/countries/show/israel/1.rss en-us Lying in the arid region of Southern Israel, the Negev Desert covers a vast plot of land and showcases various interesting topographies. It includes three crater-like box canyons called Makhtesh Ramon, Makhtesh Gadol, and Makhtesh Katan. Rocky by nature, the Negev is a collection of moon-like mountains and extremely dusty. Despite this, there is a burgeoning travel movement underway. If the promise of adventure suits your taste, leave behind civilization for a few days and prepare to be lost in the lap of nature. The five different ecological regions of the Negev Desert are northern, western, and central Negev, the high plateau and the Arabah Valley. Rainfall is plentiful in the Northern Negev or Mediterranean Zone and as such has some fertile regions that can surprisingly be used for growing good crops. Utilizing drip irrigation, a few unique wineries have even poped up. Zvi Remak started the Sde Boker Winery in 1999, a vineyard in the northern Negev that specializes in red wines made from zinfandel and carignan grapes. Curiously, it is located beside the former home of Israel's first prime minister David Ben-Gurion, visitors are welcome to stop in for a tasting. Aside from its growing wine trail, the Negev Desert has played center stage to many notable people over history. According to the Bible, Abraham lived in the Negev Desert for a brief period of time after his banishment by the Egyptians. Later the tribes of Judah and Shimon came to inhabit the Northern Negev and it subsequently became a part of King Solomon’s kingdom. After the Byzantines and the Romans, the Negev Desert was ruled by the Nomadic tribes without any political disturbance for thousands of years. The Bedouins who lived here reared cattle for food, but the paucity of water combined with the arid regions goaded them to always be on the move like nomads. There has however been a dramatic change in lifestyle over the years of these tribal people who live in the Negev Desert. Among all the tribal people who lived here, the Nabateans had the most fascinating way of life. The trade channel called the “Spice Route” was established by them and huge caravans carrying trade goods from Yemen passed through here. The Visitors Centre is the ideal place to begin your Negev Desert trek. Be sure to plan your route and gather relevant information, including a Negev Desert map before departing. One location that is of particular interest when visiting is Makhtesh. Crater-like in appearance, Makhtesh can be called an “erosive crater” as the geological terminology is from Hebrew and simply means a vessel. It is created by “sandwiched” layers of limestone being pushed together by tectonic forces of the Dead Sea Rift. Makhtesh when crossed will lead you to the famous landmark called “Ramon Tooth”. The climb here is steep, but the view is worth it. It's always better to take your time here as help is slow to come by this far from civilization. The Amonite Wall houses fossils of many pre-historic creatures from the age of the dinosaurs and is fascinating. Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:19:11 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/negev-desert http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/negev-desert If you're trying to travel around the Sea of Galilee, try not to get there on a Sabbath. That's when all local public transportation shuts down, and you're stuck trying to thumb it around this gorgeous jewel of a lake. Not that hitchhiking is a terribly bad idea, and in Israel many people feel sorry for those who didn't plan ahead for their transportation on the Sabbath—and they’ll graciously pick you up. In fact, that's how we ended up touring one of the most beautiful sites on the shores of the freshwater Sea of Galilee, the Mount of the Beatitudes. More of a grassy knoll on the shore of the lake than a mountain, the Mount of Beatitudes is nevertheless one of the most breathtaking sights in the area. From the top of Mount Beatitudes, you can see the entire circumference of the Sea of Galilee, and the grassy hills where Jesus historically must have wandered with his troupe of fishermen and tax collectors. The Mount of Beatitudes is traditionally the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount: one of his most famous and most counter-cultural sermons (“blessed be the poor”). Although it cannot be said for certain that it is the same mountain, the current Mount of the Beatitudes has been chosen to commemorate the famous sermon. Some believe that this is also the site where Jesus fed the five thousand by multiplying five loaves and two fish. On the site today, there is a calming garden and a small church called the Church of the Beatitudes. It is a peaceful place, but small, and a trip to the Mount of Beatitudes is more for the sake of viewing the surrounding Galilean countryside than for visiting the small chapel. Nearby, you may want to visit the octagonal Byzantine-style church called the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. A few ancient Byzantine mosaics are displayed on the floor of the church, including a mosaic depicting the church's namesake: the meal of loaves and fishes. The view really is breathtaking, with the flat expanse of the Sea of Galilee nestled in the midst of the rolling hills, and a great wide, clear sky over everything. The beach resorts and communities dotted around the lake are laid-back and relaxed, and there are several places of note nearby to visit. One of them is Jesus' base of Capernaum, which is now a fascinating ruin of ancient buildings and an old synagogue. You can also visit the traditional site of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River. While a trip to famous sites in the Holy Land can sometimes feel cluttered with churches and monuments, strolling along the top of the Mount of Beatitudes is a welcome breath of fresh air. You may even see a friar or two hanging out in the gardens contemplating Scripture in the tranquil gardens of the Mount. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 04:23:25 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/mount-of-beatitudes http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/mount-of-beatitudes Following in the footsteps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem is one of the most meaningful and significant ways to experience the Old City. Jerusalem, one of the most vibrant and most fought-over cities in the world, is a holy site for three of the world’s major religions: Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Pilgrims from all over the world flock to this beautiful ancient city in search of inspiration and fulfillment. From the arresting sight of the faithful in earnest prayer at the Western Wall, to glimpses of the beautiful Dome of the Rock, Old Jerusalem overflows with incredible sights. The Via Dolorosa, latin for “Way of Suffering”, is regarded as the path that Jesus trod as he was tried, convicted, beaten, and then led to his death on the Cross. Today, there are nine stations on the Via Dolorosa, each symbolizing an event of Jesus’ passion, ending in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. If you follow the Via Dolorosa in Old Jerusalem, you’ll start along a stone street in the heart of the old city, just inside the Lion’s Gate. Look for the signs on the stone walls around you to tell you where the stations are. The first two stops are where Jesus was put on trial by Pilate at Pilate’s house, and then where Jesus was flogged at the Monastery of the Flagellation. Following this, there are three stops where, legend has it, Jesus fell three times. There are also four stops where Jesus encountered significant people, both in the Bible record and in legend. These include, the Virgin Mary, Simon of Cyrene (who helped Jesus carry his cross), Veronica (a Catholic Saint), and finally, several pious women. The journey ends in the rambling, cavernous labyrinth of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where you can climb up to a room that is claimed to be the place Jesus was crucified. If you're lucky, you may catch a re-enactment of Jesus' path to the cross - a group of the faithful often dress in period clothing, and carry a wooden cross along the Via Dolorosa, acting out the events that led to the crucifixion. Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:20:35 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/via-dolorosa http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/via-dolorosa Despite its dark name, the Dead Sea is in fact not at all deadly to humans, but is to other organisms such as plants and fish, hence the complete lack of living inhabitants. This is due to the levels of salt in the water which is approximately 30% salinity, 9 times saltier then the Mediterranean. These levels of salt are also responsible for the ability to float along the waters of the Dead Sea, the increased density in the water allows visitors to float effortlessly along the surface. Located between the banks of Israel and Jordan, this natural spa is 420 m below sea level making it the lowest place of the earth's surface. Visitors flock to the oasis of the Dead Sea to kick back, relax, and enjoy a healing mineral mud bath in the sun! Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:37:07 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/dead-sea http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/dead-sea