So I am now back from Israel where I spent 2 weeks. I had such an amazing time, I can't really explain in words. I did so many things that there is no way I could possibly write everything. Instead, I will give a general overview and some highlights. Maybe at a later date I will write in depth on some things, for now, I think I'm just too lazy. :)
The food was excellent. Morning, noon, and night there were always fresh veggies and fruit. Some things that I wouldn't expect to be breakfast items (such as cole slaws, potato salads, and hummus) were there every morning, no matter where we were. There was always fresh baked bread, amazing desserts (it's amazing I didn't gain 100 pounds), fish (not a big fan but I heard it was good) and lots of meats and random sides. One thing you won't find anywhere is pork. Pork is not eaten in Jewish customs. I had a few people complaining about the lack of bacon anywhere...I wanted to hit them...stupid Americans. So even though I had my fair share of food, we walked everywhere from about 8 in the morning to 7 at night. Granted, we had to have bus rides to many places but we walked at least a few miles every day, up hills, down hills, rocky and smooth paths, you name it, we walked it. So I at least burned off every calorie I ate every day.
One place we visited was Masada. It is an old Israeli fort that about 300 people were hiding in from the Romans. The Romans waited outisde for 3 years without being able to get in. Masada is at the top of this huge mountainous hill near the Dead Sea. After 3 years the people realized that their fate was sealed and they were going to fall to the Romans. They decided rather than watching as everyone was killed in horrific manners or taken into slavery that they would have a mass suicide. The fathers had to kill their wives and children by slitting their throats (they die immediatly so no pain) and then the men would do the same thing to each other until they were down to one and he would have to commit suicide. They did this and then the Romans came crashing in only to find a town of dead bodies. For as sad as the ordeal is I think it was the best curse on the Romans. They wait for 3 years all for nothing.
There is a steep path going up towards Masada which is somewhere between a half mile and a mile. It is practically straight up as the path winds backwards and forwards. Now, we were there early, around 8 maybe 9. It was already close to 100 degrees but still not in the heat of the day. I was on the bus looking at the small ants that were people climbing on the path. My mom was all excited and said I should go with the small group of people brave enough to climb it. I said I really didn't want to but she kept pushing so I went ahead. I had this huge bottle of water with me so I figured I'd be ok othere than my butt/legs killing me when I arrived at the top. There were 6 of us that started out. I got about halfway to the top (probably a little less) and was exhausted, roasting, and feeling quite sick. I tried to drink small sips of water to keep myself hydrated but it certainly wasn't helping. I got a little further up and told the group I had to stop for a while cuz I thought I was going to be sick. I told them to go ahead but they waited with me. Finally, one of the ladies, Amy, said we should just go down together. The thought of admitting defeat, especially after I had walked so far, was practically out of the question. I told her no that we were half way. She looked up and said not quite. Thats when I looked up and saw the path continuing onwards from where I had thought it ended. Thats when I said I couldn't do it and we started heading back down. I still felt sick the whole way and couldn't even drink anything. Finally, we were rounding one of the last bends towards the bottom and Amy said something about eating and I just lost it. I walked off the path and threw up all the water I had been drinking. Thankfully, I had eaten a very light breakfast and so it was only the water. That makes it only the 5th time I have ever thrown up in my life. I was rather embarrassed and apologized to Amy but she didn't mind. Suddenly I felt a lot better and figured if I only could have done that sooner I could have kept walking. Oh well. We took the cable car up to the top just about the same time as the other walkers arrived.
Now I realize I really need a new chapter of this will ramble on forever...
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