Sam (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
l33tminion) wrote2004-07-11 11:54 am
l33tminion) wrote2004-07-11 11:54 am
Happy Birthday, Mr. Minion
I'm back! It's been an eventful few days, so this will be a long entry... so *takes deep breath*
Two Days Ago: Friday, July 9
We left the village early in the morning (about 6:00), and ate breakfast at a picnic site along the way. The food was still good even though it needed to be packed for the trip (I would like to thank the ISSI kitchen staff, as they do a whole lot to make our stay more enjoyable).
Our first event was a hike down the forested slopes of Mt. Carmel (4 hrs., mostly in shade, mostly downhill, includes some climbing, moderately difficult). The walk was very pleasant, and the climbing was quite fun although I did only narrowly avoid injury (thanks to my new hiking boots).
After the hike, we had lunch at a Druze village. Lunch was a feast of fresh baked pita with various toppings, salads, and spreads (including the best hummus I have ever tasted). They served baklava and sweet tea flavored with sage (unusual, but good) for desert. There was also a short performance (of a musical nature) put on by our hosts after the meal. Everything was excellent.
Then, we proceeded down to the Druze shuk (market). There was a lot of cool stuff being sold. However, I was disturbed when some brightly colored packets set on a rack proved, upon inspection, to be not candy but rather flavored tobacco (especially because Israel is very loose in terms of regulations that limit the sale of tobacco to children). (I need to rant about this topic, but I'll save that for another post, as this one is already too long.)
Finally, we headed to the resort where we were staying the night. I missed the beginning of Shabbat dinner because I was feeling a little unwell, but I took a short nap, woke up feeling refreshed, and arrived in time for a light supper.
That evening, we had the country presentations. Ours was a skit we called "A Day in the Life of an Average American," a sketch that satirized stereotypes about typical Americans by making fun of a typical day on American TV. All the presentations were excellent (including food, singing, maps (either brought or hastily drawn that evening), humor, flags, and art), and I had a very good time.
Afterwards, I watched some TV in the lobby before going to bed (hadn't done anything TV-wise since the movie on the plane). The show was an episode of CSI, subbed into both Hebrew and Arabic and played without commercial interruption (probably because it was Shabbat).
Yesterday: Saturday, July 10
In the morning, those who wanted to (me included) went on a pair of hikes.
The first was a hike down the side of a nearby canyon (2 hrs., very little shade, almost all downhill (but some very steep), some difficult climbing, somewhat hard). The views from the canyon (both of the caves and ruins on the wall of the canyon itself and the little town and rolling hills down in the valley to the right of the opposite wall) were incrediby picturesque. The last bit of the hike was hard, but I enjoyed the hike overall.
The second hike was a water hike (walking down a river through the water, 2 hrs., requires some swimming, easy). The hike was a lot of fun (including water fights, dragonflies, and a gigantic catfish).
In the afternoon, I took a nap, read in the lobby, relaxed on the "beach" (not a real beach, just a swimming area off some concrete stairs), and swam in the Kineret (the Sea of Galilee). The water was warm, but a little turbulent (as it was somewhat windy).
All three meals were provided by the resort and were excellent.
Also, yesterday was my birthday. I certainly didn't expect to be spending my birthday at a resort in Israel, and it was a wonderful celebration. The only thing I missed was all of you, my friends. When I come back, I'll have to have a party (you're all invited (assuming, since this is public, that you live in the Greater Cleveland area)). I'll work out details later.
Today:
Today, more lab work. I'm still working on my image completion program. There is a lecture in the afternoon and tonight is movie night.
*gasp* *breathes heavily* That was certainly a lot to say in one breath!
Two Days Ago: Friday, July 9
We left the village early in the morning (about 6:00), and ate breakfast at a picnic site along the way. The food was still good even though it needed to be packed for the trip (I would like to thank the ISSI kitchen staff, as they do a whole lot to make our stay more enjoyable).
Our first event was a hike down the forested slopes of Mt. Carmel (4 hrs., mostly in shade, mostly downhill, includes some climbing, moderately difficult). The walk was very pleasant, and the climbing was quite fun although I did only narrowly avoid injury (thanks to my new hiking boots).
After the hike, we had lunch at a Druze village. Lunch was a feast of fresh baked pita with various toppings, salads, and spreads (including the best hummus I have ever tasted). They served baklava and sweet tea flavored with sage (unusual, but good) for desert. There was also a short performance (of a musical nature) put on by our hosts after the meal. Everything was excellent.
Then, we proceeded down to the Druze shuk (market). There was a lot of cool stuff being sold. However, I was disturbed when some brightly colored packets set on a rack proved, upon inspection, to be not candy but rather flavored tobacco (especially because Israel is very loose in terms of regulations that limit the sale of tobacco to children). (I need to rant about this topic, but I'll save that for another post, as this one is already too long.)
Finally, we headed to the resort where we were staying the night. I missed the beginning of Shabbat dinner because I was feeling a little unwell, but I took a short nap, woke up feeling refreshed, and arrived in time for a light supper.
That evening, we had the country presentations. Ours was a skit we called "A Day in the Life of an Average American," a sketch that satirized stereotypes about typical Americans by making fun of a typical day on American TV. All the presentations were excellent (including food, singing, maps (either brought or hastily drawn that evening), humor, flags, and art), and I had a very good time.
Afterwards, I watched some TV in the lobby before going to bed (hadn't done anything TV-wise since the movie on the plane). The show was an episode of CSI, subbed into both Hebrew and Arabic and played without commercial interruption (probably because it was Shabbat).
Yesterday: Saturday, July 10
In the morning, those who wanted to (me included) went on a pair of hikes.
The first was a hike down the side of a nearby canyon (2 hrs., very little shade, almost all downhill (but some very steep), some difficult climbing, somewhat hard). The views from the canyon (both of the caves and ruins on the wall of the canyon itself and the little town and rolling hills down in the valley to the right of the opposite wall) were incrediby picturesque. The last bit of the hike was hard, but I enjoyed the hike overall.
The second hike was a water hike (walking down a river through the water, 2 hrs., requires some swimming, easy). The hike was a lot of fun (including water fights, dragonflies, and a gigantic catfish).
In the afternoon, I took a nap, read in the lobby, relaxed on the "beach" (not a real beach, just a swimming area off some concrete stairs), and swam in the Kineret (the Sea of Galilee). The water was warm, but a little turbulent (as it was somewhat windy).
All three meals were provided by the resort and were excellent.
Also, yesterday was my birthday. I certainly didn't expect to be spending my birthday at a resort in Israel, and it was a wonderful celebration. The only thing I missed was all of you, my friends. When I come back, I'll have to have a party (you're all invited (assuming, since this is public, that you live in the Greater Cleveland area)). I'll work out details later.
Today:
Today, more lab work. I'm still working on my image completion program. There is a lecture in the afternoon and tonight is movie night.
*gasp* *breathes heavily* That was certainly a lot to say in one breath!
no subject
Happy Birthday!
(Anonymous) 2004-07-11 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)Beth
no subject