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photo page 42 |
Last year we went north to see the bird migration in the Hula valley, but came too late. This year we go mid October.
A friend has recommended the zimmer (Hebrew for room/bungalow) of Evelien and Uri. Isn't it a beauty? The living room of "Ken BaHula"
features a glass window looking out at the garden, is completely finished in recycled wood, and has a lovely picknick table.
And a cuddly cat by the name of Levi's, posing at a foto website.
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Uri is archeological restorer, specializing in stone and wood. He built this four-man swing from wood without any screw or nail: all
parts are mounted with dowelled joints. The swing is over 30 years old!
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The zimmer is located in the village of Yesud Hama'ala, close to the bird sanctuary. We drive through the village, across the Jordan canal,
and arrive at the western slopes of the Golan heights. A 4x4 trail starts here, so brand-new that it does not show on our detailed maps.
After 10 minutes of jolting over big boulders we encounter a stream. Sonja inspects the water to see if we can pass it.
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We take the plunge, and with small fish dashing away from the tires, we reach the other side. A little further the track
drops steeply, and into yet another stream. Sonja climbs down for another check.
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This stream flows a lot faster, and is curved so that we cannot see the end of it. We trust on the path indicators (green and white
stripes on sign posts and stones) and stand out to sea.
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These streams were only the beginning: in total we cross at least 10 streams with the jeep!
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Gradually we climb higher and higher up the Golan. Along the path are many ruins of former Syrian buildings surrounded by mine fields.
The houses are demolished after the 6-day war. From places like these, the Israeli farmers down in the Hula valley were daily shot at before 67.
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After crossing through a herd of bulls, we rest at the highest point, with a breath taking view over the valley.
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In the distance, we see large flocks of big birds. They use the updraughts to try to gain height for their journey south, while new groups
arrive from the north and land in the fields to eat and rest. |
Back down in the valley we recognize the birds as common cranes, by their thousands! We hear their specific sound all week, till deep in
the night.
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Forward.....stretch......shut! Elemental flying course!
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Along our trip through the fields we see two otters cross the road, and some storks. The house frog of Ken BaHula, called Joshi, has found
a safe haven in Evelien and Uri's garden.
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This trip we travel mostly on the western side of the Hula valley, over the Naftali mountains that border Lebanon, visit
Beit Jann and get merrily lost in that chaotic druse village. And we visit Rosh Pina.....
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and Zafad (pronounced as Tsfaad). This is the door of the Abuhav synagogue.
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The art of breakfast: you better reserve the best part of the morning for the breakfast at Ken BaHula, for it is incredibly big,
incredibly tasty and wonderfully garnished. Evelien brings dish after dish in her gigantic Barneveld basket: 10 different types of cheese,
home made jams, warm grapefruit, salads, home made bread and buns, eggs..... After an hour of breakfasting, close to exploding,
Uri is mockingly disappointed that we did not finish everything.....
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Ken BaHula means "nest in the Hula valley", and a warm nest it is indeed. While enjoying our morning coffee with Evelien (right), her friend
Ditha (left) drops by with home made apple pie. Ditha is nurse in the nearby kibbutz Hulata.
We will not soon forget this wonderful week, talking the nights away in the cosy swing, the delicious food, wines.... highly
recommended indeed! For some more pictures of the zimmer: here is the website of Ken BaHula.
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