Camels, Ibax, and Pigeons OH MY!

Camels, Ibax, and Pigeons - OH MY! This morning we woke up and enjoyed a traditional and delicious homemade breakfast at the Bedouin tent followed by a thirty minute camel ride around the area. And of course we had to finish our visit to the Bedouin tent with a camel shit fight in which a select few of us chose to participate (if you are wondering, camel shit looks like chestnuts). After packing up our tent and loading the bus, we drove to Ein Ovdat for our morning hike. At the start of our hike we learned the importance of nature, travel, and exploration to the Israelis. We also experience Ibax up close and personal. Before continuing our hike, we each took a moment to enjoy the peace and quiet of the vast desert. The landscape was breathtaking and we all worked up a sweat with the steep climb. Overall, it was a very fulfilling hike. Luckily, the bus was waiting for us at the top of the hike so that we would not have to go back down. From there, we headed to the tomb of David Ben Gurion where we discussed certain aspects of his life, particularly the end of his life when he joined a Kibbutz and asked to be modestly buried at that site. In some ways, by us visiting this site, we helped to fulfill his wish of exploration of this country’s desert. For lunch, we headed to a agricultural center where we were served a fresh meal that incorporated newly picked vegetables from the garden. We toured the property and had the opportunity to pick and taste carrots, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, oranges, and lemons. An interesting aspect was that despite the lack of water and soil in the desert, these delicious vegetables, herbs, and fruit are still able to thrive. As if the vegetables weren’t enough, we were also able to grill our own pita to enjoy with homemade pesto from the garden. At a nearby orchard, we discovered that contrary to Chicagoans’ opinions about how dirty pigeons are, in Israel pigeons are used as a communication method. Their internal compass guides them home so travelers will take them along, strap messages to their feet, and send them off knowing that their messages will arrive home. A few brave souls held the pigeons in their hands and released them together back to the original agriculture site. We are now on our way to a hostel at Masada to stay the night before waking up tomorrow at 4 am. Kate and Emily