The secret of the summer: the amazing area that is empty of travelers

Don't find out, but when everyone is on their way abroad or to catch any free water source in the north - the Mitzpe Ramon area is empty of travelers who are afraid of the heat and miss out on cheap accommodation, star events (which take place even without meteors), pleasant morning tours and stupid sunrises

Ziv Reinstein

02/08/2022

Tuesday, 02 August 2022, 06:18

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At the Mitzpe Ramon, this summer they woke up from a rosy dream of two years in which tourism flourished during the Corona period, to a black nightmare in which everyone flies abroad in the summer, a heat that always heats up the feet of travelers (unfairly) and if that's not enough - then there is no meteor shower this year either because there is a full moon Add

to

this the fact that for more than six months there has been no tourism director for Mitzpe (to the knowledge of council chief Roni Marom), which sits on the edge of the Ramon crater, and has so much to offer. In addition, tens of millions of shekels transferred from the Ministry of Tourism to renovate the boardwalk in the council have not yet reached Their original destination, and it is not known what will be done with them. Even the disagreements that have existed in recent times regarding the legitimacy of the LGBT community in the council and a controversial pride parade, do not add to the council, where the power of the Jewish-right-wing "Noam" party, which defines who "am normal in our country" - that is, probably everyone who resembles her and her views.

Into this vacuum entered 35 seasoned and less seasoned tourists, for whom tourism to the region (and also their livelihood) is important, and banded together to try to save this summer from desolation and established the "Cooling Experience" - a site with a variety of activities, culinary, workshops, entrepreneurship and special lodging sites that offer lodging alongside A family activity this month, as part of the "Cool Summer Nights" festival in the Negev Mountains led by the Negev Tourism Partnership, the Mirage Israel Foundation and the Nature and Parks Authority.

Vacation and trip to Mitzpe Ramon (photo: Ziv Reinstein, editing: Nir Chen)

"First line to the cliff, 400 meters from the supermarket"

At the "Desert Desert" farm, which is located not far from the "Bereshit" hotel, Ziv and Maya Spector host mainly tourists, but also Israelis in "ohlogs" - ecological tents - which were formerly Bedouin tents and have been upgraded to a kind of very modest rooms but perfect to spend the night in, and the price accordingly : starting from NIS 420 per couple in the Amtshash. Bezel Mebar

has 90 beds in air-conditioned rooms for a couple up to eight people, which are very suitable for those who want to invest the money in attractions in the area and less on accommodation, and this is also what Spector aims for his accommodation. "Mitzvah is not a vacation area , is a freedom zone, because if you don't intend to travel, there is less chance that you will come," he explains. "Our potential lies in the European audience, which does not know how to pay the prices of the Israelis," and adds that for the price of accommodation in August you will also receive free activities, such as stargazing, a tour Scorpions and even a basic breakfast with a great shake.

Beyond that, the sunrises from the desert shade are among the most beautiful at a desert accommodation site.

"Our advantage is that we are, apparently, the first line to the cliff, but also 400 meters from the supermarket," he says and adds with a smile, "the spread of Mitzpe."

It's worth getting up in the morning for this sight.

The view from Desert Shadow Farm (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

Sleep simply and well, and also with air conditioning.

Ohlog at Zel Desert Farm (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

Guardians of the desert

Spector, and other Mitzpe tourists, are facing difficult days that may affect the nature of tourism in the region, and all the time they have their hand on the pulse so that they do not harm all of us in the desert at the expense of thoughtless industry and construction.

They recently thwarted the construction of a 3,000-person event amphitheater in the Selina hospitality complex in the heart of the crater, which would have caused great damage from noise and light pollution to the animals and the "International Starlight Reserve", which the Ramon crater is the only one that bears this important title in the Middle East.

And also the burying of the monstrous electricity poles that were erected along 2.5 km in the heart of the crater, and about which we wrote in Vala! Tourism, are buried these days in the ground after a persistent struggle by the tourists and the residents of the council.

Now another black cloud hangs over the residents of Mitzpe and desert lovers - about 4,000 hotel rooms will be built along the cliff of Ramon Crater in the coming years (currently there are only 600).

The developers set their eyes on the amazing location of Tsel Mebar and Berashit, and to the right of the farm will be built, apparently, a hotel of the Marriott chain with 70-80 rooms, and to the left of it will be built an "Africa Israel" hotel with 260 rooms.

