The Negev

Feeding the Camel

The Negev is Israel's answer to 'Big Sky' country and we spent two fun days down there with the Roths.  We stayed at an alpaca farm near the small town of Mitzpe Ramon which is near the 'crater' (Makhtesh Ramon) that is billed as Israel's Grand Canyon.  (Well that might be stretching it - more like the Grand Canyon of Connecticut) but it still has gorgeous vistas, incredible geology and beautiful desert flora and fauna.  Unfortunately we were a bit short changed at the farm because most of the staff were off on an annual 100 km horseback ride through the Makhtesh - so we were not able to take advantage of everything there, like horseback riding, wool spinning, etc - but such is life...

You Go Girls

Still, the kids had a ball feeding the llamas, alpacas and camel at the farm and it is a very picturesque and unique place to stay - in the middle of nowhere, to be honest.   We all enjoyed a beautiful hike through a wadi (dry riverbed) in the Makhtesh at the end of a 5 km drive over a very bumpy gravel road.  The next day, after the classic Israeli breakfast of eggs, yogurt (vanilla and chocolate), cheese, bread, fruit, labaneh, granola, cereal, humus, pastry and salads (eating really is a national obsession here), we visited an amazingly well preserved ancient Nabataean city at Avdat National Park and then ended the trip at David Ben Gurion's tomb.  He and his wife have a really incredible view of the Negev from their final resting spot.

Future shofarot?

View from Ben Gurion's Tomb