Kibbutz Ma’ale Hachamisha, Room 514
Initial Impressions: Ma’ale Hachamisha (aka: High Five) is a sprawling resort kibbutz with as many separate room layouts as letters in its name. This was my first stay in this particular type of room and the shower certainly made an impression. The most obvious feature being the swinging glass door which seemed both awkward and unnecessary. Upon entering the shower I noticed a support brace securing the glass wall:
Now, intentional design of any kind is not a hallmark of Israeli showers. Looking at the brace, I could not help but reflect on the many, many horrible mishaps that occurred to necessitate its installation.
The Experience: The shower would be right at home in any college dorm next to the extra-long/extra-narrow twin bed. The proximity of the re-enforced glass wall meant showering with my arms never leaving my sides. While strange for Americans, this is something all Israelis are used to. (“In de ahmy we don’t use ohw hands”) The water pressure never reached beyond more than a trickle, due mostly from the stalactites on the shower head as a result of the disgusting mineral-rich Jerusalem water.
Flooding: The shower did not flood, as a result of the glass door catching the water. That same door then deposited the accumulated water evenly throughout the middle of the bathroom. Nonetheless, one of the better showers in Israel.
