Water it down

Water. Cool, clear, skin-quenching H₂O. Sure, there’s limonana — lemonade with mint — and iced coffee, the paleta and the popsicle, iced tea or orange juice. But the only thing that really cools the body during the hours of the day when the sun beats down is that stuff that thankfully comes out of our faucets, cooled in the fridge or sluiced over hot limbs.

There’s water at the beach, where the breezes blow cool and even the warm waves of the Mediterranean provide respite. Pools are another idea, and in these parts, every kibbutz sports its own facility, usually accessible for a NIS 60 (or more) ticket.

But sometimes you want to keep an eye out for a more unusual way to cool down on a sunny afternoon in a place less known to the crowds. Here are a few ideas, our top five watering holes, so to speak, for when you just can’t stand the heat for another moment.

1) For those in the general Jerusalem area, there’s the usual array of local pools as well as some natural watering holes, but another option for both adults and kids is spending some time in Beit Zayit, the pastoral village just outside the city. First head to Etz v’Mayim, Tree and Water, a lovely Watsu spa overlooking the green forests and hills of the community. Watsu is the wet version of shiatsu, a body massage performed in a warm body of water, with the masseuse guiding, massaging and stretching your body, while your head remains above water for the entire treatment. After the massage, you can sit in a lovely wooden hot tub overlooking the hills, with the soft summer breeze gently stirring the foliage surrounding this very quiet space. Water — even warm — has never felt so good. Etz v’Mayim, Beit Zayit, call 02-533-2395 for appointments. Etz v’Mayim also offers classes for little ones, who often prefer warmer water when learning to swim.

2) Sticking with the pastoral wonders of this village in the Jerusalem hills, take a walk or drive over to Derech Hagefen, the slightly more upscale big sister to Cafe Itamar, over in Moshav Ora, next to Ein Kerem. Similarly set amidst the flora and fauna of a plant nursery, Derech Hagefen features salads, pastas and sandwiches, but with some nice touches, such as gnocchi in a beet-pink sauce, perfectly grilled fish kebabs drizzled with a lemony tahini dressing and a beefy mushroom burger served with chunky steak fries. The best part? Drinking some lemongrass iced tea while being gently misted with water spraying from the pipes that run along the underside of the oversized canvas umbrellas, all while watching water trickling from the rock garden streams. It’s just another way of keeping cool. 1 Derech Hagefen, Beit Zayit, just across from the dinosaur footprint park.

3) Looking for some free watering holes? There are the ones we can’t tell you about, like the water fountain in Bloomfield Park in Jerusalem, where kids can be found getting sprayed every day, or the man-made streams running through the capital city’s Independence Park, also perfect for getting your feet wet on a hot afternoon. There are also some nice options at the Tel Aviv port, at the northern end at the city. The southern side of the port offers easy access to the beach, where kids can climb on playground equipment that’s right on the sand, and then cool off in the water. Over on the northern end, there’s a sizeable section of sidewalk next to Iceberg (considered one of the best ice cream parlors in the city), where small sprinkler jets are set into the pavement, sending up streams of water that are perfect for small people. Parents bring their kids in bathing suits, or strip ’em down and cool them off. According to one mother, “it looks like the neighborhood pool in the afternoon.” Iceberg, across from Hangar 11, Namal Tel Aviv.

4) Even the southerners have their natural pools of water, despite living in the dry depths of the Negev desert. Those living in Beersheba, Mizpe Ramon or thereabouts often head to Ein Ovdat, a canyon in the desert, just south of Kibbutz Sde Boker. Originally settled by Nabateans and Catholic monks, there are springs at the opening of the canyon, emptying into deep pools by way of waterfalls. It’s a “place of pilgrimage” in summer and winter, said one Negev resident, whose kids have been hiking there since they could walk. And the best part? The view from David Ben Gurion’s gravesite at the lower entrance, well worth the trip. Ein Ovdat is located on Road 40 between Mitzpe Ramon and Beersheba.

And if you’re in the city of Beersheba on a hot one, and need to cool off, head to the Beersheba Beach, the fountain park built across from City Hall, with seven different water attractions, including jets of water emerging from the ground, majestic palm trees, a boardwalk and sandy path. City Hall, Beersheba, free.

5) Finally, when you arrive home, tired and wilting, desperate for something to drink, take a big pitcher, fill it up with water, thin slices of lemon (or lime), and a handful of almost any herb that’s available, from spearmint and verbena to lemongrass and even a little parsley. This chilled, herbed drink achieves a freshness that surpasses the usual thirst-quenching quality of water, and it’s even better if the pitcher has a narrow mouth that doesn’t let bits and pieces of herbs slip into the glass. Another option is to freeze ice cubes of lemon or lemony herbs, and toss them into each and every glass of water. It feels great.