On the way to Eilat we stopped at many of the major and some of the minor stops. First we wanted to check out the Israeli Air Force museum on the outskirts of Beer Sheva. Lots of airplanes, and some that you can climb into. I think the kids had most fun at the playground there, though I found it interesting to look at the evoltion of the Israeli airforce from single engine propeller planes that were shipped in pieces to Israel and assembled here, to the latest jet fighters (from America).After the airforce base we stopped at Sde Boker to see David Ben Gurion's bungalo, and stop by his grave site. There we practically ran into several families of ibex. They were so close it felt like you were at a petting zoo. From there to Maktesh Ramon, where we watched amatuers rapel off the cliff, and then a long drive through the dessert to Eilat.
Eilat in January is a little chilly - perhaps 65 degrees. Perfect weather for sightseeing, and just a little chilly for swimming. Despite my feelings, the children have been well trained by the waters of Maine and saw absolutely no reason not to swim. So swim we did in a pool with sand -- a beach simulation.
Our first day in Eilat
we visited the aquarium/underwater observatory. It has great views of the fish and coral reef, and then we took a glass bottom boat ride to see even more. It would have been perfect except Dani got eaten by a shark. I wish we knew how dangerous it is in the Red Sea.On Shabbat we visited Timna. Dena and Dani ran off for a tough 3-hour hike, while I drove around the site with Nusha and the girls, seeing the "Mushroom", the "Screw", the "Arch" and many other natural formations. We met up later to see Solomon's pillars.
