Straight after we landed in Tel Aviv we went to the central bus station. We wanted to take a train from an airport but it didnt operate and we had to take buses with 1 change. I was scared by my host Uri that the bus terminal in Tel Aviv is a mess. So, it was even a good point that in the end a bus brought me straight to the 6th floor of the station and I needed to go up only a floor to catch next bus - to Tiberias.
It took me 42 NIS and 2,5 h to get to Tiberias where Uri picked me up and we drove to a kibbutz Ha’on that became my home for next 2 days.
He said he was surprised I managed to come just after arrival. Yeah, sure I didn’t feel super comfortably because it was all pretty late already. I got off the almost empty bus at 10:30pm and felt like a lonely Russian soul on the platform. It was obvious that the foggy city already slept. And when I met cheerful Uri with very active Kaza, his dog, I felt great relief.
We spoke a lot till late night asking very different questions. Uri is half Russian (but he doesnt speak Russian though), so he was curious about it. He has never visited this country, so I hope in the end he got enough start planning it! He was very surprised by some facts about me like being russian and sure, one of them is that I don’t like getting drunk much :D Maybe he even was a bit disappointed, he didn’t say. :D
Next morning the weather wasn’t really good but we still had some plans. We woke up to visit birdwatching spots. When we got out of his car i felt strong smell of some nice substance. It belonged to euqaliptus trees! The first time i saw and smelled it. They’re so huuuuge in comparison with me! We actually didn’t see much of them. Instead Uri showed me a hidden spot where the border used to be and now it has almost completely destroyed old Syrian houses. One house was occupied by people recently. It looked strange for me: there’s nothing and nobody closeby, just silence and nature. I’d never stayed in such a place for long time!
Then we drove to the North shore of the Kinneret. Beautiful Golan Heights! We hiked some spot. All the way I couldn’t stop watching the opposite slope. It looked like skin of a magic animal and I just wanted to stretch my hand for it and stroke gently. Soooo soft. We also passed clementine and lemon plantations. It looks amazing! So fresh colors. And sure, we didn’t behave :D Took a couple of clementines, they were very sweet!
After we came back to the kibbutz Uri’s friend, Omri, dropped on to talk. We ended up at his place sharing a long talk, listening to Uri playing saxophone. It was fun! So easy-going and nice people. We spoke much about being a world-inside kind of traveller. I wish I could wish more people like that to make myself moving in a desired direction with day-to-day life destruction. But sure, everyone needs to start from onelself. No one helps you till you really want.
Ok, if to skip this melancholically part we went out to a bar later to try local beer. It was Gold Star, sure. I think that point became the last that let me finally realize I’m in the expensive country. In the afternoon when we bought food for the day trip I noticed bananas are 2 times more expensive than in Russia, dairy products are the same… A pint of beer was at the same price level like some European beer in a Moscow pub (27 NIS). And Israeli also leave good tips, oh. But at least unfiltered Gold Star was nice. And in the middle of another deep conversation a crowd of Americans appeared in the bar. They started talking to us and got surprised to meet such a duet. After first “shock” was gone we unexpectedly started dancing! Monday night! It was cool and Uri is a really cool dancer!
Next morning the weather was so perfect! I used this to look around the kibbutz because before I actually didn’t. I got totally and to the end excited by the way people live there! First, what is noticeable is surroundings. The kibbutz Ha’on is located just on the Kinneret shore, you can walk straight from your home to a lovely beach. And from Uri’s place I could see Golan heights through a window. But anyway if it’s impossible in some house the view is easily reachable by stepping out of your walls! In the kibbutz 99% of people know each other, everybody greets and smiles to you. The atmosphere is very light and relaxed. If you don’t have a car you go to the closest bus stop and there’s an extremely high possibility to be picked up by the kibbutz inhabitant! Many people have pets and they play with each other around the place wherever they wish. If you need something you can easily borrow that from a neighbor and it’s nice if you’re ready to help sincerely next time. And almost nobody lock doors! That all shows people’s attitude to each other. Omri said that mostly students and hippies live there. Yeah, that’s true but when I walked in the kibbutz I also saw plenty of family houses. It must be such awesome place to bring up children!
After we went to eat hummus together with Omri and his friend. It was the first time in my life I tried it! And yeah, I loved it! It was in another kibbutz and a cafe is set up right there. This one was bigger than Ha’on obviously. The guys new the staff of the cafe and I felt I was eating something made by real Israeli for Israeli.
Then we spent some time at the Omri’s friend’s place and then hitchhiked (with the help of kibuutz’s members solidarity) to Ha’on. Last minutes in that sweet place we spent by the Kinneret on the sunny spot with Omri and later with Uri. That’s a pity it that short time. I wish I could stay there longer but I also knew I was going to cross the whole country with guys who were in Tel Aviv and New Year’s eve was coming… So, I didn’t cry! :D
After lovely goodbye wishes Uri accompanied me to a bus stop where I was picked up by a Russian Israeli kibbutz inhabitant Alex. You see! It works!