Golan

Unsure if we'd make it with all the back and forth restrictions of Corona... we were and are blessed to be spending the week in the Golan heights. 

Chofesh Hagadol is a challenging time in Israel with limited to no daycare. It essentially forces stay vacations or getting out. When our pessach plans canceled, we saw an ad in one of the Shabbat publications for a village resort in Aloney Habashan. The cottages offer 1 and 2 bedrooms which unlike a hotel, we were very much looking for. A more luxurious option can be found in Merom Golan, but where we are is very child friendly. 

The Golan is a huge, vast area of nature with pockets of towns. Upon arrival, the city girl in me wanted to turn around and head back to Beit Shemesh, but what fun would that be? We all decided we would work on ourselves for the week to unwind, not check work emails, work on our manners, cut out lots of TV time and get to know a new, quieter flow of life.

We started off with Sunday as a travel day, stopping to see friends in Mitzpeh Netofa. The appeal of this community is that it has an oleh program with subsidized caravillas to help immigrants. The 4 bedroom, 2 bath, one floor, 100 sq meter with wrap around yard houses were very sweet. It takes a special personality to live in a place like Mitzpeh Netofa and stunning views. Children go to school in neighboring Lavi and others. 

On Monday we went to the Robotic Farm to see the process of milking cows. We were very saddened to hear that tourism want down by 50% that we bought 4 t-shirts and a cute cow face mask to wear during the pandemic. We then went to the local grocery there and saw a tank light up toy for kids. Loads of IDF tanks and army bases to feel super proud in the area (as a child I remembered that you cannot photograph these soldiers but we will go to a memorial where tanks can be climbed on). 

In the afternoon the older two kids and hubby went horseback riding in Aloney Habashan itself. They loved it. The yishuv also offers segway riding, a nice park, cows of its own and other chugim from local residents for tourists. As I write this we can hear the horses making sounds. 

Tuesday we decided against Teverya and instead kept to the East side of the Kineret. We traveled to Ein Gev where we rented a boat that fit all of us. Both children had a chance at the rudder. In non corona times there's a train and also a banana farm. Following that we went to Chof Gofra. It smelled terribly there from sulfur or not sure what. But the water was lovely and the kids seemed to have loads of fun. In fact they didn't want to leave... the rockey shore line conditions didn't make it baby friendly...

From there we went to a town called Yonatan. At the entrance we saw a 9 year old trying to hitchhike. As we proceeded up the road we realized no other cars were in the vacinity, had mercy on the child, turned around and drove the 8 minutes by car to the entrance (which would be a terribly long walk on a hot day). Houses in Yonatan are beautiful and we were offered fresh tap water. It was amazing.

Dinner ended up not really coming together for us in Katzrin or at our lodging (we were too late to order - - not sure this would happen at a hotel with a proper restaurant - - something to keep in mind). But so far so good. About to have evening tea with the hubby, sit and watch the more densely lit lights of Katzrin from afar. 

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