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Israeli Adventure - part 5 of 1 2 3 4 5 6

Published 01/06/2002

With a few hours of light remaining, I proceeded on towards my destination. The weather getting worse, I should have just pressed on and sought the comfort of a nice hotel but the temptation of suddenly seeing a sign that pointed to a vista view proved irresistible. I turned up the dirt track road and followed it for about half a mile to a clearing at the end of the road.

I was aware that there was a building hidden by weeds and young trees which I later realised was a gun emplacement. I drove the car as far as I could towards a mound of earth that seemed to overlook the valley, left the car and walked the 30 or 40 metres to the outcrop of land. On a nice day it might have looked fine but the clouds were rolling in and drizzle filled the air. As I turned to walk back to the car I noticed several signs protruding through the grass. I froze as I read the words "Land Mines", I had I realised, walked into a minefield. Suddenly the idea of taking photographs didn't seem as interesting.

With not a soul for miles and darkness creeping on I carefully retraced my steps, did the smallest three point turn on record, drove the car slowly back along the dirt tracks to the tarmac road and then headed off towards Zefat.

I was awakened next morning by the shutters on the balcony windows rattling in the wind and the sound of heavy rain lashing on glass. The previous evening's lovely view under the stars was now reminiscent of England at this time of the year. I turned on the TV hoping to see a breakfast programme that might give the weather forecast, all I could get was children's programmes in Hebrew. The news arrived on the hour and weather duly followed but I had forgotten the weather symbols are read from right to left and as they are only flashed on for few seconds I missed the details.

I asked at the front desk on my way down to breakfast. The man said there was a storm coming in and it would get much worse for the next few days.

My holiday trip was turning out more dangerous than I had anticipated. I was now thinking how to get back to safer areas to do more sensible things. Earlier on whilst I was visiting the Sea of Galilee I had driven up towards the Golan Heights region and had heard the firing of heavy artillery just over the hill. They were using live ammunition and I had been told off for straying into an old abandoned village built out of black stone. I had thought it was very interesting and worthy of recording on film but the security men, called Park Rangers, drove past and called me off the land as they didn't want me there.

I studied the maps again and decided that I would head south towards the desert regions and make a final decision on how far to go when I reach a junction in the road approximately half way down the country. I could turn towards Jerusalem or carry on to the Red Sea resort of Eilat. At least it would be nicer weather and I would see something of the other side of this country before I put myself in any more danger. One thing I hadn't thought of was how to get out of Zefat. Every road I seemed to take ended up going the wrong way or back where I had started from but after some thirty minutes I eventually found my way out. The road signs are in Hebrew and road numbers are very often not displayed!

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1st Published 01/06/2002
last update 09/12/2022 14:55:18

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