Snow in Whitley Bay, Sunshine in Eilat, 34 degrees in Ein HaShlosha

Earlier this evening when I went to the Cobal I watched a video of the snow falling in Whitley Bay ( Where I lived before I came to Israel. It is on the North East coast of England for anyone who isn't familar with the UK)  a week or so ago.  One of the kibutzniks ex husband lives in Whitley Bay would you believe.  I have met her briefly before but today we had an in depth conversation about the joys of Newcastle and Whitley Bay, as she has never been to visit. Even said she might think about taking her kids and flying back with me in July, which would be so cool! 

This is the hottest winter I have ever experienced it reached 34 degrees today!  Crazy desert weather.  I do miss being able to see the seasons though.  Autumnal orange and red carpets of leaves, and being jammy when you manage to get just the right amount of layers to stay warm despite the chilling wind. 

Ein Hashloshaians on the beach!

My weekend away in Eilat was lush.   On the Friday we left the kibbutz at 6:30am got to Eilat around 1pm.  That's cos it takes 3 buses to get there.  It's actually only 2 and a half hour drive away but public transport is cheap here so cant complain.   The four of us who went met up with Debra and some of her friends from the Go Eco project she is working on.  We all stayed in the same hostel and spent the day chilling on the beach and the evening getting drunk at the hostel (of course) on beer and Garam's great tasting punch/cocktail.  Then we headed to a night club and owned the dance floor with our moves, as you do.  

Let's put my hand in front of Alex's face

The next day we went snorkeling   I've never been snorkeling before and its such an unnatrual thing to do so takes a bit of egtting used to the whole breathing on through your mouth but I saw so many cool fish.  one of them was massive! It's definitely something I want to do again and it only cost me 6 shekels!  Bargain!  we rented two snorkels between all of us.  

I also managed to injure my foot, scraping it across a rock.  I just ignored the ropes that told me I'd reached the shallow bit.  Genius. Now I have a nice big graze on my left foot as a reminder of Eilat. 

Me and Garam and the amazing Negev sunset 

On the Saturday evening most of the people that had come along with Debra went their separate ways. It was just the four of us from Ein Hashlosha and Debra and her two fellow volunteers at the nature reserve Kay and William.  We all went back to their place at the nature reserve in the middle of the desert.  

Whilst there we saw them feeding the animals, went on safari,  had a bbq,  danced around a campfire.  Had a really nice chilled night. It was also ultra quite aside from the music we were blasting.  There were no sounds of bombs or things blowing up.  It was kinda strange as we have got so used to here stuff going off around us all the time.  

We spent the night camping in tents, which for me was a bit of a mistake.  I was (and still am) ill at this point.  I was feeling so much better i think the snorkeling had even helped clear my sinuses but it gets pretty cold in the desert at 2 or 3 in the morning.  I woke up at 3:30am my ears were frozen and I had such a bad head cold.  I felt like I was so close to being rid of this cold and then I went and made it worse.  I did go and sleep in side after I woke up but the damage was already done.   Noted camping in desert and being ill not a  good idea.  

Here's some of the animals:

I also finally borrowed someones computer so all my photos from Tel Aviv football game, Jaffe sunsets and a few more from Eilat are now online.  You can check them out here if you like: Israel Photos