Golan Heights Getaway (and catching up)

It's beginning to look a lot like...Hanukkah. If I had not been in the States recently for a business trip (and more importantly, Tim & Katie’s wedding), I might not believe that Christmas is next week. You wouldn’t know that it’s mid-December here in Israel. Temperatures in Tel Aviv have been hovering around 70 degrees—and it was a balmy 77 today. Not that decorations and cold weather are a requirement for Christmas—that’s just what we’re used to.


A lot has happened in the month-or-so since our last blog. We celebrated Nicki’s birthday (it’s now the annual 6 month period where I can poke fun at her for being older than me). Iowa State beat #2 Oklahoma State in one of the best college football games I’ve ever seen (we watched it on time delay here in Israel on a Sunday morning). I bought a surfboard (though there have been no adequate waves during non-working daylight hours since my purchase). We’ve seen the rise and fall of several Republican candidates for the US Presidential race (my talkative cubemate is now a Newt Gingrich supporter based on his recent comment about the Palestinians being an “invented” people—though for the record, both Newt & my cubemate are in-favor of a Palestinian state). More rockets were fired into Israel (I learned of it via the US news while in Portland, though my Israeli cubemate said it was “nothing”, and Nicki hadn’t heard about it). Sammy is teething (and finally sleeping in the second bedroom). And, we made our first overnight trip in Israel while visiting the (disputed) Golan Heights.


Our trip to Golan in the far northeast corner of Israel was a much-needed escape from work for me, and a relaxing time for our little family. We stayed overnight at a “zimmer” on a “moshav” called Moshav Ramot, which is a hillside village (here for map) overlooking the northeastern corner of the Sea of Galilee.


Zimmer is an Israeli term (likely with German roots) for stand-alone vacation cabins that typically include a kitchenette as well as a Jacuzzi tub. For whatever reason, Israeli’s apparently won’t book a zimmer without the coveted tub. A moshav is an Israeli farming community. Moshav Ramot had a laid-back, rural feel. Within walking distance from our zimmer one could find a country store, cows grazing, and a restaurant.


We had dinner at the restaurant, and I noticed an older man wearing a kippa watch me struggle to eat while Sammy grabbed at my plate and utensils. After a few minutes, the man, using our waiter as a translator, asked if he could hold Sammy while we ate. Sammy seemed to like his new friend who held him, whistled for him, kissed him, and let him play with anything he could get his hands on--which included his traditionally long beard. Nicki and I ate in peace and were actually quite moved by the stranger’s gesture.


Our time in the Golan was quite fascinating. Along the way we witnessed an outdoor ski slope, tanks, ruins, vineyards, vultures, a castle and the Jordan River among other things. We also got to peer into both Jordan and Syria, both of which border Israel. And since a picture is worth 1000 words, I’ve posted several pictures below if you’re interested.


But first, here is Sammy cheering on the mighty Cyclones!

While driving from Tel-Aviv to Moshav Ramot, we neared the border with the country of Jordan.

In fact, here is a view into Jordan. I suppose this would be the Jordan River Valley.

Here is an up-close view of the Jordan River. Not quite what we were expecting. Perhaps it is mightier in the Spring.

Lots of irrigated agriculture in Israel. The Sea of Galilee is the dominant source of water.

Nicki spotted the Yehudiya Village ruins (apparently built during the 4th century AD) from the highway.

Then we came across this line of Israeli tanks, aimed towards the border with Syria.

We moved in for a closer look. At first, I was a bit nervous--but then I realized that this is probably what some of my co-workers do when they are on they are on army-duty. Serving as the great equalizer, all Israelis must serve in the military--men serve 3 years, and women serve two. The men also get called back for annual (?) service in what seem to be two-week increments. We've learned that many Israelis meet their eventual mate while serving in the military.

Notice the Star of David on the side of this tank.

We stopped at the Golan Heights winery for some tasting. It's Biblical! :)

That's our zimmer on the right, our car on the left, and the Sea of Galilee in the background.

And here is another view of the lake (Sea of Galilee) from our moshav. Moshav Ramot was an interesting mix of agriculture, animals, pick-up trucks, palm trees--oh, and zimmers!

There are two Israeli-breakfast delivery companies in Ramot - we took advantage (Sammy was pleased). They simply drop off a basket full of goodies at the time the customer specifies, and then pick it up later.

We later came across this sign and realized that our tank sighting wasn't all that uncommon in the Golan.

We stopped to check out ruins from a Byzantine church, and came across this "vulture acclimitazation" cage. Apparently Griffon Vultures nest in the cliffs of the Golan Heights.  

Here's Nicki and Sammy exploring the Byzantine church.

This is a view of the "United Nations Disengagement Zone", on the border of Israel & Syria. Can you see the Syrian flag? We saw a white SUV drive by with "UN" written in black letters on the driver's side door.

We passed this abandoned Israeli tank seemingly used in the 1974 war against Syria. I couldn't resist...

This is a view of Nimrod's Castle (aka Nimrod's Fortress), also in the Golan Heights--on the slope of Mt Hermon, in fact. Nimrod is not an insult in Israel.

View to the east from Nimrod's Fortress. That's the Druze village of Ein Kinya in the background. 

This "room" was used as a water cistern. It ideally would have been full of rain water.

And here's Nicki and Sammy again. Sammy seemed to like Nimrod's Castle.

The end.