Arad festival
Active weekend in Arad, its environs, at price that won’t break bank: Jeep tours, desert meditation, artist workshops, dairy and winery, pub, steak and a guesthouse
That is not nice. So here is a suggestion for a weekend in the city, that promises (and fulfills) clean air, desert scenery, a base for all kinds of trips, and most important - a fair price.
Animals and climbers
Thursday, afternoon: Like a house pet, an off-road vehicle also needs to expend some energy. If your pet is one of those who travels around on a leash, and gets excited when it goes up on the sidewalk of the parking lot, introduce it to Giora Eldar. If you do not have such a pet, then you are invited to sit next to him in his wild Discovery, which knows Arad and its surroundings as well as it knows the ridges in its tires.
Arad (Photo: GPO)
You can, for example, leave Arad on a bumpy road towards Tzafira pools. On the way you will pass a Bedouin tent, whose residents wander between the peak and foot of the mountain according to the seasons of the year, supposing that the balance of precipitation does not force them to roam with their entourage: Camels, Canaanite dogs, goats, chickens, and other creatures that man has domesticated.
Continue climbing towards Menachem Mountain and then go back down to Nachal Rahaf, which is beloved by rappellers. A wide plum tree, whose foliage is neatly trimmed at the height of the animals’ necks that nibble at it, stands strong and alone in the middle of the riverbed, a little bit like Arad itself.
The climb up Kanaim Mountain, the tallest in the area and famous for its trimmed peak, begins to challenge the motorized animal. This is the time to peek out the windows and try to locate the residents of the Judean Desert: The hyraxes, deer, vultures (don’t give up hope of spotting a leopard).
A little north of Tzafira Pools, go up to an amazing look-out that curves with the route of Nachal Tzeelim, until the Dead Sea. During the stormy floods, this point can have waterfalls up to 120 meters.
Excluding the Jeep tours, Eldar is responsible for a variety of logistic services for touring the area: Transportation to and from the walking and bike paths, rappelling supplies and instruction, and hopefully not - rescue.
Giora Eldar Tours. For Reservations: 972-52-3971774
What’s new at Max’s?
You can have supper at “Max”, a pub-restaurant. Max, who was born in Arad at the same time that the city was founded, tries to be involved in all aspects of his place - from the skillet to the hospitality. The food is traditional and varied (salads, hummus, pastas, rice, skewers) and the portions are generous. Throughout the night young people continue to pour in, adding to the pleasant and mixed atmosphere.
“Max” Makkabim 9 Arad, open Monday – Saturday from 18:00 until morning. Tel: 972-8-9973339
Yalla, to bed
Where exactly? Arad has three hotels and some guesthouses scattered throughout the city. The guesthouse next to the Collete family offers two bedrooms (with beds that separate), a salon, a fully equipped kitchen and a large porch.
Naava Collette does everything so that you will feel at home and places breakfast in a basket in your separate doorway. If you want to indulge yourself, you can order a treatment with her daughter, Neta, who specializes in massage and reflexology.
Collette House, Moav Street 28/2 Arad. NIS 220 per couple a night, including weekends. Tel: 972-8-9957069
Around Arad
Every Friday, Dov Ponio takes groups of families of all levels on tours around the trails surrounding Arad. Ponio, a veteran tour guide, marked with his own feet many of the trails that appear on the maps of the area.
A tour of the water reservoir will reveal how people managed in the desert before the faucet was invented, what the difference is between a well and a pit, and why two people were needed to remove the stone covering of the well at a time when tongues moved quicker than bandwidth.
Dov Ponio Tours. Reservations: 972-52-4666056
Cloth, dolls and glass
The “Eshet Lot” Artist’s Quarter is an industrial center that went through the Industrial Revolution in reverse and began to create artwork. The hangars, which were converted into galleries, invite visitors to meet with the artists and to introduce themselves to the creative process.
Here, for instance, you can closely observe a patch of cloth and see the hardships that the artist Dorit Ruth Yaakovi underwent in her series “The Woman of a Thousand Voices”, that has already traveled around the world.
Dorit Ruth Yaakovi Gallery. Visits can be scheduled at 972-8-9955997
The Glass Museum in the Artist’s Quarter presents the work of Gideon Friedman. Advanced technology allows him to sculpt displays out of glass that change shape as you walk through the gallery. Sound impossible? It is even more impossible when you see it.
