Israel 7: Camels and chalky slide

A slightly depressive mood which possessed us after the trip into the darkness of Nitzana history, disappeared magically. The next destination of the afternoon trip was a camel farm. I couldn’t be more wrong when I imagined a fenced grazing and devastated shepherd huts.

We got to a real desert hotel and oasis where we could sit on comfortable cushions around the aromatic fire, while sweet tea was boiling in the teapots.

Besides the service staff, nobody was there, because the oasis was booked for some kind of party by one of IT company from Tel Aviv and they have not come yet. Thanks to the connections of Iris, the owner offered us a tea and allowed us to stay for a moment and see the whole facility: social and dining areas and huts which can be rented through a website: Khan Be'erotayim.

It turned out that, like in real oasis, they also had camels.

We could see them so closely for the first time. They weren’t very handsome, but their long necks and curly eyelashes gained our sympathy.

Their ancestors traveled along the Incense Route, tirelessly carrying precious goods through the desert. It was hard to imagine when we were looking at their disarming smile.

The time passed by and several cups of tea caused we needed to go to a toilet. 

And this “visit” transformed into an intense photo session because this ordinary place was not ordinary at all. Such a view makes everyone remember to wash their hands...

Our contemplation of the awesome toilet was interrupted by the employees of the IT company who appeared for the upcoming team-building event. And it was high time we continued the trip. Another magical place was awaiting us.

On our way, we passed by a nearby Ezuz village. It is so unique place, because it is inhabited by several families which earn for a living with tourism and artistic activity. We hoped to visit the renowned café: Cafe Ezuz, but it was already too late.

On the other hand, it was a blessing in disguise, because we had to see the “white desert” before the sunset. It was literally the white desert or rather chalky hills formed by the wind, sun and desert moisture. Nitzana Hillocks was a fairy-tale-like land.

And again we followed our guide Iris as we did many times earlier this day.

The kids went crazy. And we must say, so did we.

Only our family photographer retained common sense and abstained from sliding down the chalky slides ...

... yet only because he wanted to take advantage of the last rays of sun.

But finally the night has come and we left this “chalky paradise” due to severe cold.

We were coming back home covered from head to toe with chalky dust. We very tired, hungry but drunk with emotions. 

A delicious shakshouka for dinner prepared by Iris' husband disappeared in a flash and we spent another charming evening with our hosts and next night under the starry sky. 

This time, we slept so deeply that even the simultaneous shelling on both sides of the Israeli-Egyptian border wouldn’t awake us.