Every Day a Circus Day!

Renaldo wakes me before dawn because his camera is broken and he wants to catch a picture of the sunrise. He does. Then he asks if I will take his picture as he climbs up on a sand dune.



The others wake up slowly.
Without predetermination, there is one spot in the encampment that is first used by Rabbi Marc for his morning prayers and then, in turn, by Alex for mediation, Menar for prayers and Amit for yoga.
Our hosts start bringing in breakfast. It is sumptuous (by Middle Eastern standards). A long, low table is covered with plates of hummus, pita, labana, salad, omelets and more.


After eating, we load up the bus and drive to the edge of Mitzpah Ramon. This is the Grand Canyon of Israel! Created by unique combination of geological forces it is like an incredible moonscape--- very awe-inspiring. Marc leads us on a hike along its rim then up a hill to a place called Camel Mountain, which offers an incredible view.


I actually stay at the rim while the rest hike up the winding Camel trail. For one moment, I am entirely alone in vast and utter quiet. I can't remember when I last had such an experience.

We walk to the visitors' center. There are small big-horned somethings along the way. We watch the making-of-the-crater video--- you get your choice of watching it in Hebrew or English. Keaton, at least, goes in to watch it in Hebrew so that he can be with the Israeli kids.
We go into the town for lunch and for the kids to swim in the local pool. This town is drawing many artists and is becoming like America's Sante Fe. Some of the grown-ups go and visit the local artists' studios.


I have been corresponding via email with an African acrobat named Abraham who has been working at resorts in the south of Israel with his troupe, Kenya Mambambo. This is the furthest South that we will be and Abraham has taken a bus to come and visit us. He is an incredibly open and generous man. He and the Arches start tumbling for each other. This evolves into an African acrobatic and pyramids lesson right on the lawn by the pool.

Abraham has to take the two hour bus ride back to be in time for his shows and we have to set up for ours.
Ours will be on a small stage behind the local community center. It is part of a street fair put on by the Community Center and popcorn, candy, lemon drinks and baked goods are being sold. Children are everywhere. It looks like most of the town has come out for our show. The hillside fills with people and we present our show partially onstage and partially in front of it.

We've added a contortion number in lieu of the aerial acts since there is no place to hang the trapeze. The act is choreographed by our Renaldo and comprised of American and Israeli girls.
After the show, we drive to our next stop, the city of Tel Aviv.


We are staying in what is called a children's village. The translation of the entrance sign is 'The Green Village', I am told. There is a lovely sculpture park in the middle of the campground but the rooms are a bit like jail cells and some of the kids semi-joke that the spartan Bedouin tent was better.