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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Pool of the Arches

A special shout-out to our dear friends and family on the Eastern Seaboard. We’re thinking of you and hope you all stay safe and dry! Oh, and in case you were wondering, here in Israel, we enjoyed beautiful, clear weather today. I’m just saying…</gratuitous aliyah plug>

Winking smile

We interrupt this blog’s incessant litany of national parks to bring you an idea for a family outing*: a visit to Ramle’s Pool of the Arches.

*Full disclosure: Most of the Shiputzim teenagers did not join us on our recent trip to the pool – they felt that it sounded, and I quote, “boring” – and thus, “family outing” might perhaps be too strong a phrase. But each of the younger (and older) members of the family who came along had fun.

Built in 789 CE, the Pool of the Arches is an underground water reservoir. The ceiling is supported by a series of pillars and curved arches (hence the name), and today, visitors get to explore the pool in row boats:

IMG_8163One of the rowboats

IMG_8164One of the arches

IMG_8166More arches

IMG_8170Historians believe that people would lower buckets into holes in the ceiling to draw water.

Suggestion: The Pool of the Arches can serve as a perfect companion trip to the Nesher cement factory, which is located nearby.

Have you ever been to the Pool of the Arches?

We now return you back to your regularly scheduled catalogue of national parks

Smile

3 comments:

  1. It looks like a good place to visit to me! My teens just don't want to come with us, period. Oh, OK, they are willing to join the family for a ski trip. Those Romans were good engineers.

    The storm is raging out there. Assuming we survive, I have a few pics to post tomorrow. But they are before all the real gusts arrived.

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  2. This looks fun. I had never even heard of it. When did you go?

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  3. Leora - My thoughts are with you. Was there flooding in your area? Did you lose power? Stay safe!

    Malke - We went on Chol Hamo'ed Succot. Here's the Hebrew link on Wikipedia.

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