Hagan Shloshah

Part Two of the Jerusalem Series

The bus drove us from the mountain in our bedraggled state across a huge part of the country, nearly a two hour drive. We disembarked, sweaty and most of us still half asleep from the drive into Hagan. The Garden. The oasis. Imagine, if you will, a swimming pool, completely natural but for the occasional railing to aid its inhabitants. The water is clear and blue, luminescent of its own volition against any reasoning and lit brilliantly by the high middle eastern sun. Around the pool is grass, real, wet, grass. On the grass lie dozens of sun-browned Israelis on their towels. Three large hookahs smolder lazily around its perimeter. And among the epitome of glamor in the desert, among the dark rich tones of the locals, stands a boy as white as the smoke slowly spiraling above his counterparts' heads. Whiter even, than the brood of Americans surrounding him. Whiter than he can stand for much longer.

Isn't this country supposed to dye your skin? When do I get that sexy bronze complexion I see so often? Or must I just accept that I can be as white as the smoke of the hookah...or as red as its coal.

It's no matter. I leaped into the pool as quickly as I could, joining my friends in water much deeper than it looked. I quickly realized that, despite growing up on the Puget Sound, the next best thing to the Pacific ocean, my swimming skills were weak. Floundering around like a fish on land, The city boy had fun in the water.

Swimming to the other end, we found a small waterfall where fish would nibble on your feet. We broke for lunch, sandwiches, and rejoined the water. I became dedicated to the task of catching a fish. A challenge which my friend Ben was wonderfully willing to help accommodate. His feet provided the bait for my elusive prey as I crouched in wait. After dozens of attempts, leaving me gasping for air and somewhat disappointed, I gave up. My feet had been cut raw by the sharp rocks of the spring.

Shortly after, we reloaded our bus and took off again, this time for Jerusalem. I closed my eyes... and waited.