"I have no problem with the hotel on the right, as long as it meets the criteria of preserving the environment, darkness and the desert, as they do in Genesis," says Spector, "but the mistake here is the big entrepreneurs, because all the tourism in the Mitzvah was built on small entrepreneurs, Like in Greece, or in ski cabins in Europe, and the real estate takeover will destroy the place." By this Spector, who came to Mitzvah from Kfar Hassidim 33 years ago, means a concept that is gaining momentum in the world - "slow tourism" - in which there is a preference for choosing local tourists across chains, eat the local food,

About 4,000 hotel rooms will be built along the cliff.

Bershit Hotel (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

Israel's first national park managed by tourists

Nadav Silbert, a tourist who offers jeep tours, hikes, abseiling, star tours and others, also thinks that the tourist load may harm the touristic and social fabric of the residents and calls for a slow entry of hotel chains into the area.

"Mitzvah is not built for thousands of hotel rooms. Where will they get labor?"

He says, "Nowadays, hotels with Filipino and local workers can hardly be operated, and I fear that this will collapse the community here, which is not built for such a strong tourist boom and in a fairly quick time."

But until the mass tourism clubs arrive in the area, Silbert enjoys doing what he loves most - introducing people to the crater in places they are less familiar with.

It has about 30 jeeps under the "Bateva" brand that offer a variety of tours in the area.

For example, in the beautiful Nahal Gonim where it takes travelers back more than 200 million years, to the time of the dinosaurs,

Beyond that, Silbert is proud of the new national park that will be built in the crater on an area of ​​12,000 dunams called "Heart of Harmon", which will be the first national park in Israel to be managed by the Nature and Parks Authority with the integration of tourists through the establishment of a joint administration.

"But until that happens, a botanical survey must be conducted in the area and learn exactly what is here, such as the haremon sniper that is endemic to the crater," he says.

in nature

Jeep trip 2-1.5 hours: NIS 850.

08-8680742.

Enjoys doing the thing he likes the most.

Nadav Silbert on a jeep trip in Makhtesh (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

There used to be a sea here that covered everything.

Remains of a marine creature in the Ramon crater (photo: Ziv Reinstein)

Mitzpe's bapancho

Those who prefer to get to know the area through their feet, will be able to have the most refined experience there is, even if it is in the summer.

The beautiful venture of "Inside Mitzpe" (INside Mitzpe) brings travelers together with Mitzpe's befnocho.

These are guides who live in the council and give in-depth tours in nature and within the settlement itself, and you can sign up for them for free.

The payment at the end of the tour according to the width of your hand, without commitment to a certain amount.

Just come and meet.

did you enjoy

Pamper the guides as much as you like.

But prepare money, because you are going to fly on it.

Eyal Alexander, a tour guide who has lived in the desert for 14 years and usually guides in Egypt and Jordan, found himself in the Mitzvah for the past two and a half years as a result of the consequences of the Corona virus.

On one of the tours he guides, he takes the travelers early in the morning along the sculpture garden on the crater cliff.

The garden was established in 1962, when Mitzvah was a ghost town, and over the years statues were added up to the area of ​​the Bereshit Hotel.

"It was the project that for the first time succeeded in bringing tourism to the council properly and was built on the site of the 1959 Nabatim Inn, Schnitz," explains Alexander.

Among the sculptures that can be seen on the tour, there is one by Yasuo Mizui, a Japanese artist, who sculpted a "Tribute to the Negev" as early as 1962 in the form of a huge dolomite rock with a hole in it that, at sunrise, enters precisely and creates a wonderful sight.

For tours and details of INside Mitzpe, or to Eyal: 050-7504702.

Get to know Mitzpe's Bapnocho.

Eyal Alexander (left) on the INside Mitzpe tour (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

Has been here since 1962.

The sculpture "Tribute to the Negev" in the sculpture garden on the cliff of the crater (photo: Ziv Reinstein)

Cassiopeia, my love

You said Mitzpe - you said stars.

This summer, as mentioned, the meteor shower (12.8) was not predicted due to a full moon, but at the observatory you will not miss the experience of viewing the sky full of galaxies, Cassiopeia, the Milky Way, the Big Dipper and other celestial objects that glow at night.

Moshe Glanz, guide and star guide, has astronomical x-ray eyes.

What you see as glowing white dots in the sky - he connects to creatures from Greek mythology with the help of a green laser pointer.

