After a night of luxury in an enormous Bedouin tent, complete with wild cats scurrying in and out and a heater that shut off at 2am, we headed out a bit later than normal (8:15am) to start our day. We had a nice buffet style breakfast at the ranch, followed by a brief 30 minute camel ride. After being briefed by the camel master about appropriate camel-riding behavior (for example, there is to be no drinking or smoking while on the camel) we went on a loop trail into the desert.
The camels were connected to each other with a rope, and each leading camel was guided by a Bedouin guide. After the camel ride (getting down from the camel is an experience, believe me) we left for the Kibbutz Sde Boker to see the grave of David Ben- Gurion, the first Prime Minister and father of the State of Israel. We learned about Ben- Gurion's life and enjoyed the gorgeous view of the Negev.
We then traveled to Dimona, a small Development Town in the Negev, and stopped for lunch ad some shopping at a mall. We arrived in Arad, checked into our hotel and are soon going to meet the soldiers that will be accompanying us for several days. Some students are rooming with the soldiers (who are on a short "vacation" and therefore have no weapons and will not be in uniform most of the time).
Beginning at 4:15pm we will have Shabbat Services at the hotel, along with dinner and some quality relaxation time. Everyone seems tired, but it's hard to complain too much when you just rode a camel in the middle of the Negev.
Shabbat Shalom from Bus 696
-Emma Herzog '10
1 comment:
Hey Emma and all of you adventurers,
Love reading the blog -- love the editorial comments, too!
Emma's Aunt Shelley, out to embarrass, as always, '76 (not 1876)
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