After our time in the Galilee, we drove through the West Bank and to the Dead Sea area. Our base camp was Shkedi’s Camplodge in Ne’ot HaKikar. It reminded me of Saban Tree Houses in Olimpos, Turkey – similarly a backpacker haven, tucked away in a far corner of the country. Nathania and I had our own lodge but were able to enjoy the conversational company of the owners Gil and his wife, Anthony from South Africa, and Maude & Benoit from New York and Paris, respectively. It was a great place to rest and relax. Like all of our new year’s eve celebrations, this year’s was also low-key but every enjoyable. Under the evening sky and stars, Gil and his wife cooked guests a nice dinner, offered us champagne to celebrate, and invited us to the fire pit to listen to other guests play the guitar and sing.