Israel Day 2 - Carmel Mountains

HP work events started on Day 2. Along with the conference events, they have a special program for spouses. My day started with a trip to the Druse village of Usafia in the Carmel Mountains. The Druze are a separate religious community known for their loyalty to the countries they reside in. We toured the neighborhood of homes which have a utilitarian feel and are known as the Bauhaus style. We also visited the Druze heritage center and viewed an ancient olive press. We ended our visit with a authentic Druze lunch overlooking the valley and a visit to the local market (where I lost a pair of sunglasses while trying to get persuaded to buy an "authentic" Druze scarf).





After lunch, we visited a unique artist colony in the town of Ein Hod. The village is situated on a hillside amidst olive groves, with a view of the Mediterranean Sea. Our host walked us through the town visiting the various galleries where we met the local artists, including one that was a 4th generation family in the village. We also visited the Nisco Museum, where Nisco has been collecting mechanical music boxes, large and small, for over 50 years. Extremely special town and visit.






At the end of the day, Ron and Trisha met up and we went out for an HP dinner event, which included an amazing band with great food and fun dancing. Packed a lot into a first day!