haifa.15

Haifa Fornightly(Editor--Huzefa Mehta) 15th edition 1/6/93 Welcome back after a period of almost a month. No significant things achieved. The ulpan (hebrew classes) finished. Basic conversation in Hebrew can be conducted, also eavesdropping of previously "greek sounding" conversation. Reena received her diving class(one star only) though she will continue on her two star classes. Amongst the important site visiting was the underground crusader city of Acco. The diving class is located in this small Arab village. The crusader city is underground and there is a huge tunnel which provides escape paths from the city. I went through most of the underground routes, slightly smelly and lots of rats and the government has done an excellent job of restoring this city which was once filled by Turkish sewers. Visited also ancient Turkish bathhouse. Another archaelogical city we visited was Megiddo one of the oldest archaelogical excavations in Israel. Had a similar underground tunnel leading out of the city. Last weekend we visited Wadi Qelt in the West Bank near Jericho. We could have hiked down to this oasis at the bottom of the canyon, but it was past noon and very hot. We drove down a dirt road. There was a small children film production going on with helicopter's moving in and out of the valley. Then we visited St. George's monastery, we didn't really visit it but just saw it from far. It was very beautiful. Maybe this weekend we might hike it to the monastery. Running out of gas and well into Shabbath, we camped on the dead sea in a place called Ein Gedi. Another oasis in the middle of the desert. Had dips in the dead sea in the evening and also in the morning. We happened to be camping near a bunch of young Bediouns who sang all through out the night. In the morning we swam for sometime in the sea. Trying to absort the 40% salinity. Supposed to be good for the skin lots of health freaks applying Dead Sea's black sand on their body. Being at the lowest place on land the oxygen content in the air is supposed to be higher and hence give one the feeling of well being(so the guide book says). We later left for Ein Gedi the park itself. After hiking about 20 minutes inside the park the scene is quite a transformation. From hot unsheltered desert outside to really covered vegetation with waterfalls every 15 mins. There were about 5 waterfalls in the route we took , the largest being the Ein Gedi. and we swam in each one of them. Then we hiked out of the vegetation to the Ein Gedi spring and a temple at the top of the hill. Returned back and drove back to Haifa along the Jordan valley route from Jericho. Plans are to see later completely Jericho (there are about 3 major archaelogical ruins in this place) and also Qumran where the dead sea scrolls were found. We have been to this place before but only for a short while. Renowned to be the worlds oldest city place where the first signs of real settlement were discovered. We had a party at our place --Greg is leaving back for US at the end of his assignment here. As for this weekend..its time to lift up the thumb and follow the sun. Nothing more on this edition --Shabbath Shalom