Day Trip to Snir River

 

Snir River is one of the rivers that runes into the Jordan River from the North and is a part of the Banias Natural Reserve.

It was a hot day so we decided to take a hike in a cooling shady area and nothing fit us more that the beautiful Snir River.

Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve

The Banias Spring emerges at the foot of Mount Hermon and flows powerfully through a canyon for 3.5 km, eventually leading to the Banias Waterfall, the most impressive cascade in Israel. Nine kilometers from its source, the Hermon Stream meets the Dan, and together they form the Jordan River.

A stepped path near the spring climbs to the Banias Cave. Nearby, five niches carved into the cliff wall are a remnant of the temple to Pan, which gave the site its name: Paneas or Pameas (pronounced Banias in Arabic). Remains of a temple built by Herod the Great stand in front of the cave. After Herod’s death, his son Philip inherited this area, and in 2 BCE Philip founded his capital near the Banias Spring, calling it Caesarea Philippi.

Caesarea Philippi became an important Christian pilgrimage destination as the place where Jesus asked the disciples who people said he was. The New Testament records that Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then blessed Simon, saying: “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:16-19).

A 45-minute loop trail passes Roman- and Crusader-period sites. The marked trail to the waterfall takes about 90 minutes. About 150 m along that trail, it crosses the Govta Stream under a Roman bridge. It continues to the hydroelectric power station and the reconstructed, water-powered Matroof flour mill, where Druze pita with labaneh (goat cheese) is for sale. The Officers Pool, 350 m farther along, now a habitat for Capoeta damascena fish, was used by Syrian officers before 1967.

The bus collected at 6AM the group along the way from the central part of the country towards Golan Hiegths in the North and only after 3 hours we were already at a view point having breakfast.

                             

The DRUZ village below was our next stop,as the Druz do not have a country they adopt the life style of the country they live in keeping their secret Religion only to the Droz real believers, most of their people live in the Middle East and enjoy freedom  in Israel. 

                                                      

Our next stop was at the Snir River reserve hiking up stream with stops for lunch and cooling of in the clear cool waters along the way .

It was our last seasonal trip with our hiking group we will meet again in October to renew our travels in the country to new and other exiting destinations.

I believe that our next post will be from Canada after we pick our Rig and start our 12th Summer RV trip in North America.

Till we meet again and thank you for taking the time to visit our blog.

Tradition

In our faith when a boy reaches 13 (Barmizva) and a girl 12 (Batmizva) they become responsible for their actions as they are transferred from childhood to adults,it is an emotional and  special event in the kids life.

When our eldest Granddaughter turned 12 we asked her what would she want for her Batmizva ,we assumed she would ask for a laptop  a tablet or an advanced cell phone that does everything including scrambled eggs… but surprisingly she said “I want to join you for a month on your summer RV trip” …..Wow we were happy and touched  that she would like to be with Grandpa and Grandma for a whole month away from friends and family.

So to make the long story short we had a great RV trip in Ontario covering Niagara area and Bruce Peninsula ,it can be seen HERE.

Only Grandparents that traveled with their grandkids can really understand the fantastic experience we all had,the month pasted like a fast tornado and with mixed feelings (she missed the family but loved the trip) we put her on a direct flight back home .

From her return all our 5 grandkids are looking forward for the TRIP and can not stop talking about it what means that we did GOOD.

Now we are celebrating her brother’s Barmizva and as his sister he will be joining us for a month starting from June 2013 at the end of his school year.

                                                                                                            

Here are some pictures from his class party.

We are looking forward to have him onboard One on One with us and we will do everything to make him enjoy it as his sister did.

Trip to Croatia and Slovenia

April is a perfect month to visit these two small countries that were a part of former Yugoslavia.

Small ancient villages,castles,mountains with snow tips,lakes and places that look like the time has stopped  and the modernization that skipped these very clean places will greet you with welcome as you bring your $.

Slovenia uses Euro and the prices are like in Europe (high) but Croatia is still on KUNA (the local currency ) and is cheaper.

Croatia has a long and beautiful coast with hundreds of Islands that make the place perfect for holidays ,if we add good weather and great inviting people it is sure one of the European attractions –But not in the high season as it gets very crowded.

Beautiful nature can be easily found in North America but ancient villages,history,local food,narrow streets that some times force you to fold the cars mirrors to prevent from hitting a houses from both sides are only found in Europe and especially in the old villages.

It is a paradise for History lovers ,people who like the ancient atmosphere and experiencing “NEW” adventures.

  

   

    

    

It was a short trip and I believe that we will be back and stay enough in one place to “feel” it rather than be just a tourist.

We had to cut it short as we will be beginning our 12th RV summer trip in June-see you down the road.

2012 Rv summer trip-video

2012 rv Summer Trip Slideshow: Daniel’s trip to 24 cities including Charleston was created with TripAdvisor TripWow!

Spring is in the air

Pesach Holidays are over and we are experiencing beautiful Spring weather,this is the best season in this corner of the world,it is still not to hot but the bloom is all over and so is the smell  ,no matter where you go out of the cities you are greeted with rainbow colors and great smell of the blooming flowers.

 

This is a colorful blooming corner of our small garden,nice at anytime of the day.

Best of all

2 days hiking in the North part of the country

One of the best seasons to travel in Israel is at spring and spring is defiantly here,it is all green and blooming after the rainy days,the weather is just right for hiking .

We joined our hiking group and hiked 2 days in the North part of Israel called Galil .

On the first day we hiked  Nahal Kesiv  starting at 0930 till 1730 covering beautiful grounds and crossing the streams till the last look out towards an ancient Castle named Monfort Crusade Castel http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Montfort.html

                                  

                                         

                    

                     

Then we spent the night at the Youth Hostel,having dinner and in the next morning a huge Israeli breakfast.

                         

And in the next day we hiked fro 0800 till 1700 Nahal Amud ending the hike next to the Kinneret Lake

We all got up early for the breakfast and warmed up before starting our second long day with a cooler weather but still good and crispy.

Some were a little sore and tired after the hike and the dance before hitting the sack but after a mile or 2 it was alright.

                          

                          

                           

                        

These were two beautiful full days of hiking in the most beautiful nature surroundings,the colors and the smells were perfect,the weather was great and so was the company.

The rest of the pictures can be watched by clicking on this link

https://plus.google.com/photos/114631366665239145994/albums/5856229284373635537?authkey=CL7_q4-BgfP6cA

Till we meet again.