Kinnereth.

Finally we reached the kinneret, if you think this is the time the vacation starts, you are wrong. Now you have to find a place to park, of curse the Israelis never travel alone, there always a large group of friends traveling with, the more the merrier. Therefore you have to look for that special spot you want to stay for the night (for you and for 10 more families traveled with you and for that you will need a whole shore - ha ha ha).

Since there are about million people that arrived at the kinnereth before you did and took the good places to camp, you have to spend at least 2 hours exploring for an empty spot. At this point, you are ready to give up, and then, just then, you saw it, your special place, near the water, a lot of space for you and your friends, few trees that will give shade in the morning, and most important - a place for the barbeque, or as we in Israel say - Mangal.

Now you can finally relax, and start your camping.

The nights at the Kinnerth are just beautiful, the calm water sound, the great skies above full with stars, you making your barbeque, and every body relaxing and having fun.
Sleeping however is a different story, since there is always a rock stack beneath my back or my head there is no way I can sleep like that.

Morning, the best time in the Kinnereth, the temperatures are still low; the water flat as mirror and the air is fresh. The first thing you do is to go inside the water for a refreshing deep. Wow this is so much FUN.

On the way back home, I could barley keep my eyes open, but it was worth it!

Here are some interesting links abot the kinnereth and Tiberia (The city near the Kinnereth)
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vie/Tiberias.html#The%20Sea%20of%20Galilee

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-07/thuo-atr072705.php

ENJOY

posted by rebecca @ 1:14 PM