Ein Avdat & Makhtesh Ramon
Next day at some point we decided to visit a national park that was in my list of desired spots. Actually we had a choice between Ein Avdat and Timna valley but the former one was more wanted. We hitchhiked traditionally. And this time the drivers were young guys - a local and a brazilian girl. They also picked up another hitchhiker with who we shared a spot. They were coming back North because Aline had to take plane soon, like me. On the way they decided just to have a look at Ein Avdat park together with us.
When we came we found it being closed because of the weather. At that moment the sky was completely clear and the sun was shining. Tourists were allowed to visit an observation point on top of the gorge. After we took a picture of all of us there, guys left and we stayed.
When I just saw those surroundings I was so happy. Ein Avdat was really worth to visit! Never been to a canyon or gorge. The walls of it have such a beautiful color and interesting structure!
We both wanted to stay there longer, just couldn't leave like that. So we passed warning signs to have closer look. Then we saw few people down and also went down. When we reached the middle bottom of the canyon we first had our favorite snack hummus and then wanted to take pictures there. We saw a water going down to next level of the canyon. But then a park keeper came and kicked us out. But the good point was that we could enjoy all THIS on our own, without other crowds of people!
On top we again had some chance to walk along the gorge but towards another side of it. And there were no warning sings.
Then we hitchhiked back home. A woman on a passenger seat was Russian who didn't speak Russian :D Nice! They were in hurry to be at home by the sunset becuase they followed shabath and it was Friday evening. The rest of that day we spent relaxing and sending couchrequests for Tel Aviv because we had to come back there. Party was getting over (for me).
Nevertheless, we had plans in this area for next morning. Aron and Igor worked on a hiking route that we could take inside the crater. So we compromised on 1 hour track and time that was evaluated as long to get to and from there. We couldn't predict traffic, so we had to cut the main part. Also we wanted to reach Tel Aviv by darkness.
Finally we woke up by 1 hour later than planned :D But hithhiking was still easy even at 8:30 am on shabath morning. First ride brought us somewhere on the inner crater's road. Then we got 2 guys in a big car. One of them tried to tell his version of the crater's origin :D You guess? Sure, the fall of meteorite!
Then we had to walk around 1 hour to find a right trail. And again we found ourselves in a fascinating place created by the nature! And there was almost nobody. Just stones, sand, hills.
At some point we met a trop of IDF with a guide. We talked to him, Aron asked much about Jordan.
We passed other nice spots:
This white gorge was pretty plain and maybe nothing special. But I again found something that I'd never seen. Here, on the picture, it looks like covered by sugar powder.
On the way back, even not from the main road, we were picked up by 2 guys coming back from the South (Arava valley) to Tel Aviv after enjoying the look and nature of floods. Their jeep was cover by mud on sides and looked like a real car after a real adventure. We still had to drop on Olga and Igor's place to grab our backpacks and give a key back. On the whole, beacause of our luck, we made that small trip pretty quick and quicker than it was expected.
We said goodbye to Olga (and Igor on the eve) and hitchhiked to the North. We got an almost direct ride from a guy coming back after a photo weekend in the South. He had a very good camera on the backseat. He dropped us by the big road leading to the city from Ben Gurion airport. The spot wasn't the best because cars ran too fast and actually weren't allowed to stop there. But in 10 minutes a van stopped for us. A driver was a Ukrainian guy :D Maybe that explains why he stopped :D He workes as a driver of that good-looking van for VIP tourists. Oh la la. He took us in the area where our host lives and we had to walk only for 20 minutes.
It was sunset time when we met our sweet host, Lior, a very welcoming guy. I know we were his 1st surfers ever. Lior tried his best to let us rest after our way with offering some snacks, shower and warm AC (what was very important for at that point :D). Thank you for you kind hospitality! He was busy with studies though and we spent time out in the city with his flatmate. Our mission was to find knafeh.
Olga described it so good and I thought hadn't tried it yet. So when we found an exact place she advised us we realised we had it :D Then we found a pub to have some beer. I actually tried very good local one, ale from Negev.
This trip was over in the middle of next night when we woke up around 3 to get to a railway station where I cought train (for 16 NIS) to Ben Gurion. Just after I came in the airport I met Dave, a couchsurfer who stayed with Yotam in Jerusalem :) Next 2 hours I spent in lines being thoroughly checked by Israel control crew. It was ok, people were polite and not rude, but the process still makes you stressed (especially when it's 5 in the morning). Many passengers passed through the same when I looked around. But honestly, even thought I didn't want to leave, it was pleasure to reach my plane seat by a window and get completely lost in my sick dreams and thoughts for 2 hours till plane landed in Istanbul.
