Ellen and Keith: Friday – 31 October – Bedouins and the Dead Sea

We had to pack up the suitcases again after enjoying 5 nights at the same hotel in Jerusalem. Today we headed down to Lakia to enjoy a ‘day in the life’ of a Bedouin. We learned social customs, how to make coffee, tending for sheep/goats, getting married, and making pita bread, and more.....

Our 68 year old host and her daughter

Making coffee

Tending goats and sheep

Spinning wool

Traditional wedding garb for the groom
and his TWO brides!

Making pita bread on the fire.

Eating Pita Bread with Olive Oil & Spices

Ellen can't stay away, and has to try her hand.....

At least it tasted pretty good.......

After Israel became a nation, the Bedouin lifestyle was drastically affected. They were no longer nomads and had to settle down in towns and houses. Historically the women were very busy tending flocks, setting up/tearing down tents, finding food, cooking and washing and had never been educated as the men were. When they moved into towns, their workload was much less.

In the 1980’s a group of 4 young teenage girls started their own efforts to get education for themselves and mothers and also began to find both social and work activities that helped them grow. Today they have a thriving business. Check them out at www.desert-embroidery.org

Inside the tent made of wool

Some of the embroidery products

A very expensive formal dress

Ellen found several things to buy....

Local women create embroider pieces of fabric in their
homes and then here in the workroom, it's turned into
products like pillows, purses, etc.

After a big lunch with the Bedouins, we headed east and ‘down’ to the Dead Sea. We went from 1,500 feet ABOVE sea level to 1,300 feet BELOW. We’ll be staying here for two nights. We got to ‘float’ on the Dead Sea. The water is so saturated with salt and other minerals that everything floats much higher than in fresh water. Once you’re floating it’s very hard to get your feet back on the bottom. It IS relaxing though.