Bus 162 continues to see more and more of Israel each day!

Tel Aviv is totally awesome! We began our adventures with a relaxing trip to the Mediterranean Sea located in the busy city of Tel Aviv.. It was so nice to layout on the beach and cool down with a swim in the ocean. Following our downtime we took a trip to the Independence Museum. It was neat to be in the exact place where Israel claimed its title as a Jewish state and learn about the geography of the land. Later that night all 47 of us hit the streets of Tel Aviv for a night out on the town. Exhausted and having a blast, we went to Hotel Deborah and got ready to head to Jerusalem in the AM!
Jerusalem was great! From the downtown city feel of Tel Aviv, we traveled southeast to Jerusalem where we observed the “layer cake” hills and deep history. At the Jerusalem overlook and Haas promenade, we were able to see both the new and old city. Now we are ready to explore the Jewish Quarter, the old city, in Jerusalem in more depth making our way to the Kotel (Western Wall). The Western Wall was a memorable experience for all and we are glad everyone got to share it together.
Tuesday morning we headed to Israel’s Holocaust memorial on Mount Herzl. The history and stories were inspirational and it is something we will always hold near and dear to our hearts. Our Israeli soldier friends were honored to wear their uniforms this day- what a great sight! After Yad Vashem, we got down and dirty in the fields of Neot Kadumim, where we each got to plant our individual trees. We are so glad we were able to make our mark in Israel!
We were all anxious to head to the Bedouin Tents to get close and comfortable sharing a tent with the 46 other members of bus 162. We were welcomed in the traditional Bedouin way with music, story telling, and tea and coffee. We spent the night out by the campfire bonding with each other and being one with nature. We kicked off the next morning with a camel trek! The views of the Negev from a camels back were unbelievable. If the camel ride wasn’t enough, we experienced more breathtaking views on a leisurely hike through the Tzin Desert. After cooling down ,we visited David Ben Gurion’s grave. We learned more about his life and his impact on Israel through a fun interactive activity. Finally, we made our way to the Dead Sea area, the lowest point on earth. We cannot wait to float and gloat in the Dead Sea after our strenuous hike up Masada to see the sunrise bright and early. Wish us luck!!