The Glass Museum. Fee. Tel. 972-8-9953388
The Doll Museum is the permanent home to the dozens of children of Edward Shruster and Miri Leibovitch. Shruster’s background of large bronze sculptures and Leibovitch’s dolls, made out of colorful pressed paper, look so human that you will be tempted to call her Grandma Gepetto. The couple often display their children around the world, so try to catch them when they are in Israel.
The Doll Museum. Entrance by fee. Tel. 972-52-2398918
Wine and cheese
It is time to think about tomorrow afternoon’s picnic and to stock up on goat cheese at the factory store at the “Mehanegev” Dairy, situated in the Artist’s Quarter. The large display cabinets reveal the manufacturing process. On Friday afternoons, you can have lunch in the yard of the Dairy.
“Mehanegev” Dairy, Tel. 972-8-9979947
There is no smoke without fire, just like there is no smoked cheese without wine, which forces you to take a quick jump to the Yatir Winery. The Winery was established in 2000 as a joint project between the local winegrowers and the Carmel Winery, and is equipped with the latest technology for producing wine.
The wine press systems in the area testify to the fact that this start up was already in existence 2,500 years ago, but we will leave the Judean kingdom for tomorrow and meanwhile make do with the traces that it left behind - the lion on the wine label. Yatir Winery, at the foot of Tel Arad.
To arrange a visit: Tel. 972-8-9959090.
Desert wind
The spiritual center “Zman Midbar” is located at the beginning of the road that climbs to Masada. A round, wide clay building with walls of sand that create a perfect acoustic, almost as perfect as the scenery reflected in it. I
n this building Efrat Sar-Shalom and Sefi Hanegbi lead holistic workshops in problem solving and dealing with fear through love. In this desert serenity, they lead a “Kabbalat Shabbat” every Friday- a meditation for world peace that is open to the public.
“It is a universal prayer”, they explain with a calming smile. “We believe in the power of thoughts and the desire to change the world”.
“Zman Midbar”, Tel. 972-8-9953108.
Beer and steak
After world peace you need steak and beer. “Muza”, located by the gas station at the entrance to Arad, is the perfect choice. First of all, the place is a modern temple for sports fans.
Five plasma screens peek through the countless banners and flags that cover the place, and they broadcast games form Israel and around the world. Next to the spell bound viewers, many others glance through the glasses at each other, drinking sanity with each sip.
The person in charge of this successful cocktail is Alon, who in between shots of whisky swears that he is finally sober. You can switch the aged entrecote for a hamburger or lamb chops, but the beer from the tap, you can only switch with another. And another.
“Muza”, Tel. 972-8-9958764
Back to bed
This time at Nurit and Yoel Lavi’s guest house- “A.A Quality Hospitality”. The separate entrance leads to a quiet garden, and the two bedrooms have beds that separate for the comfort of the religious public. The kitchen is also fully equipped and breakfast comes straight to the door. Yoel, by the way, is a tour guide who takes tours to the audio-visual performance at Masada.
“A.A. Quality Hospitality”, Irit Street 13 Arad. 300 Shekel a night per couple, 90 Shekel for a child. Tel. 08-9954791.
Temple and forest
Saturday, Morning. Yatir forest, north east of Arad is the perfect place for a picnic, especially if you want a winter grove experience. You can also barbecue at the closer Park Arad, or on the contrary- you can conquer Kanaim Mountain in order to see the Dead Sea.
The Tel Arad national park uncovers the remains of a Canaanite city on its walls and fortresses. You will find remains of a sanctuary from the time of King Solomon; you can freely walk through the holy of the holies and even touch the corners of the altar.
If your doctor does not allow you to stay away from motorized activities for more than a day and a half, then you have a good excuse to go on a self driven jeep tour. Shosh and Shlomi run family friendly tours, that are suitable for every type of driver. The journey runs along the ridge of Nachal Sodom, which paints a sunset – orange color on the large statues of sand and salt made by the wind, rain and time.
“Family Fun” Tours. Private tours and group and company events, including meals in the field, sleeping arrangements and different activities. Tel. 972-50-3939394.
