Experiencing Jerusalem and Bedouin tents

Day 2 of our traveling adventures! Yesterday, we woke up very early and drove to Jerusalem. It is about a two hour drive so it's not too bad. We got there and just explored the city really. I have been there countless times, but it's a beautiful city. We were there from around 10 am until 3-4 pm. We also went to Har Herzl which is a cemetery where all the important people are buried or soldiers who died either in war or just during their service in the army. I have also been to this cemetery multiple times and it amazes me every time. It is really beautiful and it is well taken care of. There are flowers and lots of green everywhere. It is sad reading all the grave stones because most of the people buried there are my age..so around 18-21.

So after our tour of Jerusalem, we drove very south of Israel near a city called Sde Boker. It was about a three hour drive. I was exhausted so I slept for most of the way. We drove to Sde Boker to sleep in the Bedouin tents. This is a very popular and touristy place to visit when you are in Israel. I have been multiple times, not because I want to but mainly because of programs I've done in Israel. The food is always amazing, but I can never sleep well. The tents are really dusty so it makes me sick. I think it's a really great experience to have though. Anyways, so we got there and ate dinner. Afterwards we had a bonfire and just socialized. I was still really exhausted so I just went back to my tent I was staying in. 

In the Bedouin tent!

The next morning we woke pretty early, packed up our stuff, ate, and got on the bus. We went hiking for a few hours somewhere nearby. I am not sure where, but it was fun. It was an easy hike, but it was hot. I enjoyed it though. It was really beautiful and most people would not expect Israel to have such scenery.
 

What a Bedouin tent looks like

After our hike, we had lunch which were just sandwiches we had to make earlier that day. We rested for about an hour and finally left. We then drove to a place called Mizpe Ramon, which is a city in the desert. There is a big crater called makhtesh there. It is also incredibly gorgeous. I could sit there for hours     and just looking at it. It sounds weird, but I have been there many times and the view never gets old! Anyways, after being there for a little bit we drove back to our kibbutz. It was a long bus ride and I was exhausted so I slept. Once I returned I ate dinner and now catching up with everything since we have free time until tomorrow. Tomorrow is another holiday called Simchat Torah. This is another fun holiday and during this holiday there is a lot of drinking and dancing with the Torah. Sounds weird, but like I said it's always fun to celebrate! I'll explain more about it on my next blog!:)