Dolphins, Deserts, and Family Fun.
After spending a week with Yoni’s family and another with mine, we were ready for some time just the three of us.
It was time to hit the road for an epic road trip to the sun-drenched southern tip of Israel: Eilat!
We rented a car and set off. While the drive is only about four hours, by Israeli standards, it always feels like a mini-adventure.
The changing landscapes make it something special, from the vast Judean desert to the rugged beauty of the Arava wilderness.
The copper-colored rocks and the wide expanse of desert give the feeling that you’re traveling through time.
Our first stop was Mitzpe Ramon, Israel’s version of the Grand Canyon, where we took in the incredible views before continuing to Timna Park.
Timna is no ordinary desert spot; it’s a wonderland where nature, history, and art collide.
The stone formations look like something out of a dream, with sand in shades of red, yellow, orange, and even green or blue.
It felt like we’d entered a natural amusement park, ready to explore every nook and cranny.
We started by hiking the Arches Trail, with Yoni and Thom striking dramatic poses against the unique backdrop of the arches, turning our walk into a playful photoshoot. Thom and Yoni were in full competition mode, battling it out for the best “model” pose, while I snapped away, capturing their fun.
Next came the artsy part of the day—Yoni and Thom spent hours filling bottles with the multicolored sands, creating their own little masterpieces.
It was a blast watching them channel their inner artists, as if time didn’t exist in that magical desert landscape.
After an exhausting but exhilarating day, we arrived in Eilat, ready to crash.
The next day was all about diving into the vibrant world beneath the waves.
Eilat’s underwater life is like a living rainbow, and visiting the underwater observatory was just the beginning.
Thom was all smiles, posing next to statues of sea creatures, but the real magic happened when we went diving.
The highlight of the entire trip—and maybe one of the highlights of our lives—was swimming with the dolphins.
It wasn’t just seeing them from a distance; it was being with them, diving into the water and having these majestic creatures swim alongside us.
It felt like they were communicating with us, sharing a moment we’ll never forget.
It was one of those surreal experiences that you’ll tell stories about for years.
As our time in Eilat wrapped up, we said goodbye to 2008 and welcomed 2009, surrounded by desert beauty and counting our blessings.
With the warm breeze of the Red Sea and the memories of dolphins still fresh, we rang in the New Year, ready for the adventures that awaited us.
