Israel – Part I: Eilat

We traveled to Israel for Hanukkah during Christmas break this year. Going back to Atlanta last year was a bit confusing for the boys and caused some extra adjustment to our new life in Germany.

{Red Sea, Eilat, Israel}

So we decided to take advantage of being only a four-hour flight away from an incredible country that would not be closed for Christmas. And would hopefully be warmer and sunnier than Berlin.

{Christmas Break in Israel}

A bonus is that we have good friends in Berlin who are from Tel Aviv that we could meet there.

{Boys in Jaffe with Ilay, their Berlin friend who is from Tel Aviv}

Our trip began in Eilat, on the north end of the Red Sea.

{Eilat, Israel looking south.}

I didn’t realize until we got there that we were only a few miles from both Jordan and Egypt, and not far from Saudi Arabia.

{On the Beach in Eilat, facing East towards Jordan}

This was my first time in the Middle East.

{Facing northeast towards Eilat, near the Egyptian border}

{Eilat beachfront on the Red Sea}

We arrived in Eilat after a direct flight from Schönefeld Airport in Berlin.

{Arriving in Israel}

We were soon greeted by giant menorahs in both the airport and the hotel.

{Nightly menorah lighting and donuts in the lobby of our hotel in Eilat}

Because we were all in various stages of colds, bronchitis and pneumonia, our first day was spent relaxing at the hotel by the pool.

{Boys playing their new gaming system by the pool – they were in heaven}

{Hotel bounce house provide a few minutes of entertainment – they are sadly outgrowing these}

At night, we strolled along the boardwalk by the Red Sea, which became quite wavy and rough.

{The boys were thrilled to watch and run away from the waves}

Jelly donuts, a Hanukkah treat, were everywhere. We were each given one at the Asian restaurant after dinner.

{Jelly donuts time}

I must mention the incredible breakfast buffets in our Israeli hotels. They were massive. Only while staying in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia have I ever seen one as impressive. They had so many eggs, dips, bread, spreads, fruits, yogurts, smoked fish and cheese.

{Hotel breakfast buffet with eighteen different kinds of cheese}

The highlight of the being at the Red Sea for the boys was when we went to the Underwater Observatory Park, less than a mile and a half from the Egyptian border.

{Sea turtle feeding – hatchlings would later be released to the Red Sea}

What started with a very long line to get in, led to watching the sea turtle feeding and spending over three hours in the underwater observation windows two stories under the surface of the Red Sea.

{🎼 Under the (Red) Sea}

It was stunning and the boys absolutely loved it. We think they will become scuba divers like their folks someday. They each taking turns taking pictures and pointing out the various sea life, both fish and coral. It was truly magical. It was a tropical underwater paradise. Something that I did not expect.

{View of the Park from the two-story observation deck above the Red Sea}

{Christmas Day in Eilat}

We then went back to shore to view more of the exhibits. By this time, it was almost closing time. What a day!

{These boys love water}

While waiting for a taxi to take us back to our hotel, we met some locals.

{The taxi was taking so long, we started eyeing these camels to take us back}

We spent the night resting for our two-hour drive the next day to the Dead Sea. (See Part II of our Israel adventure.)