Our destination for the night (and next day) was Kibbutz Ketura - home of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Arriving in the early evening, the team quickly dropped our stuff off at our rooms before heading to a BBQ at the Kibbutz pool. There were all the essentials (i.e. hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as an enormous pool). The Kibbutz was also playing host to a bunch of British birthrighters, who we (actually Asher in particular) challenged to a game of football. We lost a close match - but it was still good times.
"Our living quarters for our one night at Kibbutz Ketura"
Photo by Jessica (at Israelity)
After getting back to our rooms everyone brought drinks to the roof of the lodge to watch the stars and talk. In the desert, the sky at night is really something to behold. Early the next morning, we were up and out of our rooms by 7am. After a breakfast and a quick tour of the kibbutz, we proceeded to the conference room at the institute, where we heard from from the first of a few speakers regarding Arava's mission and activities.
Each of our meetings lasted about an hour. Our first meeting of the day was with Dr. Tareq Abu-Hamed, who is the head of Arava's Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation. Following this meeting, we heard from Roy Kagan of the Arava Power Company. Our third visit was with Noam Ilan at the Regional Energy Commission. Each of these three visits highlighted a different aspect of the Arava mission and some of the pioneering research they are conducting on site at the kibbutz.
"Exploring the Aora Solar Energy Installation"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
In the afternoon we had a visit to the Aora Solar Energy Installation at Kibbutz Samar. The Aora installation is interesting in that it is an experiment in providing a modular point source solar power system - though at this point the power outputs are still negligible. Before returning to lunch at Kibbutz Ketura, we stopped for a small ice cream snack at the Yotvata. The ice cream was good - but for me the real highlight was their chocolate milk. So good!
Upon return to Arava we had a final afternoon meeting with Miriam Sharton the Associate Director of the institute. Altogether, our brief visit was a great experience. With this portion of the trip complete we left the kibbutz to head down to Eilat. As we entered into Israel's southernmost city, we said goodbye to our fearless leader, Asher, who boarded a plane to head back to the US via Tel Aviv. Goodbye Asher!
Last Sunday the world stopped for a moment to watch the beautiful game. As an American abroad, getting into soccer/football this summer has actually been pretty cool! Every match - not just the USA matches - has been required viewing, either at the local pubs in Haifa or back at our house in Ramat Eshkol.
Since we were no longer in Haifa for the weekend of the final, the team decided to take cabs into Tel Aviv to watch the match. What better place to see the 2010 World Cup Final than in the country's most party-centric city! After a great dinner - the team migrated to the Paradise Bar - the local Dutch expat bar to watch the game. The mood at the bar (and in the streets surrounding it) was electric. Everywhere you looked, people were gathered around TVs or were standing on whatever they could (cars, benches, etc.) to see the various big screen projectors that had been set up. Some folks in our group found a hole in the wall bar next door to watch the match, while another group (me included) went down the block to a schwarma place to see the game. In the end - the Dutch lost in OT - which was a big disappointment for everyone (me especially) since we'd all been pulling for the boys in orange. That being said, the Spanish played a heck of a game and that final goal was very clutch. Congrats to them.
After a day back in Haifa for our weekly class at the Technion, on Friday morning the Smith team was back on the road for a full weekend of touring and sightseeing. In the morning we were met by our guide, Israel, who gave us a preview of the days activities as we sped down the highway to our first stop of the day, Caesarea.
"Our guide Israel weaves a story about ancient Caesarea"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Planted firmly against the coast, halfway between Haifa and Tel Aviv, Caesarea is an ancient port city that dates to the time of Herod the Great – about 22 BCE. The ancient city itself is no longer inhabited - as the last occupants, French crusaders under Louis IX - were forced to flee when the city was put to fire by Baybar invaders in 1251 CE. Literally lost to the sands, the city was rediscovered and its secrets uncovered in the 1940s due to the financial generosity of Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild.
