[Israeli Summer] Hiking my own backyard

The end of my last weekend in Israel is bittersweet.  I am looking forward to going home, but I'm also realizing how much of Haifa I've neglected to see in my hurry to see everything else.  This weekend was spent in town, exploring the beauty of my own backyard.

On Friday, we visited Nahal Me'arot (Caves Stream) Nature Reserve, just south of Haifa (by Ein Hod).    What was an archaeological dig site is now a tourist site, giving the visitor a glimpse into prehistoric life.  It is believed that, here, Neanderthal Man lived side by side with Homo sapiens.  Another neat thing is that the land was completed covered by the sea at one point.  We were able to climb what was once a giant coral reef.

Hiking the fossilized coral

Glimpse into Prehistoric Life

Saturday brought us to the Carmel Mountains.  We started hiking just outside of Haifa University, and were able to wander onto the Little Switzerland Trail. The mountain is known for its greenness because it receives more precipitation due to its proximity to the sea.  We decided to turn around when we got to a neighboring peak, where we were next to the old prison.  It had burned down some years ago, tragically trapping some 40 prison guards within it.  We could see the sparse trees atop the mountain as evidence of the occurrence.

Close to sunset over Mount Carmel

Israeli Summer: Zikhron, Akko, and Rosh Hanikra

This was the first weekend, since arriving in Israel, where I wasn't traveling across the country.  It was nice to relax and actually explore Haifa, and nearby areas.

Zikhron is a town half an hour south of Haifa by train.  Outside of the town there is an extensive nature reserve with a beautiful botanical garden.  In this garden lies the tomb of Baron De Rothchild.  He was a strong supporter of the Zionist movement, and his support helped lead to the establishment of Israel.  He was known as a great benefactor to some, and as a slave-driver to others.  The quaint town of Zikhron is home to many wineries and a cute center filled with people looking to escape from city-life for a few hours.  We just did a quick walk through, but it definitely warrants another visit.  In Zikhron, we visited MIT alums, who had recently made Aliyah.  

From the rose garden in Zikhron

Acre (Akko in Hebrew) is a town about half an hour north of Haifa by sherut.  Acre is surrounded by a magnificent sea wall, which once protected the people within.  It is fun to explore the winding streets, and to wander into the marketplaces.  Acre is one of Israel's oldest continuously inhabited cities, so it has a plethora of historical sites.  We visited the Jezzar Pasha mosque from the Ottoman period, and we visited the Crusader's citadel and tunnels from the Crusader periods. Acre is also famous for it's hummus, which definitely lived up to its praise.

Seawall in Acre

So Acre is actually the center of the Ba'hai faith, but their grandest shrine is located in Haifa.  The Ba'ahi gardens are so beautiful and extensive that they've actually become a symbol for for Haifa.  Looking up from the bottom, the thought of climbing all the stairs is somewhat daunting; the majestic stairs and perfectly manicured plants seem to go on indefinitely.  Atop the stairs sits the shine. I practically live next door to these magnificent gardens, but it wasn't until yesterday that I visited.  

Ba'hai Shine in Haifa

Rosh Hanikra is another 20 minutes north by sherut.  It is known for the magnificent sea grottoes, which we were able to reach by cable car.  The caverns were beautiful, and the incoming waves were soothing.  But unfortunately, we were not allowed to swim in the grottoes.  We walked out along the rocky shoreline in search of our own, and managed to find a small one.  Underwater, the rocky shore was lined with algae growth, making the floor slippery but soft.  There were also deeper pools, which allowed us to immerse otherselves in the otherwise shallow water.  It was fun bobbing as the waves rushed in.  Rosh Hanikra is also on the Lebanese border, making the entire area a military zone, which explains why swimming in much of the area of off limits.    

Jackson stands in pool, while Esme and Kenny sit on water.

For more photos of this weekend, check out my facebook album.

Israeli Summer: Haifa

Shalom!
I am comfortably situated in Haifa, Israel, where I will be living for the next 10 weeks.  Haifa is the third largest city in Israel, situated on a hill next to the Mediterranean Sea.