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IST Journal Entries
Karen
June 20
In a sheltered mass of greens and browns, thousands of graves lay heaped
upon one another. An abyss of memories perhaps lost…but certainly not
forgotten. Commemorated with a name, a date, a phrase…a recollection of a
lifetime long since renewed. Crumbling gravestones and rusting iron speak
the words and utter the signs of those whose legacy remains only as an
imprint within these cemetery walls. So many graves. So many of them hidden,
sheltered, aged. Warsaw’s history revealed through a deteriorating
tombstone…a fading epithet…a wilting bouquet of flowers…a burnt out candle.
And we swear we won’t forget. Screaming graves begging us to NOT FORGET. And
so we don’t. We carry on, we preserve, we remain faithful to that which most
defines our past- our Judaism.
Shaunie
June 20
Everything has a little bit of black.
But if you look, dream
wish and believe enough…
Even that little bit of black,
Can become a beautiful rainbow.
Rebecca
June 20
Reflect, Understand, Goodbye, Hello
Please reflect on the camps, the chambers and the fields. Reflect on the
children, the mothers and the fathers. Reflect on the emptiness, the pain, and
the suffering, the separation, the loneliness and tears.
Now understand the reasons, your questions, your pain, their hurt, their loss,
and their strength.
Look at their stars, their ashes, and their bones.
Understand your wonder and your awe and your confusion.
Together we’ve come here and together we’ve seen the empty paths, the cruel and
the mean. We’ve accepted our anger and have shared our pain. And now as we leave
our pride will reign, over the fields, the waters we cross tour homeland Israel
with us.
And as we say goodbye to Poland we must not leave the memories behind, but keep
them in our hearts and through our souls they shall shine.
As Israel awaits just hours away, please smiles on your faces and let us pray
for peace in our land, the home of the Jews for continued amazing summer and the
hope to never lose.
July 4
Impossible not to get shil shul
Sweaty, I am always wet
Remote Control, I miss mine
Amazing, getting rid of shil shul will be
Effortless to smell bad
Lovely, I wouldn’t change one thing
Driving along the North we see many cows. Tal explains the mines. We here the
cats meow. Why so many cats running wild everywhere? One without and eye and one
with nappy hair. I wonder many things about Israel and its people.
Colin
June 20
A conversation with a crow:
Old crow I must know these walls.
What secrets do these bricks hold?
Oh sweet child, quiet your curious
Stay away from here
You are beauty and love
When you speak, the words climb from your throat
Dance across your tongue and leap from your soft lips
You are elegance
Stay away from here
But old crow I know now
All I hold in these hands is ignorance
Oh good sweet child you are mistaken
What you cradle in these arms is innocence
Bask in it. I will take you from here
We will lie in the soft grass
Let the suns warm rays caress your bare arms
Don’t you feel it child
This place is cold
Lick your lips, you can taste death
Look closely child, don’t you see it
The grains in these wooden walls spell heartache
My dear sweet child
Run far from here
I am nothing more than a warning
A memory of death,
A mass of mangled cement and steel
Run from here dear sweet child
But remember these cold walls
You must grow
you must bloom dear sweet child
Jared
June 20
In war, we make peace, in peace, we make war. When we comfort one another,
when humans care about each other, we need to think of more than ourselves. We
need to think of our enemies. It’s hard to forgive, harder to forget. When the
powder is still burning, when the tears are still wet, we need to care about
more than ourselves. We need to care about our enemies. When our people are
burning, when our soldiers are being stoned, when our friends can do nothing and
our deaths we cannot condone. We need to love more than ourselves; we need to
love our enemies.
June 26
Contrast
A dawn, we see Auschwitz
Survivors cry
Children wonder
The tracks still fresh
Where millions died.
At noon, we see chambers
Our brothers passed
On these same grounds
No flowers can cover;
The smell still lasts.
At sunset, we see darkness.
Darkness in our eyes
Yet a twinkle seems to stay;
There is a permeating gloom
Not so much in these skies.
At dawn, we see the Kotel.
The blue and white means so much more
Than any could have ever thought
Now we see the holy ground
For which our wars are fought
It’s lonely, the flag, not here on the pole
I wish it would have a friend
But allies will always come and go
Until the violence ends.
