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| Day 5: Golan Heights to Jerusalem | | Date Created: Jan 06, 2005, 12:42 PM |
 God smiled upon us today as the sun pierced through the window of the cabin. It was the first sunny day that we had on the tour. We packed our stuff to depart to Jerusalem after a few more hours touring the Golan Heights. After another hearty breakfast of cheese, fake eggs and green bread.. we were ready to begin the day's activities. One last stop by the Kinneret before boarding the bus. |
 We were able to hike for the first time today through a nature preserve. Many may think of Israel as being a desert like climate. The Golan, with its greenery, minerals and large lakes prove that the land is very diverse. Since it rained a lot in the past few days, the trail was extremely muddy. Our shoes and clothes were instantly covered in dirt. The hike was challenging- we walked down a hillside and followed a stream over rocks and trees. Some guys in the group teamed up to assist other hikers to successfully cross some of the challenging streams. Our reward for making it through the hike were two incredible waterfalls. |
 The largest mountain in Israel highlighted the landscape as our bus travelled through the winding roads of the area touching Lebanon and Syria. The peak was capped with snow, and we learned that a ski resort operates from February through April. I couldn't stop thinking about the thousands of soldiers that were lost in battle to win or protect this tiny piece of land, only 20 miles wide and 60 miles long. Driving through the area, we saw bunkers that were used by Syrian forces and landmine fields that have yet to be detonated. The battle zone covered the fertile plain, and I was beginning to understand why the land was so important to these countries. |
 After our long hike, we had to help our poor driver Abraham keep his bus clean. Our shoes and clothes were filthy. We made a pit stop at a shoe factory to purchase footwear that was marked at 20% less than in the states. I bought a pair of birkenstock-looking sandals called Nobu for a great price. Then, we dined at a burger joint on the side of the road- which contained fresh vegetables and delicious french fries. Fresh food is a staple here in Israel-- the fruits and vegetables have been top notch. |
 Our next stop was to a military base very close to the Lebanese border. Throughout the trip, Aviad has drilled the importance of Israeli Defense Force. Israel has to continue to fight for its independence and against terrorists, and the state has lost many soldiers to this cause. We were met at the entrance by a very attractive Israeli soldier named Mayan. She showed us around the base and had the soliders give us a demonstration of the how the artillery works.
I didn't like seeing equipment that is designed to kill people. I didn't like being on the army base and felt sad that nations sometimes could not live in peace. However, the trip has allowed me to ponder and understand the need of the military to protect Israel's soverignty. |
 Mayan took us to the officer's pool, a natural spring built by the Syrian army that was used exclusively by the military officers for relaxation on warm days. Immediately after, we departed for our return to Jerusalem to prepare for Shabbat. After a two and a half hour drive back to the Holy City, we arrived just in time for dinner and then a trip to one of Jerusalem's hottest clubs. Although the drinks were really expensive ($5 for a beer and almost $9 for a shot) everyone had a great time mixing with Israelis and hanging out with each other. It was a great time... we came back to the bar in the hotel and ordered pizza. We had to be up of course at 8:00 AM for breakfast. |
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