Tiyul #4 - The North Part 2

Sunday Night - Hadarya pulled an all-nighter, sleeping that is, after going to bed late around 10 PM. She woke at 5:15 for milk and fell back to sleep until 9:00 or so. Maybe later! We had a lovely breakfast on the balcony with a gorgeous sight to see. Then hustled into the car with all the gear and kids, up 100 steps in the hot hot hot heat, to go to the Tel Dan and Safed.

I LOVED the Tel Dan when we were here 4 years ago, so we wanted to go and explore this natural reserve some more. The trees, the pathways, and the water were enticing. We drove over an hour to get there, with two napping girls, only to find out it was CLOSED, due to a fire two days ago. What a bummer! BUT we were lucky to be with experienced travelers, especially in the North, and Noam found us a delicious spot all our own. The girls played naked in the water laughing, giggling, and splashing. We put on suits and joined them, had lunch, and watched the kayakers. Over 2 hours of relief from the heat in an area we’d never have found ourselves.

Then we ventured on to Safed, a place I’d never been and wanted to go. I was slightly disappointed as it wasn’t what I really expected. There were tons of tall and large apartment building on the sides of the hills as we entered. This was the new part, but seemed so out of place for a religious artist’s colony! I am going to have to do some research on the area and learn more for sure. We walked through the main street and down to the artists colony, which is really a long strip of shops. We saw some beautiful things, but not completely unusual and unique. Nothing I felt I really had to have. We did venture to the very end and go to the Safed Candle Factory, which are handmade candles of all kinds. It was amazing. A full size chess set mad out of candles. Shabbat and havdalah candles, as well as speciality items. We had fun here and bought some lovely things to bring home.

We then stopped for delicious ice cream and pizza for Hadarya (who ate almost the whole piece, minus what her cousin ate!) before heading back to our cabin. We ended the night with a campfire. Again, nothing we would have done on our own, but with Tamar and Noam… beyond perfect. They made salad, roasted potatoes and tons of meat, and Arab baklava for dessert. We ate over a couple of hours while we played with the girls and then they fell asleep. It was Hadarya’s first campfire and she was captivated by the fire. She went to sleep and slept on the blanket with blankets over her cozy by the fire. It was so beautiful to see. Now… at 11:45 PM, we are heading to bed too.

We had another great sleeping night although Hadarya woke from the crib we put her in . This is just a trip that she needs to sleep in our bed with us and be with us. Cribs are not working here for her at all. She drank some milk and went to bed with us. We woke late again, packed up, and then ate a long lovely breakfast on the balcony again. Eggs and fresh bread and salad. It was superb!

We then journeyed back to Ra'Naana via Nehariya for ice cream. Tamar and Zohar go to a mommy and me music class at 5:15 in the evening and we made it back in time for them to go. We were invited to join them and Hadarya had a blast! She LOVES music and it made no difference to her that it was in Hebrew. It was just so fun.

We then caught a late bus and headed back to Jerusalem. It was good to be back in our spot with our stuff and we are looking forward to some time in Jerusalem!