Northern Israel

Over the weekend, Eyal and I drove into the far north of Israel. Last time I was here there wasn't much possibility of this because of the war with Hezbollah/Lebanon . Apart from a car with bullet holes all down the side there was no sign of war. It was beautiful, peaceful, rolling hills and valleys, yellow, purple and red wildflowers and old gnarled olive trees and fruit orchards. We drove through Druze villages, ate some sensational baklava and knafe (sp?), which is goats cheese and honey sweet pastry, and drove up into the Golan heights. We stopped at an old bunker overlooking Syria (which looked just like Israel (!!)) and then hired a bike with a friend and rode around a bird sanctuary looking at cranes and pelicans in the valley...

The cancer test results (see below) came back fine, and we have been not quite celebrating but certainly savouring the sweetness of a life relatively free of worries. We stayed the night in the north in a Kibbutz with a good friend, the big eucalypts and the sound of running water reminded me of being home in Elands.

Anyone know what to call this animal in English?