Hi,
After our day in Maktesh Ramon yesterday (in the hanging balcony, the visitor center and the Carpentry) we headed north and stopped at Ben Gurion grave at Sde Boker.
Israel’s Prime Ministers, Presidents and Hertzl are buried in Mount Hertzl in Jerusalem. Apart from David Ben Gurion, Israel first Prime Minister, who was asked to be burried in the Negev. After his retirement, Ben Gurion settled in Sde Boker. He followed his words when saying “Israel’s future lies in the Negev” and was buried in it to continue his vision.
Unfortunately it does not seems like many followed his vision. The Negev does seem to prosper as more and more people settle in it and more areas are been agriculture. But the Negev, which is 60% of Israel area, only holds 10% of Israel population.
The way to the tomb is designed as an hiking trail in one of the Negev’s stream. You are walking as in a small wadi, with the biggest stones on the sides and smaller one in the middle. The trees (which mainly grow up in the streams path in the Negev) are shading you as you are walk down the trail and get to grave square (an easy 10 minutes walk).
The grave sits as on a balcony on the edge of Zin stream wadi, giving a wonderful view of the huge wadi of Zin stream was created by a more ancient stream that flowed from Edom mountains transjordan to the Mediterranean Sea. The creation of the Syrian-African rift cut down the stream, and Zin stream now flows east to the Dead Sea.
You can also see Ein Ovdat National park, which visited not so long ago. It could have been a great walk for a hot day like today, but we did not reserve a place.
Take Care
Gad
Entering the artificial stream
Which opens up
And close down as you can the flags over the grave
A lizard sun bathing on the rocks
Ben Gurion grave square
David and Pula Ben Gurion graves
Zin stream wadi, looking east
And Panoramic view (Ein Ovdat stream is vertical green line on the right hand side of the picture)
Floods in Israel deserts
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