Ben
June 20
I got the blues
Way down to my shoes
So many futures lost
Leaving paths uncrossed
To man it is just a niche
That can be fixed with a stitch
Sovereign nations together
But to me it’s just too hard to weather
I’ve got the maydanic blues
Every day and every night
If these blues come again
Oh what a fright
I’ve got the blues
Doug
June 26
Accidentally, occasionally, moderately
Frequently, mostly, finally
Applesauce of thoughts and people
Mashed together coincidentally
Israel
To put it correctly
Talia
June 26
Where would you find 72 kids with packs full of what was once cold water,
melted power bars and fruit snacks hiking in the 126.5 degree weather? The
Negev. At the time, complaining left and right. Some wishing they had listened
to Wendy and broken in their hiking boots, some claiming that it was actually
impossible to drink water because it was so warm, and some just wishing we were
hiking towards something instead of just to a campsite. So why did we do it?
What were our feelings when we finally sat down on that air conditioned bus? It
wasn’t just a sense of accomplishment. We had created a connection, not only
with each other, but with our history and our ancestors. And although the head
was unbearable at times, we created a bond with each other, with nature, and
with history. So if you get the chance, I, along with many others, would
recommend you go to the desert and have the amazing experience we all did.
Ethan
June 26
From beauty to beast, from happiness to sadness, from hot to…not so hot, we
have grown, and grown together. Before this trip I knew what pride and emotions
were by definition. Now I have defined them myself. I’ve learned the meaning of
hard work and have found the difference between friend and acquaintance. I would
love to describe the scenery, but description is tainted without seeing it
yourself. I’m overjoyed for the weeks to come and can only imagine the man I
will be afterwards!
Brandon
June 26
Words can only say so much. They can only go so far. Incredible, amazing,
interesting, moving, emotional, sad and unforgettable. These words only describe
half of how our 2006 IST trip has been. In Poland, we all walked in as a group
separated into groups. We saw the worst sights we have ever seen in our lives.
We saw the depths of destruction. We saw the lowest point in the storied history
of our people. We saw. We experienced. We felt. Through all of this, we bonded.
On the last day, our group marched into Auschwitz-Birkenau, the camp that was
the place of death for over one million Jews. We marched out of the camp singing
Am Yisrael Chai, holding hands and singing proud together, as one. We represent
the amazing people that the Jews have become. We represent the fact that the
Nazis tried to wipe us our and we lived on and built up strength. They tried and
were unsuccessful. I am proud to be Jewish and I believe that my fellow ISTers
would agree. After we arrived in Israel, I stepped off the plane and smiled. I
am having the time of my life with 70+ of my closest friends.
Adam
June 26
The goal of this trip is to leave as many and come back as one. One way to
do this is a bonding experience. We were put out in the Negev Desert for three
days. The first day was not hard for me. As a matter of fact, if wasn’t for
anyone else either. It was a four hour hike. That is when it hit me. When I
first got here, I never thought that I would trust any of these kids. But it was
cool how everybody helped everybody else. I feel a lot closer to a lot of these
kids.
Ray
June 26
Ah…day two in the Negev. I awoke to Gigi (one of the Israeli counselors)
shaking me and half yelling “it’s time to wake up!” The hike lasted the entirety
of the day today, though we broke for noon (the hottest part of the day) to
fight over pretzels. Our energy was amazing as we urged Natanel (another Israeli
counselor) to push on, because we didn’t was to stop, but we had to anyway.
Around this time, some bouldering occurred and Brandon Green and I had a talk
that helped me see our group from a different perspective. We were both
realizing the recent combining of our cliques and how unifying the trip has been
so far. The hike, while challenging for many, was amazing. That night was also
inspiring. An unusually large dinner line, guitar around the fire and an
encounter with a desert spider showed all of us how much more of a group we are.
Thank you for everything so far, IST (and specifically Bus #2)! This trip has
been life changing.
Dan
June 26
It was the morning of day three of the Negev hike. I was super tired from
the previous days but I was ready to go! I had no idea what to expect. After I
learned that we were going to a crater. So we started walking. It was hot, but
easier than the last ones. (boo) When I got there I was shocked. It was huge!
And that was the smallest one in Israel, too. Then we got into our family groups
and walked on through the water made crater. The rocks were so groovy! Red,
yellow, orangey, purple, blue grey-ish! B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! It was very hot but I
was having no troubles. We finally reached the end of the crater and proceeded
to the road. When I was the buses, I literally ran up to them. Finally I was
there! The three day hike was amazing! I loved every minute of it! I really felt
I bonded with everyone and got to know the group better. It was cool hiking
right with Netanel (one of the Israeli counselors) basically the whole time. SO
I loved the whole experience and I’m never gonna forget it! Peace y’all.
