From Desert to Rocky Hills (Israel)

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Hello again. Since last speaking with you from Eilat (southernmost point in Israel), we began driving north through the Negev desert, stopping in Mitzpe Ramon, a city that sits on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the Ramon crater, a deep bowl in the desert whose rocks contain fish fossils, since the crater was underneath the sea millions of years ago. Then we drove towards Beer Sheva and spent a few days living with a bedouin family who now live in a city with homes and streets. Almost every home has a tent outside where the men sit every evening, drink bedouin tea and coffee, and smoke tobacco in the nargila. The father is the principal of a school for blind bedouins, and the wife stays home and prepares food for the family, consisting of 6 children. Many other bedouins still live in the open lands, many still wander according to the seasons. We visited a man who lives 5 km from the nearest paved road, in a house without electricity (using a generator), but he has a Mercedes automobile to bring him to town. He has 4 wives but prefers to live alone, visiting his families on occasion.

Then we came to the holy city of Jerusalem, and stayed with the lovely Cohen family in the rocky hills outside the city. We of course visited the old city of Jerusalem which was the most crowded we have ever seen it, because of the Passover holiday, few people working, no school, and families on vacation. Here are some photos - enjoy!

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Photos

Desert Tour
Evi leads the Nabateans through the desert

Ancient Nabatean City
Howard walks through the gateway of an ancient Nabatean city in the Negev desert. The Nabateans found water and marked paths through the desert.

Ein Avdat
This amazing gorge with running water lies in the middle of the Negev desert

Coffee Anyone?
Billboard advertising Bedouin cafe in Segev Shalom, outside Beer Sheva

Bedouin Kids
Evi noticed these kids riding their bikes. Of course as soon as she raised her camera they all wanted to be in the photo.

In the Tent
Most bedouin families have a tent outside their houses, where the men sit every night drinking tea and coffee and smoking the nargila

Mother and Daughters
Mother observes traditional clothing while children adapt a more modern life style...

Kids in Bedouin City
Standing in front of the mosque; the muezzin calls the people to prayer 5 times a day, starting with a loud cry at 4 in the morning

Old Street in Jerusalem
Young observant Jewish boy runs down an old neighborhood street in Jerusalem

Cleaning Your House
Before Passover all the bread must be thoroughly cleaned from the home. Now in Jerusalem help is on the way...

Modern Homes in Jerusalem
These homes, just across the street from the old city Jaffa Gate can be purchased for about 2-3 million dollars.

Father and Daughter, Among Others...
During Passover most families have vacations, and it seems like the entire country was at the Kotel, western wall of the ancient temple, at the same time.

Cardo in Jerusalem
Withing the past 30 years archeologists in Jerusalem uncovered, 10 meters below the ground, remains of a 2000 year old Roman shopping street. The street has been renewed and is now a modern Israeli shopping street in the Jewish quarter of Old Jerusalem.

Arabic Shop in Old City
Colorful shop selling all kinds of souvenirs.

Spice Merchant in Old City
Selling every variety of sweet and pungent spices and herbs.

Mother and Son
Sitting in the middle of a busy walking street, just inside the Damascus Gate of the old city, selling nana, or mint, for tea.

Comments

[Chods]

I know the trick of that first picture..
...It surely makes the drive through the Arava that much more enjoyable. Awesome pictures dad, as always, annd mom's are great too. She's a budding talent, a late bloomer. Happy don't eat any bread week, guys. Le Marquis Goûx D'hiers

[Edi]

I don't know the trick, but I like the picture anyway. - The story with the bedouine family is very interesting ! Thank you for this as well as for the whole blog.

[Claude Levy]

Bravo Howard für diesen interessanten Reisebericht und die phantastischen Fotos! Hope everything is fine with you. Claude Levy