I love Yom Tov – don't get me wrong. But, those three day affairs are tough. Even in Israel there's still no getting around the Thursday-Friday Rosh Hashana, followed by Shabbat (which we will experience a number of times in the next several years: LINK – Calendar), but it's nice to do away with the other three dayers – be it on Succot or Pesach. I can't help but rub it in a little to friends and family in the States. I figure it's an aliyah privilege – something we are allowed to brag about.
On this particular Chol HaMoed day, we figured after looking down at it every day from our multi-purpose balcony, that it was time to venture down to the Kinneret. There are several options for going to the beach here in Teverya. We opted for the free one.
As we entered the gate leading down to the beach, the "person in charge" informed us that he has to close early today. "When is early?" we inquired? "Now," he informed us. We noticed that there were several people still down on the beach. We descended the stairs leading down to the beach, and watched as the "person in charge" walked out through the gate and locked it behind him.
This beach certainly had a different look to it than the one that we would frequent in Hollywood, FL. The sand was rockier than we were accustomed to, and sadly, there was quite a bit of garbage scattered around the area. Still, the kids were excited about being back at a beach. We had even brought along some of the beach toys that we had managed to find out on the multi-purpose balcony. The boys didn't waste any time getting down into the waters of the Kinneret. The temperature was perfect and it didn't burn your eyes! The girls also made their way into the water – the youngest with Abba's help. Interestingly, my youngest decided that she could now swim. She was able to put her head all the way under the water (something new!), but alas, she discovered that she could not yet swim.
In the meantime, Ester took to the task of cleaning the beach. For more than half-an-hour, she went around with a plastic bag collecting the trash that had been thoughtlessly thrown down on the banks of the beautiful Kinneret. This was obviously a job that required more time and manpower, but impressively, there was a marked improvement in the condition of the beach even just from Ester's brief effort. Just think how much cleaner this world would be if everyone pitched in for just half-an hour?
Having left the shore of the Kinneret in better condition than that in which we found it, we did find another way out of the beach area. So much for having a gate…
No comments:
Post a Comment