Sunday, March 29, 2009

It just doesn't get much better than this

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We're back from our weekend down in Ein Gedi, where we celebrated music and life in general on a beautiful deck overlooking the shockingly blue water of the Dead Sea (it really is a shocking deep blue, with a color that rich it seems almost scandalous that it is not in fact refreshingly sweet clear water) and looking across at the mountains of Jordan.
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(Notice the tent is "staked" to the benches - necessity being the mother of invention and all that)

It was a weekend where everything just seems to come together perfectly - good friends both old and new, good music, campfire singalongs that go on until the wee hours of the morning... A weekend so wonderful that minor annoyances like missing breakfasts just seemed to work themselves out almost of their own accord.
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The days were hot and sunny, with temperatures up into the eighties - perfect for exploring Ein Gedi's magical waterfalls and lazing around in the sun too.
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We even had a few encounters of the small and furry kind. We didn't get close to the ibex this time (turns out they were right by the entrance to the kibbutz where we were staying, but we weren't able to pull over quickly), but we got a real kick out of this little guy that we found along the trail. He's a rock hyrex and cute as a button.
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Don't ask about the nights, it was the desert after all. We froze our proverbial patooties off, and after a windstorm blew through the second afternoon and nearly collapsed our tent with Maya inside it we decided it would be prudent to move it - so the second night we actually camped INSIDE a giant quonset hut right by the indoor stage. It worked out perfectly - the first night we were outside just a few feet from the main stage, and the second night the kids were able to go inside to bed out of the cold while the adults made a racket outside, and then by the time the cold chased us inside as well they were sound asleep and not bothered by the music being played just a few feet away.
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Heck, they even made some music of their own before heading off to bed. Yes, my kids actually got up on stage and performed in front of about ninety people. They practiced for two days before making their big debut. Itai sang the theme song from their favorite cartoon (Huntik) while Maya danced. (They'd originally both planned to sing, but he managed to convince her that the act needed a dancer. They were by far the youngest performers there and they brought the (albeit quite indulgent) house down.)
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All in all a wonderful weekend. We can't wait to do it again. Stop by during the week for more photos and stories from desert adventure, or better yet, join us next year.
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(Yes, I realize there are no photos of the actual performances here. I didn't want to put anyone's pictures up on the internet without their permission. Rest assured I've got lots.)
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16 comments:

Leora said...

Love your little hyrax. And your smiling kids, and your wonderful memories of your weekend. Your Dead Sea photo is truly a good one...the deep blue with the dry desert surroundings.

Libby's Library said...

I want to see the Dead Seas...I really do! I'm really looking forward to more photo's. Thank you so much for sharing!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Nope, it doesn't get much better than that. Sorry I wasn't there to share it!

Daryl said...

LOVE the photo of Jay and Maya .. frame it!

Mojo said...

Okay, I should have looked at this before I did Kay's "Envy" theme this week. Wow! Phenomenal photos, especially the one of Maya and dad swimming. Positively ... wow.

RivkA with a capital A said...

Wonderful!! I am trying to figure out where you pitched your tent -- I don't recognize that patio or the benches....

linda may said...

Good for you. Glad you enjoyed it.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like you had a great time despite the weather..In the 80's. Wow. I love the photos of the kids preforming....

Kate Coveny Hood said...

Those pictures are amazing! I would love to see the Dead Sea... I will miss having babies to cuddle, but I do look forward to having older kids who can really enjoy vacations.

Phyllis Sommer said...

{{{sigh}}} jealous doesn't even begin to describe it. what great pics - sounds like a wonderful time!!!! how awesome that your kids got up and did their thing!!!! glad to see some pre-pesach fun is being had:-) we got SNOW today!?

deedee said...

What a beautiful place. I like the look of the rocky desert.

Janet said...

Glad you had a great time :-) I love the pic of Maya with her daddy!

Jientje said...

Sounds like you had a great time! Can't wait to see more pictures!

Dina said...

Oh, my favorite place in the world, Ein Gedi! So glad you could spend days and nights there. That's a great tent. Did you get the kids' show on video? Sweet.

Robin said...

We did get it on video. My husband had the Flip while I manned the still camera :).

Jennifer said...

Love all your photos! It sounds like a magical weekend.