Tiyul to Einot Tzookim on Shushan Purim

The day after Purim, known as Shushan Purim to the rest of the world, was renamed by Ima as "Clean Up from Purim Day". And Ima promised if the kids were good and helped clean up that Abba would take them swimming at Einot Tzookim. Hooray!!!

So a little after 12:30 we were all in our bathing suits, shmeared with sunblock, packed and ready to go, minus of course Tali and Ima, as the car only holds five people. I guess Ima and Tali will just have to stay home and nap...

We got to Einot Tzookim just before 1 PM. The guard at the cashier booth told us there was a guided nature hike starting in a few minutes. Even though all four kids wanted to go straight to swimming, Abba overruled them with his veto power and the three older kids reluctantly came along (Noam didn't complain. He thought the tour guide was taking us to the pool - Abba might have said something to that effect).

As usual, after complaining a little bit, the kids actually enjoyed the nature walk. What do you know?!

 

The tour guide took us to a part of the nature reserve that is off limits to everyone who is not on the guided tour. These were areas that only 10-15 years ago had many natural streams that led to the Dead Sea but have since dried up. You weren't allowed to eat on the nature walk. Only drinking was allowed when we would stop along the way to sit and the tour guide would explain the ecosystem for ten minutes. Abba quickly learned to trail behind the group and sneak food to the kids when the tour guide wasn't looking.

Here is a picture of the kids by what is left of a large pond.

We are not really sure why this tower was in the middle of nowhere

Of course there was plenty of time for swimming. After a nice long nature walk the kids enjoyed cooling off in the pools of Einot Tzookim even more, just as Abba had planned. We finished the fruits and vegetables Ima had packed and then walked back to the car to get the towels and water toys.

Even though Elazar could stand and the water was basically up to his waist he still insisted on taking the floater arms and the swimming tube around his waist

Noam spent most of his time with Elisheva, since Elazar had all the floaties. Noam could actually stand also, but it did come up to his neck, and the floor was slick.

Ezra practiced his swimming even though Abba didn't take any video and needed a special invitation out of the pool when it was time to close up a 3:45 PM

Another fun outing for the Gersten children with Abba, while Ima and Tali got to take the day off. Of course upon leaving the camp grounds the kids felt they deserved something from the concession stand for being such good kids. (They purposely put the concession stand right by the exit, just like at the supermarket  There should be a law against that.) But as usual, Abba didn't give in to the pressure and made up an excuse like, "I'm sure Ima made us a nice dinner and we don't want to fill up on nosh. Besides, there are plenty of Shalach Manos to last us until Pesach".