We headed out of the kibbutz early this morning (or at least by our standards) and drove through the Golan Heights to the natural waterfalls and springs of the Hermon mountain range called the Banias. The trail had recently been upgraded with bridges and rails that made the hike rather easy (the last time I hiked the trail 25+ years ago, I remember it being more strenuous - I also remember being allowed to swim in the pool in the bottom of the falls, but that is now fenced off). The falls were gorgeous. At the end of the hike, we headed to the kiosk in the parking lot for some artic (popsicles) and cold drinks. Andrew's favorite part of the adventure was not the beautiful falls, but rather the vending machine at the kiosk: it dispensed super hot freshly made CHIPS (french fries!)!.
From the falls, we drove to the beginning of the Banias springs. The short trail and hike took us to the temple of the greek god Pan. It was also the site of the beginning of pagan religions of the time. Gabe trusted his digestive system to the water sprouting from the fresh spring. This kids dipped their feet in the pool and found the water to be freezing!
Our tour of the Golan led us through Kiryat Shemona (with Syria in the distance), to Rosh Pina for lunch, by the Jordan River, around the back side of the Kinneret (the sea of Galilee), through Nazereth and back to the kibbutz, where we took a nice dip in the pool after a hike filled hot day.
Now we head toward shabbat and dinner with Jackie and Fernando. Shabbat Shalom!
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| Jackie, Adam, Gabe, Andrew, and Fernando with the falls behind them. |
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| Andrew retrieving chips from the vending machine. |
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| Andrew at the springs. |
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| My boys and I at the falls. |
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| The falls themselves. |
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| Adam with the Golan behind him! |
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| Us with the Kinneret behind us. |
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| On the banks of the Jordan River. |
