Options 1 - Shvil - Marnie Fischl
As the day arrived everyone parted their own ways for the 3 days of options.
Shvil was off to a late start after what was meant to be a four hour drive that turned into six. We arrived and took a casual stroll around the Rocky Mountains of the Negev. Heading back to camp we rekindled our friendships with the Masada school as we set up our campsite and cooked away a feast.
Taking on the next day’s adventure with a 12km hike, I think we can all say that our “comfortable” sleeping conditions set us up for the day! We farewelled our fellow Israeli friends who we spent the night with, and started our journey. Although the hike was very strenuous, every lookout point took our breath away and was what made our journey from the east to west so special. During all the fun and countless steps, we did have a few mishaps; the famous Tali Rafael had a rough time walking due to her previous knee problems and lack of water! It didn’t just end there - we had an allergic reaction, a nail to the foot and rock to the head, which resulted in many trips back and forth to the Eilat hospital. Through all the chaos everyone still seemed to bring only happy vibes to the table. The night ended with a bonfire where we had a musical performance and a big singalong.
As the trip was coming to an end on day three, the final leg, we woke up at 6am which was the “usual” wake up time, to the amazing sunrise looking over Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. This sight was not only spectacular because of the array of warm tones that painted the sky, but also because across the sea, all of our neighbouring countries could look up and see the same sight. This stunned me as it really puts into perspective the proximity in which our enemies lie, and how we all look up at the same sky and see the same beautiful scene. Knowing that we only had a four hour walk ahead of us, we happily packed away and set off for the final trek. Arriving at the bus stop, after what felt like a breeze compared to the day before, everyone dropped their packs in relief. Little did we know when we ate lunch it would be a lengthy 8 hours until our next meal. I’ll spare you the details of what went down on the bus ride of 40 ravenous children. All I can say is I have never witnessed my friends devour food like they did when we finally arrived at our incredible hotel. Kids took first, second, third and fourth courses, only to leave feeling full to the brim.
All in all Shvil was certainly an adventure filled with challenge and fun as it was a great bonding experience. I can honestly say that it was one of the best few days of IST and we will all cherish the memories we made.
Marnie Fischl - 11.12.2019
