From goat’s milk popsicles to kosher cakes, there’s a lot to savor while studying abroad in Israel.
– Cayla Metzger, SPC Student, Israel Program, May 2019
Our day’s journey started bright and early. We drove west from our hostel in Kare Deshe (right on the Sea of Galilee) towards Nazareth to visit the Ellis Family Goat Farm. As we arrived, the generous family owners took us on a tour of the gardens and stables, where we were greeted by their friendly herding dogs.
While we were given a tour of the farm, the family gave us a brief explanation about the process of making goat cheese and the labors that are required. On the farm, they have their own garden where they produce organic fresh fruits, vegetables, and even herbs. I tried an interesting herb called Melissa straight from the plant.
We got to see many of the animals on the farm including the goats, chickens, geese, donkeys, and even turkeys. Each were so friendly, we got to pet and watch them herd into their stables. We also sampled homemade goat cheese, goat yogurt popsicles, and commonly-loved Israeli pita.
The Rosha HaNikra Caves
After the informative trip to the goat farm we proceeded on to the Rosha HaNikra caves. These caves are considered to be the most beautiful place in Israel. We toured the cave area and saw the crystal clear water, and even heard the bats at the top of the cave with occasional wings fluttering above. We watched a brief video explaining the background of the cave and what makes it unique: it’s a love story between the rocks and the sea.
On our way back down from the mountain, using a cable car, we saw the border of Lebanon, where we met the guard patrol. The view was beautiful and a whole lot to take in. We stopped for lunch in a gorgeous part of Israel called Akko, which had a very historic vibe to it. The buildings were made of stone with unique architectural designs.
Lunch was very typically Israeli with many people getting falafels and other local dishes. I got Labana–goat cheese in a pita with olive oil, cucumber and tomato inside.
Diving in the Mediterranean
After lunch we arrived at the hotel which was situated on a kibbutz right on the Mediterranean Sea in Eilat–the spot where we would be diving that afternoon. We couldn’t make it a very deep dive due to time of day, but we still saw many beautiful creatures.
We passed some coral along several rock formations from a sunken city, and saw some unique fish. Then we ran into an octopus, and he even inked a lot as we passed each other under the water. After the dive we got changed and went to dinner.
Dinner was above and beyond, with some exquisite cuisine options including, finally,some desserts. I tried their chocolate mousse and blackberry mousse cake-like desserts. These cakes (and dinner) did not include any dairy in order to keep the meal kosher, because people in Israel stick to a kosher diet. However, the options were still plentiful and tasted delicious.
As the day was winding down to an end, we saw the sunset on the beach, and considered going for a night time beach walk. The day, overall, was very exciting. We got a lot done and saw so many beautiful things; it was both exhilarating and one of the more relaxing days we had.
If anyone is interested in study abroad, this is an amazing trip where you learn a ton about wildlife while seeing beautiful sites, eating lots of different cultural foods, and always being on the move. Shalom (which means peace in Hebrew)!
– Cayla Metzger, SPC Student, Israel Program, May 2019
Thank you for sharing Cayla!
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