MARCH 2, 2020 : Today was election day in Israel. Election day is a holiday – people do not have to work. Most of the country is shut down – companies, schools, banks are all closed. It’s an opportunity to explore new places and a chance to picnic with the grandkids.
The weather was perfect for being outside – a crisp and sunny, end of winter day.
We decided to meet at the Givat Koah Forest – only 20 minutes away but still unknown to us. No one in my family had been there before. But once we got there, it seemed many people already knew about it – as we entered the forest, we drove past kilometers of parked cars lining the dirt forest roads. My kids, who arrived before me, found a somewhat secluded spot and laid out the picnic blankets.
Cars and more cars line the dirt forest roads
The place was not only full of people, full of cars, but also full of wildflowers. We have had a very rainy winter, and this brought out the wildflowers in abundance. Reds, yellow and white everywhere.
The spring growth was not only beautiful but was also delicious. My daughter, Michal, recently participated in a forager’s meal – a meal made exclusively out of plants harvested from nature. She used her new knowledge to create us a salad from different leaves in the forest. To the salad, we added macadamia nuts that I gather when I walk my dog (I know where all the macadamia trees are in my neighborhood and I pick up the nuts that fall on the sidewalk – can that also be considered foraging?)
Into the forager’s salad
The picnic ended with my good-byes to the family. I will not see them again before I leave for Australia Thursday night. The kids made me a wonderful gift – photos of all the grandchildren to hang in the campervan. Can’t wait to find the perfect place to place it in our Australian home away from home.
So if you are ever looking for a very nice picnic area, that feels in the middle of nowhere but is close to the central Tel Aviv area – try the Givat Koah Forest. Recommended – especially in the spring.
P.S. The Givat Koah Forest is also known as the Kula Forest. Not sure why it has two names.
Beautiful! And your kids always give very thoughtful gifts.
At this rate we are going to miss the next 2 election days. 🤪