The Sea of Gallilee - Woke Up Alive Travel Notes, 2006
A collection of writing from the filmmakers

Today we headed north to the SPNI Field School at Mount Hermon.
This Israeli version of the Sierra Club, SPNI, is letting us stay for free
at their many field schools all over the country.

The Upper Galilee is an unbelievable place. Mountains, green trees, a
diversity of people and cultures, lots of rivers and even snow on top of
the mountain. Later this week, Jesse Goldberg, the cinematographer,
wants to hit the slopes at the Hermon Ski Resort. We got some great
shots of the snow topped mountain, migratory cranes and scenery.
Schlomo, the guy that runs the SPNI field school, is a good host.

We stayed out too late last night, thanks to our new friend Shoresh,
the owner of the Mushroom Pub, but got up and went to the Sea of
Galilee early enough not to ruin the day. Dr. Yossi Leshem, our host,
suggested that we go on a bird watching trip and we did. We met this
remarkable woman in the parking lot named Anat. We talked to her
the whole time on the trip.

Anat took us to a secret place called Job’s Falls. Apparently Job went
there to wash himself after God and the Devil took away everything
to test his faith. I don’t know if I believe all that and I certainly never
had much Job-like faith, but I do feel different. It’s undeniable. Anat
also pointed out the mountain where Jesus did his Sermon on the
Mount - now called the Mount of Beatitudes - and the place where
people say Jesus turned loaves into fishes - now the Church of the
Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes.

* * *

We are at Anat’s place in Rosh Pina now. She calls it the “hobbit
hole” and for good reason. It’s a cave-like apartment next to an old
house, with a huge bathtub under the stars, in the middle of a lush,
aroma filled spice garden. Harp playing by the fire, a Hebrew children’s
song about letting your garden grow, and fresh mint tea complete
the scene. It was cool not to have access to television. This beats
“American Idol” any time. Jesse kept the camera rolling until we
were told, “It’s either camera off or Americans gone.”

Tomorrow, Anat’s supposed to take us for a hike in the hills where
she teaches kindergarten and then a place called Woodsong in Rosh
Pina, where a guy named Pete makes and plays his own instruments.
We have no plans, so Jesse and I decided to just hang out with Anat
until she’s had enough of us. No reason to leave. Magic is all around.
We are eating up loads of tape, filming just about anything that
happens. I’m like a kid again - no worries - but Jesse needs to find
mini-DVs. Yossi called a few times and I think he knows by now
we’re doing OK.

Spontaneity at this time is a real privilege. Can’t wait to see what
happens tomorrow.

-Mark Blacknell
director, executive producer

Photo by Eyal Bartov