June 16, 2005
Shavuot holiday, Avedat and Eilat
Shavuot is the Hebrew name for what we call Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks (7 weeks after Passover). It is also a celebration of the harvest. Tyler's pre-school had a party. All of the children dressed in white and brought baskets full of fruit to represent the fruits of the harvest.
Shavuot celebrationScott had a few days off of work and our friends Sharon and Itai invited us to go to Eilat with them. They live in our building and are the parents of Tyler's good friend from preschool, Amit the boy. They also have a daughter, Noga, who is one.
On the way down to Eilat we stopped at our favorite roadside stand for labane cheese and lafa pita. It was yummy. After we ate, we bought a glass bottle that Tyler filled with colored sand. He had fun and carried the sand bottle with him whenever we let him.
Sand bottleThe last time we went to Eilat, we saw some cool ruins up on a hill along the way. This time we stopped. The site is named Avedat and was a way station built about 100 BC by Nabatean traders on the way between Petra and Eilat. The Nabateans were involved in the spice trade and were the only traders that knew their way across the Arabian deserts. In the fourth century AD they converted to Byzantine Christianity.
Byzantine chuch in Avedat
Avedat doorwayAfter asking to be carried every step of the way, Tyler got a sudden burst of energy and decided to march.
Marching alongOnce we got to Eilat, we checked into our hotel, the Golden Tulip. It was nice because it is an all inclusive hotel with food and hotel activities included.
The next day we went to the Eilat Marine Park. It is a mostly outdoor aquarium. First we watched a movie about life in the ocean. We were told it was for children ages three and up, so Tiffany and Brooke stayed outside with Sharon and Noga. Itai, Amit, Scott and Tyler watched the movie. The reason it is for older kids is that the seats in the theater moved to simulate diving under the water. It scared Tyler and Amit, but afterwards they said they really liked it.
Throughout the day, there were scheduled feedings of the different sea creatures. We watched a diver feed sharks and manta rays and later we saw the coral reef fish being fed.
At the Marine parkThe gigantic turtles were fun to watch, especially at feeding time.
Turtle at the marine parkThe neatest part about the marine park is the underwater observatory. We walked down a spiral staircase from sea level to the sea bottom. In the observatory there are windows where you can look out at the brightly colored tropical fish and coral. Tyler was thrilled to see a purple fish swim by. We also saw a poisonous Lionfish.
View from the underwater observatory
Tyler's favorite part about the observatory was the yellow submarine that was docked nearby. He kept asking why it goes underwater and he wanted to see it dive.
Tyler and Amit in the observatory
Instead of returning to sea level, we took the spiral staircase all the way to the top. There we had a view of the marine park and the Red Sea.
Marine park viewHere we are on the top of the observatory tower with the Red Sea and the country of Jordan behind us. Our hotel was just a couple blocks from the border with Jordan.
Family overlooking the Red Sea
Tyler-isms:
"I decided I want to go on my mission when I am ten." - We have had a lot of talk about missions because of Grandma and Grandpa Bowden going to South Africa and Uncle Timothy on a mission in California.
"MagnetNoodle" - MagnaDoodle
"It gave me a paper" - Tyler learned how to hit print on the computer.
"Leave a question" - Tyler wanted Tiffany to leave a message for Scott at work.
"My grandma has this movie at her house, but her chairs don't move." - After watching the movie at the marine park with moving seats.
Brooke-isms:
"Poon" - Spoon
"Shhh" - While holding her finger to her lips. usually when Tyler is asleep.