The Grass Is Always Greener...

Day Thirteen: Day Yud Gimmel

Wanting to get back to Tel Aviv, Don and I decided to hitch a ride with Nevo and Joanna. They had spent some time at a bed and breakfast on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Kineret, the largest freshwater lake in Israel, so we met them there on their way back South. Nevo told us that the night before, they stopped at a beach recommended by their friend, but they were really disappointed by it because it was a camping beach filled with lots of broken bottles and litter. He really wanted to find a better beach to relax on before the long drive back, so we stopped at a coffee shop to ask for directions. A barista told us that, “all the nice beaches are on the other side of the Kineret”. We pulled out a map, located the names of several places on the opposite side of the lake, and set off in search of a more glamorous beach. About a half an hour later, we arrived at the opposite side of the Kineret, only to find more beaches with discarded diapers, broken bottles, and food wrappers floating in the water. We asked a local, “so, where are the nice beaches around here?” He pointed in the direction we just came from and responded, “The nice beaches are all on that side of the lake.” I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the Kineret…

We gave up on the beach plan, and instead decided to go for a hike. This specific hike was recommended to us because the trail is shaded and you cross through rivers, so don’t suffer in the heat. We arrived to a parking lot filled with tour busses, and could see large guided groups preparing to do the hike. We rushed to get ahead of the big groups and start down the “wet path”. Instead of a path that occasionally crosses a river, you literally walk in the river the entire length of the hike. I had sandals on, and kept stubbing my toes and stumbling over submerged rocks and tree branches. Parts of the river were almost too deep to stand in, and many hikers swam. I thought it was a pretty fun adventure, but Joanna kept asking Nevo, “Why are you taking me on a hike through a swamp??” I’m just glad there are no wild crocodiles in Israel, because I felt like it was a place they would like to live in. Joanna was relieved when we reached the end of the hike, and we drove back to Tel Aviv in our soggy clothes.