Update from Israel #Bus247

Thank you to the group leaders of Israel Outdoors Bus 247 for sharing!

Our Birthright trip continues to be a blast! Friday gave us the opportunity to explore the Old City of Jerusalem. We toured the Jewish Quarter, had a great view overlooking the Western Wall Plaza from the porch of a staff member’s friend, went to the Western Wall, and got a scenic view overlooking Jerusalem en route to the bus.

A relaxing Shabbat included a lively Friday night service and a Saturday afternoon trip to the Gan Sacher park, where we played soccer, frisbee, went for a jog, did yoga, snacked with friends, and best of all, played with our tour guide’s children on the jungle gym.

On Sunday, we went to Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial and then went to Mount Herzl and the military cemetery. Our soldiers told us stories of friends lost and shared fond memories of those whose lives were given for the state of Israel. We got on the bus and headed south toward the Negev just as it started to rain.

Although flash flooding changed our plans a bit, we spent a few hours at the salad trail, where we sampled strawberries, several varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, oranges, lettuce, mint leaves, an array of spices, and tea. Amidst the flash floods, we got a great view of large craters in Mitzpe Ramon, where we also got a view of a rainbow stretching across the sky.

Our day concluded with a visit to the Bedouin village at Chan Hashayarot for Bedouin hospitality, a bonfire, a night spent in a tent, and camel trekking in the desert. We have boarded the bus and are now headed to climb Mount Masada, weather permitting.