We left the hotel and headed to our apartment, we only went to deliver the new espresso machine and collect some trainers for My Beloved. We tested the coffee, well once we figured out how to use it that it, so we tried two types of capsules, one was a smooth and tasty, the other a creamy smooth with a hint of chocolate. the later was the least refreshing of the two. We sat outside and drank our coffee in the sun before locking up and heading for Isfiya and Daliat-El-Karmel, now we would have been there earlier than we eventually turned up but all roads were leading down the mountain today, and when we did eventually head up we had travelled most of Haifa, this was ok as we discovered areas neither of us had been before, so we enjoyed the views and took in the sights.
Isfiya was bustling with people as we drove through and there was a market in full throws going on close to the entrance to the village, we continued on the road until we arrived at Daliat-El-Karmel we parked the car eventually and took a stroll around the shops, we found a lovely restaurant where we saw a sign saying 'Home Made Food' so walked down and in, we were seated by a lovely gentleman who welcomed us and delivered fresh Lemonade to our table, he then disappeared and returned with an astounding array of dishes for us to eat, this was closely followed by Druze bread, and pitta, now here starts the food problem of the day. The Druze bread is not exactly bread, its more like a very thin paper, that resembles a poppadom but is more droopy when you pick it up. So I decided to myself this is not bread, how can it be, it is flat and cant possibly have yeast as a raising agent. Tomorrow will be the test on that one, watch this space
Oh man, the gentleman then told us he was leaving us in his sons capable hands and we would soon be receiving the chicken, then kebabs and the rice, we just looked at one another and thought he we go again. The salads were lush, from tahini coloured green and red, to hummus, to tubule, we tried them all, and each dish was a delight on the tongue. The rice and chicken and kebabs arrived and the rice was scented and delicious, this was all washed down with the homemade Lemonade which was just the correct measure of sweet and acid, then came the coffee infused with cardamom and delivered with the baklava, once again we rolled out of another restaurant.
We called Sharbel as we had spoken with him last night and he told us to come for coffee if we were in Isfiya as this is his village, 11,000 is not a village, its a town. Sharbel directed us to a gas station and we met him there, whilst we were waiting I took myself off to the store and bought some lovely fruit and some other things, I was told what they were but the name has been lost in my brain somewhere, and I don't think it will ever pop out again, so I can see me taking these bizarre little things to Sharbel and asking him to write the name down for me. Anyway Sharbel took us to his home, he re-introduced us to Joseph his father and showed us around his workshop, we then went into the house and met the rest of the family again, the eldest of his sisters has just had an operation and is feeling a touch under the weather, his mother welcomed us and we sat and chatted whilst drinking water, I can't believe how much water I drink here, also after our lunch I think I was even more parched than usual. Noor arrived, now this is the lady who will be teaching me Hebrew, and she is the sister of Sharbel's Mother, Sharbel's Mother then offered us a lovely drink she had made, it was a spicy drink, with ginger, cinnamon, clove and nuts in, it came in a tea cup and you ate it with a spoon so you could catch the nuts that floated on the top. Sharbel has four sisters, the eldest of the girls is and interior designer, the second eldest is studying English and Sociology and the younger two girls are about 5 and 8. The family is so friendly and welcomed us to their home, an Aunt was also there and the ladies of the family proceeded to make pies, the dough was on the table covered in cloth, this was where it had sat in the heat of the sun to make the dough rise, it was then rolled very thin, a filing of salad leaves were placed in the middle and then the sides were sealed into triangles, all ready for baking in the oven.
Sharbel decided to take us on a tour, and he took us to a beautiful monastery way over the other side of the Druze village, we would never have found it without Sharbel, and My Beloved would have been seriously stressed driving through the market, so thankfully Sharbel was driving. the Monastery is called Mukharaka.....
Mount Carmel, at Mukhraka, which means “burned place,” where Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal and God sent down fire from Heaven. (I Kings 18:17-46).
From the Carmelite Monastery roof or along Carmel’s hiking routes, the story is revealed: surrounding limestone outcroppings are overgrown with lichen, black as the soot from the fire that consumed Elijah’s burnt offering; to the west is the Mediterranean, where Elijah’s servant saw the cloud signaling God’s renewed blessing (I Kings 18:44); to the northeast is more Scripture scenery on the palm of your hand: the Kishon Brook, where Baal’s prophets met their end (I Kings 18:40), winding through the fertile fields of the Jezreel Valley, also known as the Valley of Armageddon.
The Monastery was beautiful, and there was lots of tourist and tour guides, we were introduced to the priest and given a tour of the building, the views were beautiful from up on the roof. From here we were taken to Sharbel's church, now this is where he is in the choir and where the family go to mass. We were then taken back to the house, and a feast awaited us, having already stuffed our faces, we had to then stuff them again, the pies that were made before we left had been baked in the oven and were hot and ready to eat, there were pickles laid out and baby aubergines, some stuffed with nuts and some stuffed with garlic, we were then taken next door to the neighbour who is the baker, and this guy was just at a crucial stage of making the Knaffi as we arrived, so we got to see him flip the knaffi then cover it with sugar syrup, we then had to taste this beautiful dish fresh off the burner, ohhhh and it was heaven, the crispness of the top was beautiful compared to the softness of the bottom, which apparently is a kind of cheese. Sharbel took back knaffi for the family and we sat and drank sage tea until it was time for us to leave. We had such an amazing afternoon, and were welcomed into a family home where we experienced new and amazing foods, traditions and family ideals.
My poor Beloved was stuffed to the gunnels and very, very tired, we left and drove the meandering road home to Haifa, which was only about 10 miles or so, but when your belly is full and you are dying to lay down and rest it, that 10 miles felt like 50.
We did a quick email check before we hit the sack, and rested our bellies for the night. My Beloved spoke with the Little Princes, and the youngest of the two has had her ears pierced, and they are both still very hyper about getting over to Israel.
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| My Beloved and Sharbel |
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| All the paintings in Sharbels Church were painted by the priest |
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| Sharbel's youngest sister |
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