Chelsea and Brittany
June 26
You never appreciate the little things in life like an air conditioned bus
and cushioned seats until you have spent 3 excruciating days in the brutally hot
sun and rocky desert. When we finally reached the bus despite how tired, angry
and hurt we were, smiles came over our faces as we realized we survived the
obstacles that were before us. The minutes on the bus seemed like hours until we
finally reached our youth hostel to the showers awaiting us. After everyone was
showered and the stench finally broke in our hallway we all gathered as a group
to celebrate Shabbat. From our lively Friday night service to our delicious
dinner to singing and dancing with joy to sleeping in and a day of rest the most
important thing we could have learned is that we are all individuals but through
these experiences we have come together as one chevra!
Geoff
July 4
Wow, this trip is absolutely amazing so far. Jerusalem was intense! For the
second year in a row I got to visit the holiest place on earth, the Western
Wall. There is nothing like being so close to Hashem, putting on teffilan and
thanking him for making everything in my life possible. It's truly an amazing
city and I get to spend my time here with 72 other kids. Next we were off to the
desert and wow! What can I say? Hiking in 125 degree weather is truly an
experience that I will never forget. For three days I got to experience and do
stuff that I never thought was possible. From there we went back to Jerusalem
for an amazing Shabbat, where I could relax with my boys and enjoy the weekend.
We were in Tel Aviv for a very brief time but every second was worth it. It’s
such an Americanized city it's truly amazing. Right now were on our way to the
Golan Heights, were we are off to Tzfat, for shabbas. This trip is so great and
I am so thankful for having the chance to be in Israel two years in a row. I
love it!!!
Megan
July 4
I’m hungry! I’m thirsty! I’m tired! I smell so bad! I want cold water! This
is so stupid! It’s too hot! I want a shower! These are just some of the things
you heard throughout our hike in the desert. It was such an amazing hike. It was
great to see a group of 72 teenagers helping one another, all from different
places, different experiences, become one large family. It’s funny how
throughout the hike the things we wanted to changed so much. By the end all we
wanted was to just be able to get on the buses and sit, even though we all
smelled horrible. What a simple thing to want. No cell phones, no showers, no
water, no food. Just to sit. It’s amazing that 127 degree heat can change
everything about a person. First thinking what the Negev desert looked like. I
thought that it would be mostly flat and would be some sand dunes everywhere.
When I got there it was the exact opposite. There were rocks everywhere and it
wasn’t flat at all. You had to climb up so many rocks and down a lot of rocks as
well. Being in the desert has changed me more than anything on this trip so far.
Molly and Monica
July 4
Things we Love about Israel
1 Shwarma
2 Local Boys
3 The Sun
4 Patriotism
5 Spirituality
6 Culture
7 the Beach
8 Speedos
9 Jelly fish
10 Hebrew
11 Music
12 Dancing
13 Hummus
14 Pita
15 hummus with pita
16 Judaism
17 youth hostels
18 laughing
19 hiking
20 water hiking
21 falafel
22 Ice Cream
23 Bargaining
24 Fruit
25 Schnitzel
26 Karaoke
27 History
28 the Bus
29 Crazy Driving
30 Services
31 Yoga
32 Shopping
33 fashion
34 scenery
35 the “Mountains”
36 Inclusiveness
37 stray cats
38 the stars
39 learning
40 bonding
41 chilling on Shabbat
42 Our Counselors
43 Feeling Welcome
44 Kibbutzim
45 the Kotel
46 Reuniting with Old friends
47 Staying up late just talking
48 Being sweaty and gross
49 Being your self
50 Being here with 71 friends
Hannah and
Lauren
July 4
Dear Reader,
We are here to share our story. 72 strangers
picked to live in Israel, not have their lives taped, but still find out what
happens when people stop taking showers and start getting real. IST World 2006.
Currently we are sitting on a wet bus due to the fact that we were slightly
miss-informed on our activities for the day. Apparently “water hike” is
translated as floating down the river face first in waist deep water. Yeah, real
nice.
As we ponder our ride dinner is on our minds. Will we be eating more than bread
and hummus tonight? If not, watermelon seeds it is. At least it’s better than
Poland.
After all is said and done, its hard to comprehend that our trip is nearly half
way over. Luckily our perspective sees it as the glass is half full. Readers
make sure to stay tune to next weeks update. Peace out.
