Thursday 21 May 2020

Celebrating My 50th Birthday in the Middle of a Pandemic

So, whilst we have all be sheltering at home and keeping a low profile, I celebrated a big birthday. This week I turned 50! Believe me, this was not the 50th birthday I had planned. For the last few years I had been telling Mister Handmade in Israel that I wanted to visit Prague as a birthday treat. Everyone tells me that I will love it there. I would have liked to celebrate with friends and perhaps danced the night away (I love dancing!). But it wasn't to be. My 50th birthday fell right in the middle of a worldwide pandemic but Mister Handmade in Israel made it as special as it could be and I had a lovely day!
I was treated to this amazing cake made by the very talented Ella Bakes and received a beautiful balloon decoration made by Designed by Ruti. Breakfast was brought in from a local cafe that is still closed but does deliveries. Dinner was the same. I received a wonderful book filled with greetings from family and friends the world over, a voucher to treat myself to something from Etsy and another for Israeli breakfast when things open up again.
I'm a lucky girl!
As a family we have very much stuck to the rules and have stayed at home except for the necessary food shopping. But things are beginning to slowly open up again here in Israel as the numbers improve. Last week I heard that the national parks were opening again and that a limited number of people would be allowed in each day, as long as you pre-book. I knew that I wasn't going to Prague or dancing on my birthday, but thought that a day trip to Ein Gedi, an oasis and a nature reserve located west of the Dead Sea, might be nice. Then a heatwave hit and there was no way we could go there either! In the end Mister Handmade in Israel indulged me and we went out in the horrible heat to Castel National Park to see flowers and explore.
The Castel fortress is located at the entrance to Jerusalem, overlooking the main road into the city. We were last there back in 2012. The Castel hill is the highest point in the surrounding area and is an interesting place to explore and admire the beautiful landscapes.
The Romans first established their Castellum or fort and following them the Crusaders settled here. Later when the Arab village Al-Qastal was established here, the mukhtar's home took pride of place on the hilltop fortress ruins.
Castel's most significant historical events occurred in April 1948 during Israel's War of Independence. Jerusalem was under siege and running out of food and water supplies, so armed trucks made the treacherous drive along Highway 1 where they were prime targets for the enemy in Al-Qastal. To solve this problem Operation Nachshon was launched by the Palmach who entered the Arab village. Fierce battles that claimed many lives took place there as Arabs and Jews fought for control of the site, but ultimately the Palmach took the hill for the final time and soon a convoy of vehicles packed with supplies ascended safely to Jerusalem. Castel National Park is now a memorial site to the lives lost in this pivotal battle.
Mister Handmade in Israel and I explored the underground bunkers and communication trenches at the site. These were prepared in the early sixties by the Israeli army as a preventive measure, for until the Six-Day War in 1967 the Jordanian border was only a few kilometres away. We climbed up to the ruins of the Crusader fortress. Several walls, arched windows and doorways of the mukhtar's home remain. The ruins are now a spectacular lookout point and memorial site where the names of the fallen in the battles over the Castel are carved on a rock.
From the mukhtar's house, a scenic trail descends through lush, uncultivated vegetation back to the car park. A nice variety of shrubs and bushes such as Spiny Broom, Shrubby Jerusalem Sage and Sage-leaved Rock Rose can be seen in the area. I spotted Syrian Cornflower-thistle and Red Everlasting. In winter and spring, anemones and cyclamen flower here, though they were long gone by the time of our visit.
Then it was back home for a quick shower (did I mention how hot it was?) before a Zoom call with family and a delicious sushi supper. Mister Handmade in Israel was quite exhausted by this point! He had worked hard to make my 50th birthday special and I truly had had a wonderful day!

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39 comments:

Miss Val's Creations said...

Happy belated 50th Lisa! The birthday cake is gorgeous. How wonderful the national parks have re-opened. Just being able to visit a park now must feel like a bit of a gift itself! We am still waiting for ours to open, but our state parks have with limited capacity. Prague would be an amazing visit. Hopefully there is some normalcy by next year and you will be able to go.

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

That sounds like a pretty good birthday for being in a pandemic!! Your cake is lovely and the photos are gorgeous! Happy Birthday!

VeggieMummy said...

Congratulations on your 50th birthday! At least this way you get to spread out the celebrations as you can do it all over again when you get to Prague. I hope the cake tasted as good as it looks. xx

handmade by amalia said...

Happy Birthday, dear Lisa! You celebrated in style.
Amalia
xo

Mami Made It said...

Happy birthday! What a wonderful trip you made. Your husband planned a great day under these circumstances. Prague won't go away, it will wait for you.
Have a nice day!

