Resting at Kibbutz Tzuba

Day 3: June 20, 2009

We awoke early this morning. Our apartment has a small balcony. This is the view from it. In the distance are the hills of Jerusalem, which lies on teh other side. I think the town you see of part of the town of Mevasseret. As you can see this side of Israel is very green, even in summer. The building you see is the Qabala, Reception area.



We share a small bedroom with two beds. The beds are small, but comfortable.

This morning Peter and I rose about six and ran together. Since I live near the coast in North Carolina where it is very flat, I knew running would be more difficult in these hills.

We ate breakfast at the Kibbutz cafeteria. The fare is different than is typical in America, though plenty of western type things are available. They serve vegetables and cold fish (smoked salmon, etc.). I had a cereal, boiled eggs, coffee, smoked salmon, smoked other fish (identity unknown), and a vegetable tuna salad (corn, red and green peppers, tuna chunks), and olives. The fish was salty, but all the food was very good. The coffee is Turkish. It is powdery; you put a teaspoon or two in a cup, add hot water, and stir. It is very smooth.

After breakfast we visited the small grocery market. It was fun reading all the labels; some had English, but most did not. I learned how to say strawberry in Hebrew: tot. The small store sells many things in addition to food; it is a bit expensive.

After a morning of reading and getting settled, we had lunch - the main meal at the cafeteria. I ate a large meatball that tasted like meatloaf and a roasted chicken leg, humus, more olives, and some vegetables.

Still recovering from jet lag, I took a two-hour nap in the hot afternoon (about 84 degrees and not a cloud in the sky).

The evening was beautiful. Peter and I took a walk on a trail at the Kibbutz. We followed a map, which was not to scale and a bit tricky to follow, to the spring, Ein Tzuba. Continuing on the circuit, we passed many orchards. There was a parking area with a picnic table. There I spotted a fig tree (te'enah) with ripening fruit and took a picture. It was beginning to get dark, but there is more to see. We will make another trip.

Today was the end of Shabbat. Tomorrow to Jerusalem!

Shalom,

Lee