Hike to Nahal Me’ara- (The Cave Creek)

Hi,
Down below the settlement of Atzva parents they renovated a new spring, and Amitim Latiyulim (a group I wrote you about before – here, here, here and here) arranged an hike to it. It also happened to be the Sabbath that we were supposed to visit Atzva parents, so why not hike a bit =). After the terror attack on Temple mount, and the riots that came following it  we decided it isn’t the right time for it.

So we decided to do a small hike with Jannaeus,  we found a small route in Jerusalem mountains  – Nahal Me’ara (the one we were supposed to some time ago with Atzva family). Short enough so we’ll be able to do it in Friday morning and get to Atzva parents before Sabbath, And interesting enough for us. We packed ourselves and went on an hike =)

The sign to Nahal Me’ara

Xuxa and Atzva with my bag, now that I carry Jannaeus, she has to carry it =)

The red trail sign

Modern terrace, the most efficient way to use those slopes

The caves, that gave the stream its name

Crossing the cattle fence to avoid touching the electric fence

The caves

Looking over the vanes to the moshav of Nes Harim

Our destination – the ruins of Bayt ‘Itab

We haven’t thought all they way throught – Jannaeus is really white and we should have cover him up in the first plave. Atzva sacrificed the lower part of her trousers for him…

Atzva without her shorts

Getting closer…

Just below the  ruins of the castle and the village, some cistern and the spring of Ain Haud.

Climbing up to the ruins

The ruins of the Crusader tower, used to stand in the middle of the village (and ruins of houses in it)

Looking east to the moshav of Bar Giora;  Looking ot the west to city of Beit Shemesh; Looking South-West  to the new neighborhood of Ramat Beit Shemesh (were I a project I hope will leave soon)

The castle ruins from around

Going down to Atzva

The spring of Ain Haud.

The spring – if you get closer you can hear the water flow

The columbarium near the spring. What really interesting is the cave, that apparently leads to the ruins of the castle (or supposed to – but it seems to be blocked)