And so, in the National Garden area of ​​the Harmonic Color Axis in the heart of the crater, thick telescopes are spread out on mats next to mattresses and sweet tea, and Glantz begins to tell about Scorpio, Hercules and his sword and other mythological figures that the ancient Greeks had already seen, and without a telescope.

When you suddenly see the Milky Way - oh then you begin to understand the importance of this huge pit as the only starlight reserve in the area.

Along the way, this summer you will receive instruction on photographing stars from your cell phone - there will be something to upload to the web, otherwise how will you be a star?

Moshe Kogan.

Price for a group (up to 12 people): NIS 1,200.

052-6052744.

The moon, seen from a telescope in the heart of the Ramon Crater (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

"The Wool Princess"

You will find other night events, also adapted to the desert, at the alpaca farm.

The old farm, established by Naama and Ilan Dvir 25 years ago, is currently managed by their son, Guy.

Recently, a geodesic dome open to the sky called the "Dome" was erected there, where events and performances will be held with an emphasis on keeping the peace and darkness.

As part of the August events at the venue, every Friday there will be small "Nujum" shows (Nujum - stars in Arabic), which will combine watching the stars while lying on mattresses and the sounds of desert and music that accompany the experience (80 shekels per adult, child - 40).

Those who would like to spend the night at the farm where there are about 200 alpacas, known locally as the "wool princesses", will be able to do so in ten yurts that were opened there about six months ago.

Each tent has a double bed, air conditioner, shower and sitting areas.

Price per night: NIS 850-700 without breakfast.

For details: Alpacas farm.

They opened about six months ago.

The yurts at the Alpacas Farm (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

Events that keep the peace and darkness.

The "Dom" at the Alpacas Farm (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

In the morning, and at the Mitzvah, you should get up right in the morning, that is, at five o'clock, to see the sunrise.

And the sight of the sun rising over the crater is worth the agony of the alarm clock, repeatedly pressing "snooze".

The "Desert Shadow" farm offers a simply great view of the sunrise, but even from Mount Gamel you will get a sunrise in front of you (literally).

The one who can upgrade the story that you will immediately upload to Insta is Sion Peres, a resident of Mitzpe who conducts a mobile photography workshop.

Peres will teach you the simplest tricks that you didn't know existed on your smartphone, and that will upgrade your photos wonderfully.

You can even take pictures of the stars with the tricks that we are all too lazy to learn.

Sion Peres

052-5161414.

Sivan will teach you how to take pictures with a cell phone (not like the photographer here) (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

star case

Believe it or not, the picnic baskets, or at least the culinary boutique cases, have also arrived in Mitzvah.

The "Matzafait" is a lovely venture by Amelie that offers packed meals in a Greek section, with cheese quiches, vegetables, pastries, spreads and all the goodness you know from any packed brunch.

But this summer you will find some special things at the Mitzvah.

For example, a "star box" with lasagna, baked sweet potato, caramelized popcorn, macaroons and lychees, and in September there will be an autumn box with foods that are more relevant to the season.

The perfume quarter has become in recent years a magnet for all those who are involved in art, creation, culinary and hospitality.

The old industrial hangars of Mitzpe have been renovated and given new life thanks to the residents themselves.

That's how Uma was established by Rachel Hebroni and Yasmin Lux, who opened a gallery for 24 artists, almost all of them from Mitzvah, and hardly anyone they know.

"We wanted to bring the soft female energy to the tough industrial area," says Yasmin.

And so, in the old Vicky Knafo sewing room where uniforms for the IDF were sewn, the craft shop and gallery Uma was established ("The name came from a brainstorming session of my mother, grandmother," Yasmin explains).

There you can also buy cool gifts, but also participate in one of the workshops that will be held there Thursday in August, like renewing jewelry, decorating a die (similar to alpacas) from paper or printing on wood. You can also make a lighted jar with sand from the crater and a camel, and make a cool lantern.

Uma. Workshops 50-35 shekels per person, and you can also just come and have a coffee. 054 -8808799.

There is both a star pack and a summer pack.

Picnic treats of the "Mitzvah" (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

A craft shop that is also a gallery.

A desert lantern at Uma (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)

Just when the queues are increasing in Israel and in the north, they will grab every corner of free water - the desert is probably the best solution this summer. Yes, especially in the summer, when everyone is afraid of the heat. Because those who know the desert know that you will not find humidity in it, and probably not too many people either, and if Get to know the times when the desert works best (until nine in the morning and five in the evening) - you will have a different experience.

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