We purchased ceramic tile from a place called “Oz Kamerica” because even though Hebrew has an “s” sound, apparently someone at some point decided to transliterate the word with a hard “c” (“k” sound). We bought the wrong “interputz” (my favorite Hebrew word) and they only accept returns in Maale Aduminim – they didn’t take it back because we were missing an “om” which translates as “nut” or “you didn’t say pray hard enough for us to take it back.”

More on “shiputzim” in another article – which is Hebrew plural for “shiputz” which means either “renovation” or “she puts my money in the interputz” and the “interputz” spreads my money inter the rest of the things in the bathroom … shower, sinks, toilet … which putz my money inter the drain.

Keeping it new

So … 45 minutes more and I can be next to the dead sea, at Ein Gedi, going on a beautiful hike. I’ve been down highway 90 half a dozen times on trips though never after trying to return an interputz. (Expect me to overuse that word in this diary entry.) So there I was, driving like it was nothing to see a high salinity lake that people travel from across the world to sea (sorry – it’s not a sea – there is a river that interputz water into it though). On the other side are beautiful yellow sand mountains and one of the most pleasant, quiet drives of my life (kids were in school – after 15 months of being here, they no longer come with me on trips as they don’t want to miss school ?!?!).

I had to stop myself to notice it all and appreciate it. This is a sole, unique and beautiful place in the world and it’s 1.5 hours from my house and only 45 minutes from the interputz return. I never want to let this all become ‘normal’ to me.

Why I didn’t go to Ein Gedi

There were major floods back in May and so most of it isn’t open. You can only go to the first pool. (Also, it’s a fully paved road to get there right off the highway. The best hikes and scenery around here aren’t paved.)

By the way, you need to reserve online to go to Ein Gedi or Nachal Arugot.

“The Other Ein Gedi” – Nachal Arugot

One mile further south, lacking the convenience store, signage, picnic tables, shaded entrance, and stuff that signals “tourist comfort” is a long road that becomes an unpaved road leading to an unpaved parking lot full of “locals”. I’m used to places being near empty during the week … I’m sure this hike gets much busier, though there were a decent amount of people.

Plus, you get all the benefits of Ein Gedi … saw some actual four-legged creatures with fur and hooves (probably not gedis (young goats).

Beautiful hike with choice of the blue path through water or red path going up high … I spent 2.5 hours there in total, with a brief swim in the pool under the waterfall at the end of the hike. The water was cold despite being the end of the summer. (It’s actually been up to 90 in November though that beats 22 in the ‘old country’ – I don’t miss the cold.)

On my way back, a friendly Israeli asked me about the hike and he was sure he recognized me. That seems to happen a lot around here – I look like a typical Ashkenazi Jew … in this case he lived in my old community for a few years while I was there and went to the same synagogue. Small world … ish.

Near the end of the hike I heard an American father try to convince his kids that this was a good hike and it’d only be a half hour … I yelled back, “at least an hour each way … and tell the kids this is worth it … and there are benefits to hiking without your kids.”