The Lotem Wadi
| Ezov (Hyssop) Wadi |
| Lotem Wadi | Siah Wadi | The Lotem Wadi’s special claim to fame is that, more than any other Wadi, it depicts the great contrast which exists between the special buzz of a built-up city center and the complete peace and quiet, as well as the feeling of relaxation and greenery, which characterizes the Carmel Wadis.
Starting point: The southern corner of the Gan ha Em (Park of the Mother), on the left of the events platform.
Finishing point: In the Sha’ar ha Aliyah neigborhood, in the public gardens to the north of the MIlitary Hospital, number10, Har (Mount) Ankava St.
Distance of walking tour: about 2.5 kilometres.
We will begin our route at the Gan ha Em (Mother’s Park). We carry on down to the left of the zoo, past the sign-post which tells us all about the reconstruction work being carried out in the Lotem Wadi. From here we’ll see path markings painted in blue, which will accompany us along the route. Straight away at the entrance to the Wadi we will encounter a corner of botanical delights, which contains a veritable mosaic of different kinds of trees. Some of these trees are local to the region and some are foreign imports, such as pines that grow fruit and have pips, (or pines that grow on rocks), otherwise known as ‘stone pines’. Their seeds are the famous pine nuts. As well as these, there are also some eucalyptus trees. Of those trees which are local to the region, we can find in this grove the one which is the ‘king’ of them all – the common oak. Apart from this we also have the rhamnus alaternus (also known as the evergreen, broad-leaf or Italian buckthorn), and finally an enormous aristocratic laurel, which carries an air of nobility about it.
Let’s continue following the route the path along the channel until we reach a thicket deep within the middle of the woodland, where we’ll be welcomed by many different kinds of creepers and climbing plants, such as clematis, honeysuckle and ivy, to name but a few. Here, we shall also encounter the ruscus oculeatis, whose other names are Butcher’s broom, box holly and wild rose bush, whose hallmark is its red fruit. Shortly after this, we shall pass the old pumping station. After a while, we shall encounter another laurel, which is known by its Greek name of Daphne. The ‘laurel’ is named after the nymph who turned into a laurel tree (Greek: Daphne) when she was trying to run away from the god Apollo, who had fallen head over heels in love with her, a love which she did not reciprocate.
Here we will find a dense cluster of giant laurels. If we make our way along this path, once in a while we will come out into an exposed part of the Wadi and then return to an area immersed in woodland. Where the Wadi widens we encounter a nice clearing of chalk rock, in which are encrusted small chips of flint-stone. Amongst the vegetation that you will find in this part of the Wadi are many lotem or rock rose bushes, after which the Wadi Lotem is named. There are two kinds of rock rose. These are called ‘cistus incanus’, that is, soft furry rock rose, or pink rock rose, and ‘cistus salviifoluius’, or sage leaf rock rose. Here in the copse, who could fail to be impressed by the complete domination of common oaks, replete with a sea of acorns right at their feet. In the next open area of the Wadi , we are already able to see where the houses of Kiryat Shprintzak are visible on its northern side. At that point we shall already be about two kilometres from the start of our trek, and the buildings are starting to get closer to the Wadi. We then go through a beautiful corner of carob trees, and after that, through a pine glade. The final part of the Wadi, by contrast, is crowded between the houses of the neighbourhood, but there are still plenty of trees in evidence, not to mention a small and rather beautiful cave. We finish our walk at the public gardens in Rabbi Ankava St., which is north of Military Hospital no. 10. From here there will be a ride to the end point and the agreed meeting place near to the Youth Hostel.