Eric
July 4
Today we went to the Detention Center in Atlit. We weren’t sure where we
were. Our bus showed up and we were told to relax and get some ice cream. It
took quite some time for the other bus to show up. We were just all relaxing in
this British detention camp built to house Jewish people. There were children
playing and having a good time in a place which caused other people so much
grief and anguish. Bus one arrived and we started our tour. We followed the path
that a Jewish person arriving in camp would have followed. He would arrive by a
train car to the camp which was surrounded by barbed wire. The British would
then take the Jewish people to the showers which were eerily reminiscent of the
concentration camps. These Jewish people had just lives through the holocaust
were just they experience similar journeys except that they never came out of
the concentration camp “shower”. The Jewish people came to Israel to find peace
and a haven from what they had just experienced during the holocaust, only to be
put back into detention camps, which appeared very similar to the concentration
camps. If that wasn’t bad enough, these camps were on the Jewish homeland. They
could see their freedom, but it was obscured by the barbed wire. There is one
difference between the British detention camps and the German camps. The British
were not trying to murder Jews, but trying to stop their entry into Israel.
Eventually all the Jewish people in these camps were freed to enter Israel. Now
it’s time for me to head out.
Ps – Tell my family that I say hey!!
Mike
July 4
So we started the day like always at 7 am. Then we went to breakfast which
is getting better I admit but nothing like some good home made waffles. Any ways
enough with the tangents. So we went to a village where a lot of people from the
Druze religion live. We met with a man from the Druze religion. The interesting
part about their religion is a secret so he couldn’t tell us anything because he
is secular which means he didn’t know either. I have decided too make it a life
goal to go treasure hunting for the secrets of the Druze. After that we had
lunch which was shwarma which is so amazing. After that we went to an amazing
and famous Arab market. There were the coolest things to buy we have seen. The
best part is that we were able to bargain. I got a few cool things but I just
wish we could have spent more time there. After that we went back to our Inn and
had a few hours until Shabbat. A few of my friends and I went to the pool and it
was a very interesting experience. The pool rules only let boys in at a certain
time and vice versa for the girls. After that we had an early service so we
could use guitars. The service was beautiful. Then we ate dinner and had free
time. Tell my parents and best friends and girlfriend that I love them and miss
them very much.
John and the whole IST gang
July 4
Wow I can’t believe it is already the third Shabbat. I never really
understood the saying “”time flies when you’re having fun” until now. It was
another early wake up as usual, 7 am. This Shabbat I chose to go to the orthodox
service in the town of Zichron Yaakov Although it was orthodox the service
reminded me a lot of the HEA service back home, which was really fun. It was
also cool because there was a Bar-Mitzvah, so we all got to go throw candy at
the Bar-Mitzvah kid. After the service we walked back to the hotel and ate
lunch. Once again another meal of bread and hummus!! After lunch we had some
chill time for a couple of hours which was a nice break, and time to catch up on
sleep. After our break we all walked to a garden called Ramat Hanadiv. There we
had a really cool program in which a partner led another blind folded partner
around a garden created especially for the blind. In this garden the
blind-folded person smelled different herbs, and experienced what it would bee
like to be blind. Many said later that their other senses were enhanced. For
instance some said the bushed were sharper than usually and that they could
recognize familiar herbs much easier. After this we walked back to the hotel and
ate dinner, and then did havdalah, which was really fun. Well I gotta go, and I
hope everyone is safe back home.
Justin
July 11
Right now I’m listening to Billy Joel on my IPOD as we’re leaving a
physically intense week in the Golan heights, one that I’ll be sure to miss. All
the hikes, the kayaking, and the intense bike ride made these days in the Golan
unforgettable. I’m going to miss pushing myself to my physical limit, but I
won’t be missing it that long, seeing ass how Gadna starts in two days. Israel
has been a blast so far, I’ve seen so many amazing things and all the people are
great. The only things I miss right now are delicious blueberry pancakes from Le
Peep, but I won’t be missing those for as long as well, because before I know
it, I’ll be back on that flight home. I’ll just enjoy it while it lasts. Peace
out.
Melissa
July 11
Who knew our days would be so packed with so many intense activities? Every
week has been busy in its own way. Just as our week in Poland was emotionally
demanding, this week in the Golan Heights was physically demanding (for many
mentally demanding as well). Although there were some complaints, it felt good
to be using our muscles to push ourselves to do things we normally wouldn’t do
at home. We had been active going to museums and listening to lectures, but the
activity we have experienced this week lets us forget about our other troubles.
