Here I am, spending the month of July in the northern part of Israel. I’ve squirreled myself away in Kfar Vradim (Village of Roses), where I’ve been writing a book – about walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain last fall.
Most of the time, I write on a couch indoors. But once in awhile, I need a change of scenery. So I slide open the back doors and move onto the patio. For an hour or two, I lie back in a beach chair or swing in a hammock, breathing in the fresh air, tinged with a soft breeze, slightly scented with the mint and lavender growing in the garden nearby.
It feels strange to be writing in one country about my experiences of another, separated only by time zones and the shifting waters of the Mediterranean Sea. But slightly less strange, when I note the remarkable similarities. I might be in the western Galilee, but if I squint just a little bit, exchange one language for another, I might as well be in Las Alpujarras of Spain’s Andalucia region.
The view from the terra-cotta tiled terrace spans nearly 180° of mountains and valleys. It overlooks a pastoral landscape dotted with villages among the large swaths of untouched fields. To the west, well beyond the haze and mountain range, the Mediterranean glistens.
White-washed villas and cottages, topped with adobe tiles, spill down the mountainsides. The curbs of dead-end streets are edged with rose bushes of yellow and red. Instead of the Moorish architecture native to Andalucia, Arab villages nearby are characterized by mosques topped with minarets. Between here and there, and just like in sun-drenched Spain, olive groves and vineyards are scattered around.
In this garden, little bulbs of pomegranates hang like Christmas ornaments, while bougainvillea cascade out from layers of leaves and a solitary lemon hardens, perhaps eager to be plucked.
I wait with increasing impatience for plums and figs to ripen, certain that their impending juiciness will not disappoint. Shiny CDs, long untouched and re-purposed for their shimmering effect, hang from trees and swivel around their axis to fend off vultures and other creatures of the night. A spectacle that, in an instant, throws me back to my weeks on the Camino.
Not a bull or burro (donkey) in sight, but cats curl up in front of most homes as if guarding their territory; a solitary rooster crows before daybreak; and a sign on one gate scaring off intruders with, if it were to be believed, the danger of lurking snakes.
In the din of the night, a hum of passing cars, generators and street lamps meld together. A dog chain rattles. The wind chime clinks in time with a neighbor calling out, Limor! A muezzin’s call to prayer floats across the valley.
Far off in the distance, orange-hued lights flicker on the hillsides. For a moment, I imagine they might be homes nestled at the edge of a Spanish sky… or, coming back down to earth, stars touching this very precious, but embattled, land.
Healing Pilgrim 
What a beautiful post both writing and pictures. Whose home ate you staying in? Thinking of you.
It belongs to a couple who is away, and I’m tending to their house & garden till they return. xo
Wonderful piece
Thanks Sharon. I can’t remember.. have you visited this part of the world?
No Amit, I have not. so many places, so little time. Yet I’m thinking Bali just once more while I can. We shall see. Are you returning there?
Yes, that’s the plan… 😉
A lovely evocative post, Amit. I am glad you are tucked away, safe from the madness. Keep well xx
Gracias guapa. Tucked away indeed, but still the jets flew overhead today and yesterday, a stark reminder of the daily BEAST down south…
Dear Amit, I’ve been thinking about you as all the tensions and war escalates within Israel. I am glad to hear that you are far away in the north. I hope you are enjoying writing your book.
still working too hard, too many hours here in Ubud….. but I work with a fantastic team and we are certainly making progress. I am very focused on raising the funds.
take care, Phiphi
Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Healing Pilgrim Pueblo de las Rosas by healingpilgrim Here I am, spending the month of July in the northern part of Israel. I’ve squirreled myself away in Kfar Vradim (Village of Roses), where I’ve been writing a book – about walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain last fall. Most of the time, I write on a couch indoors. But once in awhile, I need a change of scenery. So I slide open the back doors and move onto the patio. For an hour or two, I lie back in a beach chair or swing in a hammock, breathing in the fresh air, tinged with a soft breeze, slightly scented with the mint and lavender growing in the garden nearby. It feels strange to be writing in one country about my experiences of another, separated only by time zones and the shifting waters of the Mediterranean Sea. But sightly less strange, when I note the remarkable similarities. I might be in the western Galilee, but if I squint just a little bit, exchange one language for another, I might as well be in Las Alpujarras of Spain’s Andalucia region. The view from the terra-cotta tiled terrace spans nearly 180° of mountains and valleys. It overlooks a pastoral landscape dotted with villages among the large swaths of untouched fields. To the west, well beyond the haze and mountain range, the Mediterranean glistens. White-washed villas and cottages, topped with adobe tiles, spill down the mountainsides. The curbs of dead-end streets are edged with rose bushes of yellow and red. Instead of the Moorish architecture native to Andalucia, Arab villages nearby are characterized by mosques topped with minarets. Between here and there, and just like in sun-drenched Spain, olive groves and vineyards are scattered around. In this garden, little bulbs of pomegranates hang like Christmas ornaments, while bougainvillea cascade out from layers of leaves and a solitary lemon hardens, perhaps eager to be plucked. I wait with increasing impatience for plums and figs to ripen, certain that their impending juiciness will not disappoint. Shiny CDs, long untouched and re-purposed for their shimmering effect, hang from trees and swivel around their axis to fend off vultures and other creatures of the night. A spectacle that, in an instant, throwms me back to my weeks on the Camino. Not a bull or burro (donkey) in sight, but cats curl up in front of most homes as if guarding their territory; a solitary rooster crows before daybreak; and a sign on one gate scaring off intruders with, if it were to be believed, the danger of lurking snakes. In the din of the night, a hum of passing cars, generators and street lamps meld together. A dog chain rattles. The wind chime clinks in time with a neighbor calling out, Limor! A muezzin’s call to prayer floats across the valley. Far off in the distance, orange-hued lights flicker on the hillsides. For a moment, I imagine they might be homes nestled at the edge of a Spanish sky… or, coming back down to earth, stars touching this very precious, but embattled, land.
healingpilgrim | July 22, 2014 at 7:25 am | Tags: Camino, Israel, nature, Spain, Travel, writing | Categories: Health & Wellness, Inspiration, Nature, Random thoughts, Travel | URL: http://wp.me/pGUQW-1iV Comment See all comments Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Healing Pilgrim. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://healingpilgrim.com/2014/07/22/pueblo-de-las-rosas/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com
phyllis kaplan
Good to hear from you Phiphi! I’m glad to know that you’re satisfied with your team and progress. Looking forward to hearing more soon. Yes, it’s good to be out of the eye of the storm… xo
I was so amazed when we were in Northern Israel, seeing your pictures amazes me even more. The last picture you took is so green. Love it. I’m hoping we will return to Israel again, I’d love to see more.
Do return Steve, it’s truly a country of many colors, flavors, sights, cultures, happenings and more! If only it could settle into an era of peace…
You’re probably long gone from here now but what a lovely sounding place. And a book! Fantastic – keep us posted.
Yes, will do!