5028 was awesome!

After a four-hour, nausea-inducing bus ride, the six Heare's arrived at the Club Hotel in Eliat.  The hotel is massive - includes six separate pools, a grocery store, work-out facility, dining hall, restaurant, game room, ping-pong tables, synagogue and auditorium for shows.  There were lines of people checking in for their stays.  A sweet girl named Nicole, who once lived in Utah, took pity on me, the wide-eyed American and took us to the back for a fast check-in.  Still thanking God for her.  Whenever we were lost or utterly confused, we'd hunt down Nicole!

Red Sea with Jordan in the background.  Gorgeous!

So 5028 was our room number.  Unfortunately, we became notorious at the hotel.  Eventually where ever we went, the employees would give us a knowing, understanding smile suggesting they were thinking, "Oh, it's you.  I've heard ALL about you."

From broken bottles and dishes, to rescuing swimsuits that blew off our ledge, we ended up calling the front desk again and again.  They were super patient with us but they may have thrown a little party upon our leaving.  (We were also the only Caucasian's in the place, so maybe that added to our notoriety.)

Loved our get away!  Ate a big breakfast every am in their dining hall.  Typical Israeli breakfast includes a variety of salads, yogurts, cheeses, sardines, hard-boiled eggs, "pancakes", fruit and bread.  Kids had all the chocolate milk they could drink so they managed and experimented with some new foods as well.

Swimming pools were heaven.  Cool and clean.  Loved it all.  We also found some dramamine for trip back home, so ride home went much more smoothly - until we almost missed the bus after a pit-stop when little boys were taking a little too long in bathroom.  Ryan and Em were literally stopping the bus for me as I ran to retrieve boys.  When they say "20 minute stop", they mean it!

Eliat boasts the world's only underwater observatory.  They also have a smaller version of Sea World.  Great outing with the kids.  Amazing colorful reefs with all sorts of fun fish.

Everyones favorite - the octopus.