We were too tires or too focused on getting to the top of the hill to worry
about missing home (we did, however, have time to dream about the meals we want
from home as we were waiting for lunch after our hike yesterday) or problems
with other people. As I was swimming in the Kineret the past few days, I just
let my mind clear as the waves washed over my body. We have also learned quite a
bit this week, even if it’s not learning from the signs in the museums. We
learned that even though everyone has different attributes, we are one big
group. Although this week in particular was hard for some, there was a lot of
positive energy and encouragement floating through the air. There was cheering
as the first people finished the bike ride and cheering as the injured and sick
people came off the bus. It is evident these 71 individuals have come together
as one group when people pick un the Nalgenes that are flowing down the river,
share their Cliff bars during the last ten miles of the bike ride, and carry
other peoples bags in the raft across the natural pool.
While we have enjoyed these last few days of biking, hiking, and swimming, we
are looking forward to a relaxing and rejuvenating Shabbat. We all appreciated
the Shabbat in Poland so much, and since then, our appreciation has just kept
growing each and every week.
Seth
July 11
The day had finally arrived, one that we had been talking about for weeks.
This group of 71 Jewish teenagers with cycling experience ranging from little to
none was about to take on the 60km bike ride from the North of the Golan Heights
to the South for the ALYN Children’s Hospital in Jerusalem. We went into the day
not knowing what to expect, and we finished with memories at least as poignant
and long-lasting as the soreness..
Before we started our trek on our Treks (and other brands of bicycles) we
visited Mt. Bental which contained Israeli bunkers used in the Yom Kippur war of
1973. Here we learned about the stories of heroism that allowed Israel to retain
the Golan despite the siege from the Syrians. We really got to see first hand
the strategic importance of the Golan along with on going Israeli struggle to
retain a homeland in the midst off hostility from everyone around them.
Then it was time to start the ride, which would consume most of the next six
hours. We sopped about once every 8-122 km to refuel (with snacks and water).
The first two sections went by relatively quickly as everyone finished them in
good spirits with plenty of energy. As we had to finish the first half with a
steady climb before we stopped for lunch though, people started to wear down a
little bit.
The second half of the ride was a struggle the whole way as we started to feel
the burn in our thighs and the aches in our butts. There were several up hills
and seemingly no down hills, and we were fighting a pretty steady headwind
(which is when many of us figured out that it’s easier to ride in packs). A few
people dropped out due to ailments that didn’t allow them to continue. It often
felt like the end couldn’t come soon enough, but most of us persevered. We
finished to a gorgeous view overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
After the ride we spent a few relaxing hours at the beach where we were able to
lick our wounds (or message our thighs). Overall, the day was an amazing
experience and an excellent opportunity to help the kids of the ALYN hospital.
Naomi and Britney
July 11
Our visit to Tzafat, so far the most spiritual city we have visited, has
been amazing. From touring the synagogue o shopping in the old city, this was
the first time we had the chance to experience a whole new side of Israeli
culture and community. There’s no other feeling like walking down an old
Jerusalem stone street where the synagogues are overflowing with people singing
and praying. No matter what service you attended today we know you felt the warm
welcome of this amazing community and city. As our weeks together dwindle, we
need to take advantage of the moment we are in, and we ask you as a community to
cherish every moment we have together.
Josh and Miriam
July 11
Four weeks ago we left our friends and family to go tour a foreign land with
72 other kids, most of them were at first complete strangers. We walked in the
time of the Holocaust; we hiked through the desert without showering for three
days together. We went on a 60km bike ride together. Through all of what we’ve
gone through we’ve been able to develop a trust and a comfort zone with each
other, similar to the comfort we have back at home. As nice as it is to have
this home away from home, it’s important that we don’t forget where we came
from, where our friends and family have made our lives comfortable and worth
living.
Josh
July 11
We woke up at 5:15 to get an early start on our hike in Yehudiah. The
counselors told us the night before to pack water shoes because a good portion
of our hike would be climbing down behind waterfalls into rivers filled with
sharp rocks at the bottom. As we approached the first waterfall we were all
instructed t put on our water shoes. I unzipped my backpack and saw that I had
only brought one of my water shoes. My counselors and fellow ISTer’s were amazed
at how I could only bring one shoe, so I thought it would be appropriate to
further amaze and impress my friends by continuing this strenuous hike not with
my two sturdy hiking boots, but with my one water shoe.
