Camels, Flowers, Ancient Cities in the Desert

On our July 4th weekend, one of Israel's National Parks that we went to see was Mamshit. Mamshit was the northern most Nabatean city of the ancient Spice Route. Today it is close to the Israeli city of Dimona. Adjacent to Mamshit was the Negev Camel Ranch where you could go on a one or two hour camel safari.

It was very hot July 4th weekend. A desert safari might be better in the fall or even winter.

Many of these camels are saddled and ready to ride. A camel's saddle is where Rachel tried to hide her idols. Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. Genesis 31:34.

And he said, " Come in, blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?" Genesis 24:31.

A two-week old baby camel they wanted us to see. He was sitting beneath the legs of his mother.

We stayed at a kibbutz in the Negev called Mashabeh Sade. Israel's kibbutzim in the desert always are beautifully landscaped and complete with flowers. The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Isaiah 35:1.

Our rooms at Mashabeh Sade.


Mamshit from the road as we approached the National Park.

Mamshit.



Mamshit had tiny built-in aquaducts running to many households.

These were the horse stables that are still very much intact. I would not have known that but there was a sign informing me.

At the horse stables, they had built in feeding and watering troughs.

Looking south from Mamshit through the wadi or valley.

West.

This sign was dusty and I wanted to get close enough to see what it said.

My good friend Vern taking a picture of me taking a picture of hm. At the time I was on the structure called the Watchtower which I had managed to climb without breaking a leg.

A chameleon. I did not take the picture upside down but rather he was clinging to the top of the doorway. They move very fast and I was surprised to get a photo. The next day when we went to Shivta, I saw two more that I should be able to post next week.