After a couple hours driving south through the desert, we reached the southernmost point in modern Israel: the city of Eilat. Situated on the Red Sea, this resort town is wedged tightly between Egypt on the west and Jordan on the east. While the Mediterranean Sea is Israel’s main link to international waters towards the west, this small section of shore provides a gateway to the east. This site has been in use since antiquity. For instance, King Solomon launched ships from here to bring back gold (1 Kings 9:26-28).
Our first stop in Eilat was the national park. Renting snorkels and masks, we stepped into the water with a waterproof camera to look at the coral reef and its multitude of inhabitants. With air temperatures reaching 110° F, it felt good to be in the water.
After it had cooled off to “only” the upper 90’s, it was time for a hike. Driving north along the border with Egypt, we reached Red Canyon, a slot canyon in the middle of nowhere with a fun hiking trail. We both agreed that we enjoy hikes that include some handholds and climbing.