Joanne said...

Happy birthday!! We visited a few state parks this week too as they've slowly started opening.

Rhonda Albom said...

Sounds like a great birthday. Prague would have been nice but perhaps next year. The park sounds like a nice alternative, even if it was hot.

Veronica Lee said...

Happy Belated Birthday, Lisa! Love your cake!

Have a great weekend!

betty-NZ said...

Happy belated birthday! It looks like Mr HII did a fantastic job with within the boundaries set. I think he's a keeper :)

Thanks for sharing your little adventure outside, too.

I am so glad that you took the time to share your world at 'My Corner of the World' this week! Thanks!

Sandi Magle said...

What a fabulous birthday, and hope you have many more. Lovely photos, and great descriptions of what we are seeing. Thoroughly enjoyed, Sandi

Jayne said...

So glad that you still managed to have a wonderful 50th birthday. We will have to have a belated #MMBC zoom get together to celebrate!
My brother-in-law lives in Prague, he loves it there. x

Camila said...

That's such a lovely way to spend your 50th! Happy belated birthday of course :)
Glad you were able to get out and make it super special! Prague will be there for your 51st and hope you love it!

Claire Cooper said...

Happy birthday. My hubby also just turned 50. I think he quite enjoyed his birthday.

Powell River Books said...

Happy Birthday. That's an amazing cake. - Margy

Cosette said...

Happy Belated Birthday. Glad you still had a good birthday, although not what you always wanted it to be.Luckily you could still go outside, despite the heatwave.

Cosette said...

Happy belated birthday. Glad you still had a good day, although not what you originaly thought off. Luckily you could go outside, despite the heatwave.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Happy Birthday! Lovely cake and of course photos of nature. My birthday in April was spent alone going no where - I'm envious!

italiafinlandia said...

Happy Birthday, Lisa!
Cheers!

riitta k said...

Warm congratulatiopns - such a fancy birthday cake you had!

junieper/Jesh said...

Can imagine Lisa your Hubby needed creativity for your birthday at this time! Of course you can go for your 55th of 60th birthday to Prague:) As Amalia, said, you still were able to celebrate it in style:) Happy belated half century!:) Thrilled you shared it with All Seasons! Have a beautiful week, Jesh

Hannah said...

Happy birthday! Looks like you had a lovely day :) #mmbc

Anne said...

Welcome to the 50s club, belated birthday wishes. It looks like you had a wonderful day with so many gifts and a fascinating day trip, you were really spoilt. I love your cake!

Kim Carberry said...

Happy birthday to you! It sounds like you had a lovely day and was spoilt rotten. Your cake looks amazing! x

Stevenson Q said...

Now that is one beautiful birthday cake fit for a beautiful woman! Happy Birthday Lisa! I hope you had an amazing birthday celebration and on your Golden year, I wish you best of health and longer life filled with love and happiness!

Sherrie said...

Hi,
Happy belated Birthday! And thank you for sharing your wonderful day...love all your pictures. Have a great day!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Happy belated 50th birthday, Lisa! It looks like you had a wonderful day.

NCSue said...

Happy birthday, dear cyber-friend. You're about to start what was one of my favorite decades of life!
Thanks for linking up at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/05/meet-tommy.html

A Bit of the Blarney said...

My heartiest congratulations!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Photo Cache said...

Happy Golden birthday!

Worth a Thousand Words

Elkes Lebensglück said...

Happy belated birthday!
What a nice trip you made. Everything is different from last year, I was lucky to have been born. Your husband prepared everything wonderfully for you.
all the best continue and stay healthy, Elke

Lady Fi said...

Fun shots - looks like a nice celebration!

Tom said...

...a belated Birthday to you, my 50th was a long time ago! Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Peabea Scribbles said...

That was so sweet of your hubby to do that...sounds like even in the shutdown, he managed so much; especially the greetings from friends. Wow on the cake...absolutely beautiful. Happy Birthday, and many many more. You look great and a very young 50.

Jeanne said...

Happy Birthday! Awesome cake!

Karen Reekie said...

Belated happy birthday. Looks like your hubby managed to make it special despite the craziness of lockdown. Fab cake!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Belated birthday wishes! I'm glad you were able to enjoy your special day despite all the restrictions

Monika Ohson | TravelerInMe said...

Happy 50th golden girl!

I loved reading all the details of your big day and how you celebrated it. These moments will become beautiful memories.

I am sure you will have a memorable trip soon......

Calendula said...

A little late... Happy Birthday!
And thanks for sharing the trip with us!
Cheers Calendula

Rambling Woods said...

Happy Birthday! ... Michelle