A Trip to Tel Afek, near Rosh HaAyin

Friday was sunny and gorgeous, so we gathered our motivation, joined forces with Y, and ventured out of the city and into the pastoral landscape of Tel Afek. The nature reserve includes an Ottoman fortress, a lake and an abundance of green plains. We took a short walk around the site (it was easy and wheel chair/baby carriage accessible). It was a much needed outing and lots of fun.

Antipatris Fortress

An Abandoned British Water Plant

Rosh HaAyin from a distance.

A caterpillar! We really need to get out more.

Altyn-Arashan

We spent two nights in the Ranger's Cabin, on the other side of the river. It's a great choice among the few guesthouses that are dotted around the valley (but dress warmly...). Altyn-Arashan is known for its hot sulfur springs attached to every house and its a great way to keep warm. The ranger dropped us the key when we met him riding his horse into town, and we had the place to ourselves.

And Back Again.

The moral of the story: we don't do more than three days in nature.




Our cook, our guide.

There... 3 Day Horse Trek, Karakol

We thought we'd give our legs a rest and embarked on a 3 day horse trek to Altyn-Arashan Valley. We were sorely mistaken, sorely. We hired two horses, a cook and a guide, to take us up the mountains, where we followed the stream to the valley 3000 meters above sea level. We arrived at sunset and the temperature began to drop. As there was no heating in the cabin, we packed on the layers and slept under all the blankets we could find. Lucky for us we were snowed in the next morning and spent the day sipping tea.

A Hike in Arslanbob, Kyrgyzstan

Arriving in Arslanbob was like entering an adventurous fairytale. This small Uzbek village high up in the mountains, inhabits cloaked grey-beards and donkey riding children. We ventured into the wilderness, yet again, walking above the village where the locals begged us to take their photo.

Another Hike, Goshavank

We bravely went on another hike from Lake Parz to Goshavank Monastery. We met another group and followed their guide off the trail... embracing the mud!

We Hiked and Got Lost, Tsminda Sameba Church

We laced up our boots and tried our luck at another hike from the town up the mountain to the famous Tsminda Sameba Church. Being us, we got curious and followed a group of locals and their horses up the steepest side! The horses ascended as we were left panting at halfway, wondering what went wrong (and why we hadn't helicoptered up). After much perspiration and fighting we reached the magnificent church.

It was worth it !

A Hiking Adventure or The Royals in Peril

In complete innocence we ventured on a 7 hour hike to the Chalati Glacier. All was well and the views were spectacular.

Three hours later, as we began to ascend the glacier through a forest, it began to rain. Rain turned to hail and we turned back. As we huddled cold and drenched in an abandoned hut with a suspiciously bloody floor, we were waved into shelter by the border police (wet and topless!).


They took care of us thoroughly, making us a lunch feast and pouring us endless amounts of Chacha (locally made vodka). As time passed the cabin filled with other lost souls including a group of local teens who had trekked to harvest vegetables found only at the top of the mountain. 10 to 12 shots later (we can't remember...) the rain stopped and we found ourselves hoisted onto an open truck zooming back to town. Another bumpy and memorable ride, Rena especially made many friends...

Mestia, Svaneti, Georgia

We arrived in Mestia after a long haul from Batumi. It took two hours on a Marshutka (public van) packed with people and the suspicious smell of fish. We then transferred to a bumpy five hour taxi ride due to the unpaved road. But oh, it was worth the soar bottom!

Day Tour Around Cappadocia

Today we decided to take a guided tour around the area that included:
the underground city of Derinkuyu, a hike through Ilhara Valley (yes, another one!)
and a visit to the Selime Monastery (another climb, at which point we were aching and longing for the good old hamam...)

Göreme (Cappadocia), Turkey

Day 1: A visit to the Göreme Open Air Museum.





Day 2: Believe it or not, we went hiking!!







We climbed Pigeon Valley, arriving at Uçhısar Castle.








After lunch we descended the Red and Rose Valley, with only a few unexpected detours...







Check out our route here