Friday; To Mount Carmel, The Rothschild Gardens and a Druze Village

Randall, Reyna and I were up and out early.  Hillel picked us up by 8:00 a.m. and we went north to Ramat Aviv to pick up Liat, Meir, Iyra and Yoeli.  In tandem we went up the highway.  Everyone was so happy to see Reyna and Iyra insisted on riding with Reyna. When Reyna lived in Israel for the year, Yoeli was just born; Meir was finishing his Masters in architecture, Liat was starting her dissertation. Reyna helped out routinely with Yoeli and Iyra and so strong bonds were formed. 

We headed north and our first stop was an American style pancake house.  Everyone had pancakes and off we went further north.

Not many miles are driven before one is driving through the hills and rolling agricultural countryside.  we turn off and head toward a garden area called Ramat Hanadiv.  This large preserve of hiking trails, memorial gardens is also the burial place of  Baron Edmund de Rothschild, who, in the mid-twenties bought a great deal of land in Israel as a place for Jewish people to go. 

we check in at the shop and office where we obtain maps of the area, the hiking paths and ancient ruins.

We select a hike of about 1.5 hours; we have views of the hills of Samaria, and see prehistoric agricultural areas, the remains of a farmhouse from the Ottoman period and Roman baths. 

 

 

Hillel, his oldest daughter, Liat and Randall; over looking the orchards and vineyards.

Reyna, Liat, me, Hillel and Meir.  This is such a typical weekend activity- to hike in a park with your family. 

If you recall, we heard about the red flower called callaniot- these flowers grow prolifically in the south near kibbutz Be'eri.  here they are starting to blossom on the hillside.  Hillel explains to me that the British were called Calaniot because they wore red-coats.

we stop in the shade of the Tabor Oak- a deciduous native tree that grows from the Sharon Plain  to the Galilee and Golan Heights.  The large acorns are a source of food for Eurasian Jays, rodents and wild boar. 

 



 

 

One of the fascinating stops along the path is the ruins of the Roman baths.  The water supply came from an adjacent spring- pictures will follow- the residents of the site could bathe in hot water.  there are 4 long consecutive rooms- a dressing room, a cold water room, a warm room and then the hot bath or saunea.  



 

 

 

The steps go down into the dressing area. 

The pillars supported a mosaic floor; from underneath, the floor was heated for the sauna room.

You can still see the pillar supports.

The Romans created a water system water was accumulated in a tunnel and supplied water for the baths.  the water flowed from this path- covered- to the baths.

 

A view from the bottom of the well, looking up.  this is where the water was collected.

From inside the well system- the water was collected and then flowed out toward the baths; the water was also used for irrigation.

 

 

The water system coming from the well. 

This arch was built as part of a farmhouse in the late 1880s. 

 

From inside the arch.

 

 

 

 





Nearby, a ruin of a "dovecote" was still evident.  The Romans built a columbarium- a round tower of a height of over 18 meters (60 feet!!) high that contained many openings for doves to have nests.  Columba means dove;  doves were very important in Roman society.  The romans used the eggs, and meat, and the excrement was used as fertilizer.  The plaster outer walls prevented predators such as repties and other animals of prey. 

 

Once we returned from the hiking trail we selected we wanted to see the memorial gardens.  This large and graceful botanical garden is spectacular.  Built in a large circle,  of many acres, the beautifull tended gardens contained many specimens of tree, shrub and flower.  This is one of the nicest botanical gardens I have been to. 

 

The gardens were designed to remember Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934) He gave a great deal of support to the Yishuv- the pre-state Jewish community in the land of Israel.  He acquired large tracts of land and provided support to new farmers.  44 villages were established with his support. 

 

For generations amounting to over 200 years. the Rothschild Family were supporters and contributors to nations including educational support for Israel- even through today.  The photos of the gardens do not do it justice.  Baron Rothschild and his wife are buried there.

 

 

Our next stop of the day was to an Arab village nearby where many Druze live.  There, our family arranged for us to go to a restaurant called Nora's Kitchen.  this was not an easy place to find.  It looked like a house off a tiny side street or driveway. The laundry was hanging on the line.

Inside, were several tables and it was a quiet afternoon- being nearly Shabbat- Friday afternoon.  The Druze signed the peace pact with Israel in 1948; they fight in the Israeli army; are, like many Arabs, Israeli citizens.  The Druze religion is a secret one; no one knows their practices.   No one can convert to the Druze religion either.  But, the warmth and charm was evident in everyone we met; the food was spectacular. 




The restaurant was like a living room in some ways and a restaurant in other ways.

As is typical, the salads come out first.  Hummus, a spicy pepper dip and olives.  All the food comes out in courses;  there are no menus; the courses just keep coming!

A slaw like salad, stuffed cabbage rolls and stuffed grape leaves. 

Nora took us to her kitchen.  This is her oven!

 

 

 

 

 She brought out Kubeh ( a roll filled with meat); and a chicken dish with rice.  Also served was a fabulous eggplant dish. 

 

 

This is Nora's sister.  Yoeli wanted to know where bay leaves come from. She took us across the street, and pulled off some bay leaf stems for him.  She was so sweet.  What another wonderful day.