Shalom Y'all!

We're in Eilat & just recently back from hiking, jeeping, and riding camels for a couple of days, etc in the desolate but beautful Negev desert. We watched sunrises and sunsets over the desert with silouettes of Egyptian and Israeli watch towers in view; we saw how busy the Nabataeans (later Byzantines etc) were there so long ago and everywhere else they've been; and saw the beautiful chalk formations in the Nizzana Hillocks in the Negev--evolutionists say around 55,000 years old or so while Bible literalists might attribute the ocean fossils to Noach's flood. We also were close to where Moses and the Israelites wandered for 40 years in the Sinai desert and settled for a time at Garnesh Barnea (in the Sinai--so unavailable).

Oh & on our way to the Negev, Ronan, a neighbor of Margaret Dudanvani, who works like a Canadian Mounty by jeep for Karen Kayemetz LeIsrael (largest Jewish Nat. Fund forest) took us through ruins and forests.

Well, you know, we've been to Jerusalem, City of David, Mt. Carmel, Church of the Holy Sepulchre & also walked in Jesus's footsteps; Yad Vashem; Ha Kotel (the Wailing Wall); been to the origins of mystical Judaism, town of Sefat where Jerry spent several hours conversing with Goren who we nicknamed "sparkley man" because of the love or spark of Torah in his eyes; Masada; Dead Sea, the ruins in Caeserea where I ran into a class from the Epstein School and director, Myrna Rubin, as well as, a mother (maybe "Heather" and her child) in the bathroom and discoverd they know Rabbi and Joyce Tradburks. What a world--and small! And then there was the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, and so much more that it boggles our minds and feet. Like Jem said, there are ruins of ancient civilizations literally everywhere--under every step...utterly remarkable. Jem, loved your blog :O)

Speaking of feet and steps, my feet were bugging me enough today (plantar faceitis & some new muscle pull) that I didn't join Steve and Janet for the trip to Petra--work of the Nabataeans again. I KNOW, it's the 8th wonder of the world--totally awesome & incredible. It won't be the same, but Steve takes fantastic pictures (many on this site are not his unfortunately). Janet sweetly worked on my foot but the warning about LOTS of difficult walking scared me off.

While Jerry did some blogging and exploring on the beach, I investigated birding here. Just like for the spice route of old, Eilat happens to be THE migratory crossroads for raptors, waterbirds, and many more for Europe and Africa. I must say that after all the investigation of ancient civilations, tombs, ruins and such, breathing the fresh sea air, watching families frolicing, and birds was invigorating. Jerry and I later drove to the International Birding and Research Center in the Eilat bird sanctuary. It was amazing--we saw many new birds in reclaimed areas with wonderful blinds--raptors, bee-eaters, terns, herons, cranes, storks, etc. Like in all of Israel where service in the military is seen everywhere-like the pottery shards of the past-such service is part of the fabric of life as one also see memorials to fallen soldiers. So too in the bird sanctuary--where an outdoor educational facility has pictures of young men blown up beside pictures of the birds in the water before you.

Steve just called from Petra, and all is well. Janet & he will be back in a couple of hours. Our Amigo phones that also work inside Israel as walkie talkies have been indispensable.

Later friends....
with love, devorah