The Adventures of a Jewpanese Girl!: The North Trip

The trip up north started with me taking Roisin to my favourite tapas breakfast place. Located in a kibbutz overlooking Lake Kineret and its surrounding rolling hills, we enjoyed warm sun on our backs and an array of mouth-watering goodies.

Freshly baked scones with an assortment of pesto, sundried tomato, marmalade and butter spreads...labane with herbs and olive oil (the real stuff), tangy yogurt, salty goat cheese...marinated red bell peppers, roasted eggplant, sweet potato infused with orange...arabic salad, bruschetta...omlette with herbs...freshly squeezed orange juice...and for Roisin, an Americano. Before I forget, little fruit salads and bite-size baklava!

The breakfast spread...

The wait has been too long - 2.5 years to be exact!

A new and satisfied customer...

After breakfast, we drove along the lake and did some walking on water of our own! Having just had a 2 hour breakfast, exercise was in order. With only a few minutes of precious sunlight left, we made an 'executive decision' to forgo hiking the Arbel trail, still 30 minutes away, and instead, left the car by the road, got out and started to walk. This is where we ended up...

Rolling green hills on one side of the lake
with the Jordanian rift valley on the other...

We saw a flock of sheep and a hooded figure...

We continued walking and found ourselves in the Switzerland Memorial Forest. There were a bunch of dirt bikers having fun weaving through the trees and dodging various obstacles!

If we continued walking, we would have reached Tiberias.

The next day, I took Roisin (a vegetarian) to Amirim - a vegetarian moshav (like a kibbutz). We stumbled upon a cute cafe house and spent our time playing sheshbesh (backgammon) while the sun set. I enjoyed a banana and date lassi and shared an Indian coconut curry and soup with my dear friend.

Concentrate...

Finally, the finger has been documented...

Later that evening, we drove up to visit Shimshon, who once was my pediatrcian back in Vancouver. Also a vegeterian, Shimshon welcomed us with his famous soup, but what caught my attention first was a little stuffed animal that I used to play with as a child while waiting in his office. It was waiting for me on the sofa, as always. Thanks, Shimshon.

In the morning, Shimshon took us further north to a bird sanctuary at Hula Agamon Lake, which is home to 500 million birds that migrate from Africa up through our rift valley on route to Europe. Being a full-fledged bird watcher, Doc brought two binoculars, a bird glossary to identify our spotings, and pointed out the various birdlife: cranes, pelicans, raptors, ducks, and a funky bird whose style of flying reminds me of an old car trying to jump-start. Other animals included giant rats and humans.

Doc and patient - 20 years later...

Shimshon has storytelling powers...

One of many giant rat-like creatures...

You don't need to go to Egypt for papyrus...

The next day, we went to a nearby forest to visit Ruth's corner - a memorial to Shimshon's late wife. Playing music in a forest is a magical experience.