"Modern concerts in Caesarea's ancient amphitheater"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Our first stop in Caesarea was the Roman aqueduct that provided fresh water to the city for over a thousand years. From there we proceeded to the old city itself, where we visited the Roman theater, hippodrome, and palace (which was possibly the former residence of Pontius Pilate). As we walked back to the van, we passed through the city walls and across the moat, which were both constructed by the Crusaders. All in all, Caesarea was awesome!
"Driving through East Jerusalem"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
From Caesarea we drove directly on to Jerusalem. Since it was Friday, a lot of tourist sites were closing at sunset for Shabbat, so we were in quite a rush to get into town. We drove into the Old City and parked right next to the City of David – where the Biblical King built his palace and capital in 1000 BCE. The key attraction at this famous archaeological site is Hezekiah's Tunnel. This tunnel, which runs for a little under half a mile is filled with about three feet of water at all times. We walked (in my case barefoot) through the tunnel before emerging on the other side in East Jerusalem. Following our underground trek (which seemed to go on and on), we proceeded to the promenade overlooking the city.
"Looking out at Old Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade"
Photo by Kelley Harris
We went next to our hotel for a brief rest before Shabbat dinner. Max and Sue Singer (parents of Saul Singer, the author of Start-up Nation) were kind enough to invite the entire Smith team into their home to participate in this weekly Jewish tradition. Dinner began with the serving of homemade challahs. Afterwords, this ritual was followed by Kiddush, the blessing of the wine. Max and Sue then led us through a number of other songs and readings before we finally began the meal in earnest. Altogether, everyone had a great time!
"Shabbat dinner with Max and Sue Singer"
Photo by Stephen Kushner
In the preceding days, I had been coming down with a bit of a cold. A bug of some sort had been making its rounds around the team - and unfortunately my time arrived sometime late Friday night. I woke Saturday morning feeling pretty horrible - so somewhat reluctantly I opted to skip the tour that morning. I did get a pretty good report from the team later that evening though, when we all convened for dinner.
"Old Jerusalem near the Jaffa Gate"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
On Saturday the group met our guide, Israel, at 9am in the hotel lobby. From there the group went to the Old City, this time for a more thorough tour of its many historical sites. The team walked the Via Dolorosa, visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and shopped (and ate) in the Muristan Souq. From there they climbed the ramparts and walked the city walls, emerging just next to the Western Wall. The last stop of the afternoon was a short drive to the Mount of Olives – a site significant to both Jewish and Christian traditions.
"Fresh food at the always busy, Muristan Souq"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
I was feeling a bit better that evening so I opted to join everyone for dinner at Asher Epstein’s place. Altogether, the group was feeling pretty fired up about everything we’d seen and done so far this weekend. Additionally, this evening was especially important to everyone, as it was the England vs. USA World Cup match. Americans (myself included) have a funny habit of completely ignoring the sport of soccer (nee football) for 4 years and then suddenly remembering when the Cup comes around again. It may be the world’s sport, but it certainly isn’t America's sport. Anyway, the game started at 9:30pm, so many in the group decided to head to the The Lion’s Den pub to watch.
"Everyone celebrates as the USA battles back against England in the World Cup"
Photo by Kristin Thompson
Ninety minutes later the game was over and we (the USA) had forced England to a 1-1 tie. I’ve read that this was a fantastic result – as everyone had expected England to prevail. That being said, I have a hard time getting excited about a tie game. I mean, really? A tie? I think this fact alone is what makes it so hard for Americans to get behind this game. Someone has to win. Without a winner, what’s the point?
Anyway, one other cool outcome from the game: our esteemed photographer, Kristin had the previous photo featured in the Washington Post. Congrats, Kristin! All in all, Jerusalem was a blast! We got to see some fantastic historical sites, eat wonderful food, and watch the USA beat up on our cousins across the pond. It would be hard to ask for much more – well maybe the USA could have won rather than tied - but I digress.
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