October 12, 2013

Today was another awesome and fun filled day in Eilat. We woke up early again and went to get breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we talked to the concierge and figured out our plan for the day. Paige and I really wanted to do some water sports here, so we decided to go banana boating and tubing. We got to the beach, settled down in our chairs, and then hit the water! Sarah was not feeling well this morning, so she stayed in the room, so it was just Alona, Paige, and I at the beach. Paige and I got our life jackets on and got into the boat. The driver allowed Alona to sit on the boat and take pictures of us tubing. As soon as we got out of the harbor, and a little into the Red Sea, Paige and I jumped off the boat and got onto the tube. There were two little boys with us on the tube at the same time. We were all laying down, holding on, and the boat started to pull us. It picked up speed and we were all flying in the water, through the air, on the tube. It was so much fun. There were a few times when the tube completely flipped over and we went flying (literally flying, in the air) into the water. It was for sure the roughest tubing experience I have ever been on. While we were tubing, Alona was sitting on the boat with the driver and she made friends with him and he said that we would take us back on the boat later over to the Jordan border.

After the tubing, the three of us went back to our chairs on the beach and relaxed for a little bit, before Paige and I went banana boating. A little later, Paige and I went on the banana boat. It literally looks like a hot dog and fits about ten or so people on it. It too is being pulled behind a speedboat. Paige and I were the only girls on the banana boat and were the youngest. As soon as we were settled on the banana boat, the speedboat starting going and we were being dragged on the banana boat. It was also a lot of fun, but nothing compared to the tube. There were a few moments on the banana boat that reminded me exactly of the tubing from earlier. Whenever the speedboat driver would turn the boat, the banana boat would tilt and we would basically be submerged into the water, being pulled on the banana boat. There was one time that I actually fell off it and couldn’t really get back on!!!! HAHA J All of the men on the banana boat had to help me up by pulling my arms. Although the banana boating was a ton of fun, I think I am done with water sports for a while!

I was very happy to just go lay on the beach for a little bit and tan and relax. Soon though, the speedboat driver for the tubing came and found us and said that he would take us over to the Jordan border. It was so cool to see, because we were so close to Jordan, about fifteen feet or so from the water border. We could see directly into the country and onto the land. The boat driver and our “tour guide” pointed out the Jordanian kings castle and the Jordanian coast guard hub and the city of Aquaba. On our way back over to Eilat, our “tour guide” showed us the Israeli navy seals station and told us that the flag on the building is the biggest Israeli flag in the whole country. Today was a great day and I am hoping tonight will be just as fun! We are hoping to get a late dinner somewhere on the water and either go out to a club or a bar around there!