p Camping is so much fun. Sleeping under the open sky, smelling nature, meeting dung beetles outside the dung.
h2 NOT.
p Listen, I was in the Scouts. Roni was in a reconnaissance unit in the army. It's not that we don't see the magic.
p Nature really does open our hearts. I'd just rather die than go camping. Or at least put it off to next year, and every year say next year. Until someone gets suspicious.
p What did I do wrong that I have to sleep without AC? Who did I hurt that I have to put up a tent with pegs, when we're always, always missing a piece!? (Not to mention that we have no idea how to put up a tent!) And still, what about the kids!!?? An amazing experience they won't get to have? How could I live with that on my conscience :)
p What about them... They won't enjoy it if we're suffering, so I found a compromise.
p A licensed desert inn (a khan). We've been to a few; I'll tell you about the last one: Khan Shaked, in the Dead Sea area.
p Their slogan is: "People and desert. That's the whole story." But allow me to be more precise:
p People, desert, a kitchen, a fridge, a roof over your head, AC, hot water, chill-out corners, a campfire, mattresses, sheets, kitchen gear: pans, plates, cutlery, a stove, an oven and more. Now that's the whole story. And really, it's no story at all! Getting there is no big deal, because everything's there!
p For me, it really made life simple. It's camping, but without having a heart attack.
p Priceless.
p And you already know. Why enjoy alone
p We teamed up with two other families and booked one room for all of us together.
p Here's the list I made us for the two nights:
p 1. Vegetables and fruit: regular tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms, cucumbers. Fruit: bananas, apples, pears.
p 2. Meat: for two dinners.
p 3. Extras: bread, milk for cereal and coffee. Regular Taster's Choice instant coffee and a small pack of Elite coffee (though there turned out to be some there), cereal, potatoes for fries or frozen fries, rice, oil, ketchup, salt, paprika, black pepper,
p lemons. Alcohol. 4. Everything for the grill (fire starters, a fan, a brush).
p Everyone brought their own snacks, drinks and lunch for the first day.
p As for gear: clothes, swimwear, hats, sunscreen, toiletries, towels, blankets, mosquito repellent(!), board games like Taki, medicine.
p No room for legs, or to move at all in the car; the view is breathtaking, and Roni has to be comfortable to drive.
p On the way we decided to stop at Latrun. I had a feeling we wanted a bit of the army experience after all.
p We got to the inn relatively early, lounged in the hammocks and felt the magic right away. Perfection.
p As for breakfast: we got lazy and ordered a dreamy breakfast from a woman called Michal. It was worth every shekel. We got up and everything was laid out beautifully on the table, it was fresh, and we could really enjoy the vacation.
p Michal: 052-4081233.
p We grilled on both evenings.
p Marshmallows on skewers. Basic. A few mood photos to show you. I actually rested.
p This is what the room looks like:
p On the second day we hiked Wadi Arugot. Not an easy trail, but not very hard either. Take lots of water, swimwear and food.
p It took us 4 hours, it was very hot, but the water cooled us down.
p On the last day we popped over to the Dead Sea, because how could we not?
p We stopped at the statue of Lot's wife, who dared to look back and turned into a pillar of salt. Makes sense, all in all.
p We looked back too, and even licked the salt, and lived to tell the tale.
p By the way, I agree it's not a good idea to look back too much, but I think she got too harsh a punishment, no?
p We put a bit of mud on ourselves, bought a cold watermelon and went home. Tired, happy, and with a steady, healthy heartbeat, which is the most important thing.
p By the way, I'm still doing laundry from that weekend. It was over Passover.
p Shaked, maybe you could offer a laundry service? That would be a real hit.
q “Camping. Because therapy is expensive”
p And come visit my new Instagram and my Facebook group, where you can share your own good times too, because why should you enjoy alone?