I had an incredible time hiking on this beautiful trail and climbing behind
waterfalls. We had gone for about five hours when I was very confused by a girl
behind me who complained that there were too many rocks on this “mountain”
trail. Go figure.
We finished the long hike and were rewarded with a refreshing swim in the
Kineret. The water was at a perfect temperature, so everyone had a great time
swimming and hanging out in the Kineret. At the snack bar there was a wide
variety of food: ice cream, hot dogs, french fries…. Then we went back to our
hostel where we ate bread for the twentieth night in a row. It was an incredibly
tiring day, but an incredible day none the less.
Abby
July 11
After a challenging and physically draining few days mingling with teens our
age was just what we needed (of course we had other place to go before this got
to occur). Wednesday morning we got to sleep in until….. 8am, which compared to
the previous morning wake up at 5 was a big treat. We had our usual morning
schedule of breakfast, services, packing the busses, and then we were off. After
getting a considerably decent amount of sleep, I was able to actually stay awake
for the first morning stop. We went to an excavation site of an ancient village
called Zippori.
Before this trip I would have found this sort of thing kind of boring or
pointless, but after realizing everything our people have done to keep Israel
our homeland, I have come to appreciate the sites we have toured and really am
intrigued by our history as a people. I think its amazing that after all that
our ancestors have gone through, despite all of the attacks and such, we are
able to stand here today in our Jewish state of Israel. After we enjoyed our
typical lunch of bread, humus, and olives, we went to the city of Kabul. Here we
got the chance to talk to Arab Israeli’s our age about whatever we wanted to. Of
course most conversations went on of two ways, either talking about Bush, or
social related stuff (family, love lives, etc). It was very interesting to hear
what they had to say about what was going on where they personally liver whereas
I just read about what is going on in the newspaper and never actually have to
fully comprehend what it is like to have my backyard be a battle field. I was
somewhat surprised to find that we shared many similarities, and had many of the
same political views. It was a great experience, one that I will remember for
the rest of my life.
Amanda
July 4
July 4th, 2006. Marking the independence of the United States of America,
and we’re not there to celebrate it. No, instead of sitting at home spending
hour after hour on the computer, day after day doing the same mundane thing at
home, we’re in a different country, without the blessed computer. Why be in
Israel on the 4th of July, biking across the Golan Heights, making friends,
learning our history, living our lives to the fullest, when we could b at home,
watching other people live their lives to the fullest on TV? It’s the American
dream! Who would explore the Golan Heights when you could watch it on TV? Better
yet a movie theater, with surround sound, a panoramic screen, fans and mist and
a working air conditioning system.
Well, we ISTer’s, being the proud Americans we are, couldn’t be satisfied
exploring the Golan Heights; we had to watch it in a theater. Although the
beauty of Israel may have been sitting just outside our window, we preferred to
watch it on a screen. Yes, we watched a movie about the Golan Heights while we
were actually in the Golan Heights! It was Awesome! The movie was definitely a
great way to start out our American Independence Day.
After our lovely introduction of the Golan Heights, we were ready to explore it
a bit more. And so began our Nehal Devora hike. Despite our sore muscles from
the bike ride the previous day, despite our lack of sleep from staying up all
night dancing, and despite our exponentially growing hunger for ice cream, we
pulled through. We did that hike, and we kicked its butt. And there wasn’t even
that much complaining. Hardly any at all really. And when we did complain it was
in a very orderly fashion. You would have even guessed us to be sore, tired,
hungry, hormonal teenagers. Oh no. No, not us. Not us.
I personally really enjoyed the hike. It was definitely one of my favorites
because halfway through was a gorgeous waterfall where we ate and swam in the
pool of water that the waterfall crashed into. It was absolutely breath taking
(and that is in no way referring to the effects of the ice-cold water after
having jumped in).
After the hike was kayaking. This was extremely enjoyable, even when other
people crashed into me, which was quite often. I loved the kayaking and I was
sad when it ended so quickly and I had to use my sore legs once again for my
personal transportation.
After kayaking we returned to the youth hostel for fireworks. We had two
sparklers. It was awesome. Since setting off fireworks had become illegal in
Colorado, I’m sure the two we set off were more than anyone had seen in years.
Happy fourth of July everyone.
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