The Green Mountains of Israel

Last week I took a trip up to Metulla to meet with Carol Hasday, general secretary at the Israeli Ice Skating Federation, and find out information about local competitions, getting my students into clubs, and what is required so that I will be allowed to coach my students on the big ice up there from time to time and serve as their official coach at tests and competitions. Of course, while I was up there, I also enjoyed skating on the large ice surface and went swimming with my son in the deliciously heated pool at the Canada Center.

When you think of Israel, you probably don't imagine mountains and
evergreen trees. Most people think the country is all desert, with no
modern highways or shopping malls, not a fast car or credit card in sight. By now you know better, though. For the people of the North, Israel is a lush and green place full of forests and in the winter the tops of the mountains even get snow! I'm afraid that this video doesn't nearly do justice to the place. I need some sort of steady cam for my cell phone, I think. There are some still shots, too.

Of course, the reason I was there was for the ice, not the green. So, here's a video of the inside of the ice rink: