Israel

[Asha]

We are contemplating a trip to Israel in June. Any suggestions?

[kalogrias]

How long, where are you staying, and what would you be interested in doing? I know Israel inside and out -- my father has been living there for the past 15 years, so I'm in and out a lot. Are you interested in outdoorsy stuff? Museums? Let me know, and I'll give you some guidance.

[Asha]

we would probably go for about a week. we have no clue where would be staying as we just started contemplating the idea. i am ashamed to admit i don't know too much about israel.

we are interested in historic and religious (doesn't matter the religion) sites. we also like active/adventurous stuff. we don't typically like to lay around on a beach all day - at least that's not what we like to do on vacation.

also, we are more budget conscious, so no luxury hotels for us at this point in our lives.

thanks, kalogrias!

[kalogrias]

ust FYI, I know that sue-bert lives in Israel now (hope she doesn't mind me calling her out), so she'd be able to help you out, too.

Hrmmm...now I'm going to get jealous of you because I want to go to Israel soon, too! :D Ah, well...

Okay, let's see...a week isn't that long, so you'll really have to think carefully about what is most important to you.

You should DEFINITELY stay in Jerusalem for at least two days...see the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (where the rock that Jesus was laid and rose from is), the Dome of the Rock (if it is open). Also, there is the Cardo (the old Roman "shopping" district), and several other interesting things withing the Old City. Immediately outside, you also have the Mount of Olives with the Garden of Gethsemane (very pretty). Also very interesting and important is Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. You'd need about 1/2 a day to tour this...the Children's Room is especially haunting.

If you can, you should also take some time to get to Tel Aviv. I love Tel Aviv. It's dirty and noisy and bustling...and there is just so much to do and so much life there...it's amazing to me. In TA, you have an endless supply of opportunities, from museums to archeological to beaches to shopping. One of my favorite things to do is to go downtown to the Shuk -- the Arab Market -- and look at all the veggies and stuff they have to sell. They also sell clothing and pretty much everything under the sun. If you catch it on a Friday or Tuesday morning, you can also go to the Outdoor Artists Market on Sheinkin St, and look at tons of stalls filled with local artists work. It's pretty neat. That entire area -- the Binyamin Yehuda/Sheinkin area is sort of like Soho. Not as big, probably not as "hip", but with lots of little boutiques and outdoor cafes. You also have the Jaffa area -- the old Seaport and all the historical stuff that goes along with that, plus the market where they sell everything from textiles to wooden carvings. Neve Tzedek is the artists area...there's the Suzanne Deliel Dance Center, which has a nice cafe, and all sorts of little galleries and things to wander through.

So, if you decide to do those two, you've easily killed of 5 days. EASILY. With the rest of the time...well, you could go stay on a kibbutz and go white water rafting in the north (you'd need more than a week if you were going to do that), or else travel down to the Dead Sea in the South (I would do this immediately before or after Jerusalem, as you will have to cross Jerusalem to get there from Tel Aviv). If you go to the Dead Sea, then you need to stop at Masada. (from: mosaic.lk.net: Masada was Herod's royal citadel and later the last outpost of Zealots during the Jewish Revolt. The citadel was a site of the most dramatic and symbolic act in Jewish history, where rebels chose mass suicide rather than submit to Roman capture.) That alone will take you two days at minimum as well.

Hotels...I don't know much about hotels since I never stay in them in Israel...I'll poke around, though, and see what I can find. Let me know if you need more info...I am glad to provide what I can.

ETA: Masada is one hell of a hike, though, so be prepared!!

[Asha]

thanks for all the information!! do you think we could get buy just speaking english? i mean we speak other langs, but i don't think spanish or hindi would help us at all. :) we could end up staying longer than one week. it's just than dh got kinda homesick on our last trip after about the 8th day.

[thelittlebabu]

Adding to what kalogrias said...

You MUST go to a spa on the Dead Sea and do the whole "float in the Dead Sea" and full-body mudbath bit. Your body will tingle for hours after the mudbath and the effortless way you float in the Dead Sea is quite memorable. Masada is nearby. The last time I was there was about 8 years ago and they had a cable car to get up & down (or you can walk...your choice). There are day tours from Tel Aviv & Jerusalem that combine the Masada and spa trip.

All the points mentioned in Jerusalem are must-sees, especially the old city and Yad Vashem.

If you head north, you can take tours of Nazareth and Tiberias (on the Sea of Galilee). Haifa is the big port city in that area and isn't as tourist-friendly as Jerusalem is, but might be worth checking out.

If you want to squeeze in some tropical-style vacation time, head deep south to Eilat on the Red Sea. The snorkeling/scuba is amazing.

As for hotels, there is a chain called "Dans" (e.g. Dan Panorama, Dan Carmel, etc.) that is pretty upscale, yet reasonably priced in US $.

If you need a quick snack, the best falafel is found at roadside stands.

[Asha]

If you need a quick snack, the best falafel is found at roadside stands.

mmmmmm...falafel!!!

thelittlebabu - oh, a spa experience at the dead sea sounds wonderful.

i am not too worried about hiking bc we have done some pretty strenous hikes on some of our vacations, and we have survived.

[thelittlebabu]

thelittlebabu - oh, a spa experience at the dead sea sounds wonderful.

The spa I went to (part of the Masada/Dead Sea tour) was more of a "do-it-yourself" spa catered to tours/tourists who want to have the experience of trying the mud, float in the Dead Sea and bathe in sulfur pools. It was not the type with masseurs/masseuses (sp?) and private treatment. That doesn't mean such spas don't exist (I don't know what is offered elsewhere), but I wanted to make sure I didn't set the wrong expectations. It still was a blast and the most memorable place to visit on my handful of trips to Israel in the last 9 years.

[kalogrias]

Yes! Thelittlebabu is soooo right. Those spas are wonderful.

You can, most certainly, get by just fine in English. Almost everyone speaks it -- and speaks it well.

[lawyerlee]

thanks for all the information!! do you think we could get buy just speaking english? i mean we speak other langs, but i don't think spanish or hindi would help us at all. :) we could end up staying longer than one week. it's just than dh got kinda homesick on our last trip after about the 8th day.
Yeah, I think so. It's been a number of years since I was there, but I definitely didn't speak anything other than English. :)

I definitely agree that you must spend a few days in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and visit the Dead Sea and Masada. I would also *highly* recommend staying at a kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee. That was a highlight of my trip. There is *so* much to see just in Jerusalem, regardless of your interests, that you could easily spend half the trip there.

This is where I stayed there Ein-Gev Holiday Resort (http://www.tripadvisor.com/OrbitzFH.Hotel_Review?src=2235244&geo=310227&matchID=1&from=Hotel_ReviewTOP&area=TOP&slot=1&cnt=4), very near the Golan Heights. It was a great experience.

I saw a lot of Bibical sights when I was there, but, of course, I don't know how interested you are in these. I'd be glad to share my impressions if you are. :)

When I went, I was there for two weeks. It was pretty exhausting, but absolutely wonderful. Such an amazing experience. Stay for as long as you can, especially if you are like most of us and don't know when you'll make it back. :)

[Asha]

pardon my ignorance, but what is a kibbutz?

[lawyerlee]

pardon my ignorance, but what is a kibbutz?
Not at all! I'm glad to share. :)

Basically, a kibbutz is a community living experience that is unique to Israel. And there are a whole bunch of them that also run holiday rentals in conjunction with the other work they do. They are focused on Socialism and Zionism. Agriculture is also a central focus of all of them. It's a very cool concept. I believe pocket spent time living on a kibbutz. I hope it's okay with her that I shared that. :)

Wikipedia entry on Kibbutz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz)

[thelittlebabu]

pardon my ignorance, but what is a kibbutz?
A kibbutz is a commune in which everyone pitches in. I visited one for a day in northern Israel, shown around by a friend who grew up there and whose parents still live there. The kibbutz grows its own food and raises its own livestock. In addition, an onsite factory makes plastic items (e.g. bowls, cups) for the military. Pretty fascinating.

I believe there are several kibbutzim that you can stay at cheap in return for pitching in during your stay. I'm no expert on this, so I defer this info to those more in the know.

[Asha]

thanks for informing me. that's something we might want to look into.

[sue-bert]

ust FYI, I know that sue-bert lives in Israel now (hope she doesn't mind me calling her out), so she'd be able to help you out, too.
No problem! I'd love to help give advice in any way I can. During the time I've lived here so far, I have accumulated some knowledge regarding off-the-beaten-track sights and lodging options that may interest you.

First some questions:

(1) In what time of year are you thinking of traveling? (ETA: oops. You already told us that you are traveling in June)

(2) Are you planning on renting a car during your stay?

(3) Are you traveling w/kids?

(4) What kind of budget do you have (let's say for lodging, in US$/night)?

(5) Do you like mostly indoor (museums, historical buildings) or outdoor (hiking, trails, beaches) activities?

(6) For how long are you planning to visit?

(7) Any religious/dietary restrictions? (e.g., do you require kosher hotels/lodging, etc.)

Regards,
s-b

[Asha]

1) In what time of year are you thinking of traveling? (ETA: oops. You already told us that you are traveling in June)

(2) Are you planning on renting a car during your stay?
no

(3) Are you traveling w/kids?
no (though, i hope by then to be pregnant)

(4) What kind of budget do you have (let's say for lodging, in US$/night)?
hmmm...we are cheap skates, so we generally target for less than $100/night.

(5) Do you like mostly indoor (museums, historical buildings) or outdoor (hiking, trails, beaches) activities?
i'll tell you what we don't like - sitting on beaches and too many art museums (dh's dislike not mine.)

(6) For how long are you planning to visit?
i originally said one week, but dh said we could stay for as long as two weeks.

(7) Any religious/dietary restrictions? (e.g., do you require kosher hotels/lodging, etc.)
no required kosher. though, dh doesn't eat pork, shell fish, or beef.

my dh is leaning towards wanting to take a tour bc he thinks that would be safer plus we will have a knowledgeable guide and wouldn't have to worry about transporting ourselves. i am leaning more towards no tour for cost reasons and figuring we could go on day tours while we are there. also, this may sound bad, but a lot of tours generally have older folks, and while that has worked out for us in the past. i am not sure it could work out so well again.

thanks sue-bert for helping us out. we definitely like off the beaten path, cultural experiences bc that was one of our favorite things about our trip to peru.

it sounds almost certain that we are going bc dh sounds really excited about the whole thing and wants to book tix soon.

[sue-bert]

(2) Are you planning on renting a car during your stay?
no
Is there a chance you will rethink this? It's really tricky to get from place to place (with luggage) without a car. There is a very good bus system, but for travel to non-urban locations (i.e., the North of the country, which is really pleasant in June), you might be out of luck. Perhaps you will want to rent a car for part of your trip?

(4) What kind of budget do you have (let's say for lodging, in US$/night)?
hmmm...we are cheap skates, so we generally target for less than $100/night.
I think I can help you with this one -- lodging is generally pricey in Israel, but I have some suggestions for you (see below).

(6) For how long are you planning to visit?
i originally said one week, but dh said we could stay for as long as two weeks.
I think a week will be a bit cramped. I'd go for at least 10 days.

my dh is leaning towards wanting to take a tour bc he thinks that would be safer plus we will have a knowledgeable guide and wouldn't have to worry about transporting ourselves. i am leaning more towards no tour for cost reasons and figuring we could go on day tours while we are there.

Organized tour or independent travel?
It seems that you need to answer this question before any others.

I think safety-wise, you'll be fine whether you go with a tour or solo. The one advantage of a tour is that you will be driven by tour bus from localle to localle. Personally, I loathe organized tours because I hate having to conform to someone else's schedule when I am on vacation, and I don't want to spend my vacation trapped with a bunch of strangers. BUT, if you don't go with a tour group, I would advise renting a car for at least part of your trip. In my experience, certain places outside of large cities (e.g., the Dead Sea, the Galillee region and the Golan in the North) are not easily accessible without a car.

If you go with a tour, they'll probably arrange lodging, so your choices will be decided for you.

Accommodation:
If you travel independently, I have some suggestions for inexpensive accommodations:

-- In Jerusalem (I assume you will not want to visit Israel without going to Jerusalem!): Jerusalem hotels are generally expensive (I'd budget at least US$120/night in June), BUT ther are some more economical accommodation options offered by Christain guesthouses. As a bonus, most of these are within the walls of the Old City, so will be close to lots of major sites (the Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, etc.)
Here is a list: http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/cic/CICguest.html
Some of the rooms are furnished rather sparely, but the guesthouses are all immaculate and generally quiet.

-- All locations:
Another option for inexpensive lodging all over the country are youth hostels. They're much nicer than their counterparts in Europe; almost all the rooms have private en-suite baths and they are generally clean and family-oriented.
http://www.youth-hostels.org.il/english.html

There are also hotels run by kibbutzim. These are generally quite nice, although not necessarily very cheap: http://www.kibbutz.co.il/

Another fun option is zimmers -- basically little lodges with a small kitchenette. These are popular with families or couples. There are some really nice ones in the North of the country. They make nice bases for day trips to places like the Hula Valley nature preserve, Nimrod's Castle (a crusader ruin), Tel Dan Nature preserve, or even small cities like Safed.

You might want to stay in some of these less expensive options for part of your trip, and then splurge at a spa in the Dead Sea, or a swanky modern Tel Aviv hotel, etc. for a few nights as a treat.

As far as which cities to visit, I'd recommend putting Jerusalem at the top of your list. After that I'd recommend the North of the country (hikes and nature preserves and ruins and just pretty outdoorsy places), then the Dead Sea, and lastly Tel Aviv. I mean, Tel Aviv is a major city, but I think other places in Israel are richer in sights with unique historical/geological interest. Of course, there's also lots to see in between, but maybe once your itinerary is more fleshed out, we can work on those.

Oh and maybe some places of Christian interest around the Sea of Gallillee?

[sue-bert]

I just realized that my post was terrible disorganized! But tell me what you think about what I've told you so far and we'll work from there.

[Asha]

suebert - thanks for posting so much information. i will respond in more detail later this week as i am very busy with school right.

[lawgirl4]

as someone who has visited Israel independently and on a tour, I can see the benefits and disadvantages to both...

if you guys are willing to go for 2 weeks (and honestly, I think you should - there is SO much to see there!) then you could do a little of both - do a tour for a week and see the major sights, then spend the 2nd week doing your own thing... most tours also are careful to give you some time to do stuff on your own, btw.

I would suggest:

week 1, tour:
jerusalem
dead sea/masada
tel aviv/caesarea

week 2, on your own:
haifa
safed (really pretty artsy town in the north)
tiberias (sea of galilee)

[sue-bert]

I like lawgirl's suggestions.

Actually, both the Youth Hostel and Kibbutz Hotel programs each have options for semi-independent tours. Meaning, you can buy a package that includes 7 nights at any combination of their lodgings, plus a rental car. Or, you can stay in Jerusalem for 7 nights (no rental car) and take up to three English-guided day-trips to the Galilee, the Dead Sea/Masada, or within the Old City of Jerusalem. These might be economical and flexible options to consider.

And then if you stay more than a week, you can go off exploring on your own, as lawgirl suggested.

[Asha]

Is there a chance you will rethink this? It's really tricky to get from place to place (with luggage) without a car. There is a very good bus system, but for travel to non-urban locations (i.e., the North of the country, which is really pleasant in June), you might be out of luck. Perhaps you will want to rent a car for part of your trip?

well, i shouldn't be nervous about driving considering i have mastered driving in one of the scariest driving cities. i am more concerned about safety and gettting stuck in the desert somewhere.

I think a week will be a bit cramped. I'd go for at least 10 days.

yes, most of the travel websites are confirming what you said. my dh has now said we are going for close to two weeks, so that's all settled!! :D

It seems that you need to answer this question before any others.

you are right. i am still trying to convince dh to not go on a tour. the thing is we just got back from a really good tour with a phenomenal guide. my dh and i really appreciated having the guide bc he was so knowledgeable about the history and culture and we both learned a lot. also, we liked not having to worry about transportation. it was nice to just sit back on the bus and relax. though, this time i am leaning against a tour bc it seems a lot of the tours to israel have a strictly jewish or christian bend to it. we want to see everything so that really wouldn't fit our interests. plus, a lot of the tours don't seem to include all the locations that you reccomend. wow, sue-bert, your lodging options sound pretty reasonable, and i am going to check them out soon.

lawgirl - this is a great idea!
if you guys are willing to go for 2 weeks (and honestly, I think you should - there is SO much to see there!) then you could do a little of both - do a tour for a week and see the major sights, then spend the 2nd week doing your own thing... most tours also are careful to give you some time to do stuff on your own, btw.

suebert - this is great! i am going to look at all the links tonight! i am getting excited.
Actually, both the Youth Hostel and Kibbutz Hotel programs each have options for semi-independent tours. Meaning, you can buy a package that includes 7 nights at any combination of their lodgings, plus a rental car. Or, you can stay in Jerusalem for 7 nights (no rental car) and take up to three English-guided day-trips to the Galilee, the Dead Sea/Masada, or within the Old City of Jerusalem. These might be economical and flexible options to consider.

[Asha]

suebert - i looked on both the kibuttz and hostel websites. the kibuttz package deal is only $69/pp more than the hostel. it seems that the kibuttz is more comfortable and a better option since the prices aren't that different. am i right in assuming that the kibuttz is a better option.

[Noa]

Hi Asha!

I'm an Israeli currently residing in the USA. I have read over the advise offered to you here, and I think you've been given some great suggestions! A couple of notes-

* "Do you think we could get buy just speaking english? "
Yes! English is a mandatory subject in school, and we study it from the 3rd grade until the 12th grade.

* If you don't want to rent a car, I would suggest choosing major cities, and then commuting between them with the train. The train system is very new, convenient and cheap! It is also directly connected to the airport.

* I'm from Haifa, and would also recommend you spending one or two days there..... Check out the Bahai shrine (sp?), the old German section and Carmel area. If you want to splurge for a hotel one or two nights, there are some great hotels in the Carmel area (Dan Panorama and Holiday Inn- but a BEAUTIFUL Holiday Inn!) that overlook the port. The views are absolutely breathtaking, and there are lots and lots of great restaurants and pubs within walking distance.

Let me know if you have any questions!
Noa

[sue-bert]

Hi Asha,

Yes, kibbutz hotels are definitely nicer than youth hostels. Youth hostels, while clean and oftentimes brand new with really nice grounds, have very minimally-furnished rooms with eb suite bathrooms, but no carpets. They're kind of like very clean dormatories with good breakfeasts included. Good for economical lodging for a few days, but you may not want to live in them for 2 whole weeks if you can afford to upgrade to a kibbutz hotel.

Kibbutz hotels are low-key small hotels (or individual cottages) in a rural setting. They always have big swimming pools and large recreational grassy open areas.

Ooh, good point Noa about the trains. I forgot about them! Modern and quiet and clean and on-time and cheap. Routes and schedules can be found here: http://www.israrail.org.il/english/index.html .

The downside: Traveling by train to/from Jerusalem is really slooooow and on very limited routes (and you need to change trains in Tel Aviv). Also, besides Jerusalem/Beit Shemesh, the routes are limited to the Mediterranean Coast and the route to Beer Sheva. So if you want to go to Safed or Rosh Pina or some quaint little town in the Gallilee or the Golan (really nice places to go in June), you will still need another transportation option. But I guess if you *really* don't want to drive around here, it's not a bad choice at all. It's very easy for English-speakers to navigate the rail system too.

Actually, by train you can get to Binyamina, which is right near Zichron Yaakov, a lovely small city with many excellent wineries, a beautiful botanical garden/park, and a quaint little downtown region. Just throwing out some ideas...

FWIW, city driving in Israel is a bit nerve-wracking if you're used to American driving ettiquette. I'd take cabs or buses within cities if you don't want to walk. Highway driving isn't too bad though. In fact, if you go up North from the center of the country, you can take the new Route 6. It's really easy, non-crowded driving and offers very direct access lots of excellent destinations.

Ramble, ramble...

[Asha]

noa - thanks for the suggestions of the train and activities in haifa.

suebert - you've been such a help with great advice!

[Asha]

well, it looks like we will be renting a car for travel outside jerusalem and tel aviv. i finally convinced dh!!

now, my mother is worried sick about our safety. does anyone have anything i can tell her not to worry. i have heard good things about israeli security, and i have also heard it is better than the u.s. what else can i tell her? i read in a travel book that it is a good idea to carry a whistle, and for women to wear a wedding band. also, this same book has a list of emergency numbers we will carry with us. is there anything else we should be concerned about? also does anyone have the israeli consulate website so i can check if my dh will need a visa to travel there? american citizens don't need a visa, right? my dh isn't a citizen that is why i ask.

[sue-bert]

Glad your trip is shaping up nicely! I just have time for a quick post (you're probabkly relieved about that!):

Israeli consulates: http://www.israelemb.org/

Also, I highly recommend this road atlas (which you can pick up in almost any mainstream retail bookstore in Israel, like Steimatsky or Sifri) for anyone who will be driving around in Israel:
http://www.maps2anywhere.com/Maps/Telstar-israel-atlas-cover.jpg

s-b
:)

[Asha]

Thank you! We will have to get that map. My dh loves maps, so even if we weren't driving he would like that.

[Asha]

what do you think about our tentative itinerary?

jerusalem - 5 nights
day trips outside of jerusalem (negev jeep tour, masada, caves) - 3 nights
golan heights - 3 nights
med. coast - 2-3 nights

we have decided we arent' really interested in tel aviv since it doesn't seem to offer us much that our home city can't give us.

[Asha]

ok, i have booked hotels/hostels for most nights. i was very surprised that most places were completely booked. lesson learned - one must book things more than 2 months in advance. i found that especially surprising with the hostels.

i wasn't able to find a reasonable hostel for all of our nights in jerusalem, so i am still stuck with some random night in the middle of the week in jerusalem with no place to stay. i have two choices. 1) bite the bullet and just stay in a more expensive hotel for one night 2) go on an overnight negev tour
the thing is i am having trouble finding an overnight negev tour that is not ridiculously expensive. does anyone know of any? i don't mind sharing jeep with others, but i don't know it's up to me to fill the other spots in the jeep.

i am still in limbo with some reservations with the kibbutz in ein gedi and the northern areas. the internet process is very slow with those. i have already heard two no's from completely booked kibbutzes. i really really hope the ein gedi one is not booked bc i have heard it is really nice, and it is the one splurge i am allowing.

so we are staying at a mix of different lodgings.

jerusalem - hostel
dead sea - hopefully kibbuttz
golan heights - hopefully kibbutz
haifa - dan gardens (is this a chain in israel?)
tel aviv - best western

in sum, i guess i was naive bc i didn't realize how challenging it would be to find available and affordable accomodations.

[sue-bert]

Hi Asha,

For for one missing night in Jerusalem: Did you check the Christian hostels? (http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/cic/CICguest.html). They are usually quite reasonable and well-located. Many are right in the Old City.

There's a YMCA in Jerusalem which is supposed to be quite pleasant and excellently located, although it's around $75-100/night.

haifa - dan gardens (is this a chain in israel?)
Yup. The Dan Hotel chain is a well-known Israeli chain of 4- and 5-star hotels.

I hope you get the Ein Gedi reservation -- I've stayed there twice and it's a really nice place.

s-b

[Asha]

thanks suebert - i should call some more of those hostels. i called a couple ,but they were booked. yup, i already called the ymca, and it was booked too. is early june a very popular travel time? i figured we would have been avoiding the crowds bc a lot of schools haven't let out yet, but i guess i was wrong given all the places that are booked.

[sue-bert]

is early june a very popular travel time? i figured we would have been avoiding the crowds bc a lot of schools haven't let out yet, but i guess i was wrong given all the places that are booked.
Since Israel is a predominantly Jewish country, the Jewish holidays are when hotels get booked up early. The Jewish holiday of Shavuot falls on June 2nd this year. I'm not sure how early your "early June" stay in Israel falls, but that may be why you are having a hard time finding accommodation. This could especially affect hotel bookings in Jerusalem, since Shavuot is one of the three annual pilgramage festivals (i.e., holidays when it is customary to visit Jerusalem).

That's why I thought the Christian hostels might be a more likely option, as they are unlikely to attract observant Jewish guests.

If it's any help, I have stayed in a few of them in my student years, and can recommend the Austian Hospice, Casa Nova, and the Lutheran Guesthouse (all in the Old City). I have also stayed at Dom Polski, but unless you have a specific reason to stay in a Polish-speaking Catholic guesthouse, I don't recommend it.

[sue-bert]

Actually, now that I think of it, the Christian holiday of Pentecost (the Christian version of Shavuot, sort of), is June 4th for the Catholic and Protestant churches and one week (I think) for the Orthodox churches, so that may also be a factor to consider.

[Anna Low]

I am so glad to find this thread. My husband and I are trying to think of where to go in the summer (probably late July or sometime in August) and we have always wanted to visit Israel.

Can someone clarify the reference to difficult driving in Tel Aviv? Are the roads between the cities relatively safe?

[Asha]

i have heard that tel aviv is difficult to drive in which is probably true for most big cities. you are supposed to stick to the major highways bc if you accidentally wander off into palestinian territories you might encounter some difficulties bc of your israeli license plates. though, i am certainly no expert, but this is what i have been reading while researching our trip. july and august is a very busy tourist season and hot too. if you are going to go in july, i suggest booking things now bc we have been encountering many difficulties finding hotels in june.

[sue-bert]

Hi,

Asha - have you found accommodation for that day in early June yet? When you originally said you were travelling in June, I assumed mid-June (I don't know why) so I forgot all about Shavuot.

Anna Low - The roads between cities are relatively safe, and I think it's kind of difficult to unintentionally "wander off" into the Palestinian Authority if you have a half-way decent map. The new security barrier makes this less likely as well. The roads between cities are well-paved and easily-travelled. Sometimes the other drivers are a bit more aggressive than in the US, but for highway driving there isn't much difference.

It shows up more in city driving, which is why driving in Tel-Aviv can be a pain. Also, like in many big US cities (think NYC), you have to contend with lots of traffic lights and traffic jams and one-way streets and a lack of parking.

Israel in July/August is HOT, esp. in the South (Dead Sea, Mitzpeh Rmon, Eilat), so be warned!

[Asha]

suebert - not yet. we are actually going to be there just after the jewish and christian holidays, so i don't know why they are all booked. i am calling a travel agent tomorrow to get some help with bookings.

[sue-bert]

Some other ideas: Jerusalem B&Bs: http://www.bnb.co.il/
I have never stayed in any of these, but it might be a nice option. Probably depends on neighborhood/location. Some of them look very charming!

[Asha]

those look very nice sue-bert and not expensive. we ended up deciding to take a side trip outside of jersulam for the day to the beit guvrin caves and askelon, and we will stay in askelon for the night.

[sue-bert]

Oh, that sounds nice, too. I'm glad you were able to find accommodation and what to do. I've never been to the Beit Guvrin caves -- make sure you come back and tell us all about it!

[Asha]

definitely - i can't wait.

[Vishenka69]

Asha, we're going to Israel in September. I'd love to read your review once you get back.

[Asha]

vishenka, how fun!! i will definitely post pix and reviews when we come back. are you going on a tour, to visit family, or travelling solo?

[Vishenka69]

Asha, DH's cousin is getting married, so we're going for the wedding. But want to fly in a week earlier and see the country a bit. Just can't figure out what we'd like to see, so I'm looking forward to your review.

[Asha]

vishenka - wow - that's a great distance to travel for a wedding. though, its a good excuse to travel too. i imagine the weather would be really nice in september. i think it will be a bit hot when we go.

******
does anyone know what voltage israel uses? we need to get an electricity adapter for our camera charger and hair dryer, but i don't know what kind to buy.

[sue-bert]

does anyone know what voltage israel uses?
220V

[Vishenka69]

Asha, are you back yet? I've been very impatiently waiting for your review. :D

[Asha]

oh yes, i have been back. i need to post a review. given, how much i am on here lately i need to post one, and i really have no excuse.
if you want a sneak peak, i posted some pix on the travel photos thread.

[Asha]

Trip Review

Getting There
we flew el al. just in case anyone is budget conscious, it is an economical flight. it was a non-stop flight that we paid $825 for, and one of my friends told me that was a great deal for a june flight. we arrived 4 hours early for our 2 a.m. flight, and i am so glad we did. apparantly, we are suspicious looking folks bc we were questioned for about a half an hour by the head of security. they said we weren't allowed to go to the gate bc they needed to manually go through all of our luggage, so off we went off to drink some coffee and eat stale bread at the only open food vendor. a few hours later, we came back to pick up our stuff. thank god, they didn't do a body search. i felt bad for the few people that had to go to the private room to have a body search. it felt good that they had high security, but then again they missed the mark with us, and i thought the could missed the actual terrorists. we then had a personal security escort take us to board the plane. the only perk to that is we didn't have to wait to board the plane and went ahead of all the seniors, first class travelers, and family's with kids.

the flight was pretty good. not a lot of leg room for tall me stuck in the middle, but the service was really good. you could get a drink or snacks anytime during the flight if you went to the kitchen area. also, they fed us 3meals which weren't so bad as far as airplane food is concerned. i was only really able to sleep for a couple of hours, but there was an ok selection of movies on your own personal movie screen, so the time didn't seem to drag so much.

once we arrived on israel we were really tired. we got a sherut, a shared taxi, to israel. i must admit that was a bit of a pita, but for under $30 it wasn't so bad. the taxi driver waited for over a half an hour to fill the last seat which i have heard they are not allowed to do. several passengers complained, but the driver still didn't leave. we were also the very last passenger to be dropped off, so it took especially long for us. it took just over 2 hours to get to jerusalem.

we were so glad to finally be at the hostel, and quickly checked in and dropped our bags to speed over to the grocery store across the street before it closed. we had a yummy meal of olives, pickled veggies, freshish bread, and milk. we immediately went to sleep after our meal.

Coming Soon...
Jerusalem

[Asha]

Jerusalem

Accomodations
We stayed for a total of 6 nights at the Agron Youth Hostel. It cost $67/night. That included a private room with two twin beds pushed together (this was fairly common it seemed.), and a private bath. Nothing fancy at all, and a couple times the younger crowd got a little noisy, but it was nothing a shout into the hall didn't fix. It also included an Israeli breakfast which is very healthy and yummy. Israeli breakfast is an assortment of raw vegetables with various yogurt "dips." Some mornings they had fixings to make your own salad. They also had eggs, fresh bread, pudding, coffee, and juice. On shabbat check in as 10 p.m. The area of the hotel was clean and safe. It was about 10 mins walk from the Old City, and the same walk for other restaurants.

Food
As far as food goes, we ate A LOT of fallafel. Its yummy, inexpensive, and filling. The few restaurants we did go to were unimpressive, and we preferred our falaffels. On shabbat we couldn't find any restaurant open except for McD's.

The Sites

Old City Wall
http://images1.snapfish.com/3475%3B5662%7Ffp339%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A%3A% 3EWSNRCG%3D3233945%3B%3B7%3B73nu0mrj
We walked on the top of the Old City Wall. It was good for our first day bc it gave us a good overall persepective of the Old City. You could see into people's yards, schools, shops, so it felt like you were getting a little peak into their lives. Once we got to the area near the Dome of the Rock, we had to exit the top of the wall. We couldn't figure out how to get back on the wall or even if you could get back on the wall, so we didn't walk on the wall around the entire circumference of the Old City. That's okay, though, because it started getting very hot up there with no shade, and we had run out of water.

Western Wall
http://images1.snapfish.com/3475%3B5642%7Ffp346%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A%3A% 3EWSNRCG%3D3233864966%3A37nu0mrj
It was so impressive to see what remained of the Second Temple. Even more amazing was to see people profound faith and belief in the power of prayer. Unfortunately, I did not bring a little piece of paper, so I could put a prayer in the wall. Keep in mind that you need to dress appropriately. Clothing that covers the knees and shoulders for women. Women will be given a shall if they are wearing a tank. The men will be given a head covering if they aren't already wearing one.

Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock
http://images1.snapfish.com/3475%3B5642%7Ffp344%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A%3A% 3EWSNRCG%3D3233864955883nu0mrj
It took us a long time to figure out how to get into the Temple Mount. There is only one entrance open for tourists, and it is closed most of the day for prayers. The Dome of the Rock is absolutely stunning and covered with the most beautiful tiles. I also enjoyed seeing the footpring of where the Second Temple once sat and imagining how it had been in its full glory.

I must admit our experience was somewhat ruined by radical Muslims. When we were there, I was yelled at by four different men about my outfit. Mind you, I was dressed conservatively. There were other women there who were dressed less conservatively than me, and no one said anything to them. They wouldn't stop bothering me about my clothes, so we decided to leave because we didn't want to have a real problem on our hands. In addition to that, we were disappointed that we weren't allowed inside the Dome of the Rock. Our travel guides were outdated, and at the time they were published tourists were allowed inside. They asked us if were Muslim, and told us we couldn't go inside unless we were Muslim.

To be Con't....
More Jerusalem

[Asha]

vishenka - are you still going to israel?

[lawgirl4]

Asha, how disappointing about the experience at the Dome of the Rock. I was last there in 2000 and we were allowed inside... though the exterior is really the spectacular part of the structure.

also, your ElAl security experience didn't sound too bad... when I went to Israel in 1995 it was standard to go through all passengers' luggage by hand. They definitely know what they are doing when it comes to security, IMO.

I'd love to hear more about your trip!

[Asha]

lawgirl - i need to get on the ball about posting more about my trip. kind of makes me sad to post it, though, bc i don't know how useful it will be to others since i think a lot of people might be scared given the current situation. hopefully, there is peace soon.

[Asha]

Jerusalem Con't

Mount of Olives
We took a taxi up to the top to the Mosque & Chapel of Ascension. Its a steep hill and pretty warm so I reccomend taking a taxi up and making your way down by seeing the various sites along the way. The sites are not open continously all day, so it is impt to head out by 8 a.m. as the sites close at 12 p.m., and we took almost four hours to see it all. They do open again around 3 p.m., but it gets hotter as the day goes on. Its not a place you just want to rush through as there is so much meaning here. It was important for me to go there bc these sites help tell the story of Jesus' last days. Like any of these sites it is not certain if they are really the places they say to be, but even if they aren't you can still contemplate the mystery of Jesus' life along the way and feel the power of it all.

Chapel of Ascension
http://images1.snapfish.com/34767%3A6%3B%3A%7Ffp343%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A %3A%3EWSNRCG%3D3233976752394nu0mrj
This is now a mosque, but anyone is allowed in for a small fee. It is small round room that holds the rock where Jesus is said to have stood before his ascension back to Heaven. You can touch the rock and pray there. There was a group of Catholics, and it was nice to hear the scripture read by their Priest and hear their songs of praise. In fact, there were religious groups all along the Mount of Olives singing.

Church of Pater Noster
http://images1.snapfish.com/34767%3A675%7Ffp346%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A%3A% 3EWSNRCG%3D3233864966%3A28nu0mrj
This was my favorite site on the Mount of Olives. It is the site where Jesus instructed his disciples on the Lord's Prayer. The most impressive part of this site is that they have tiles along the wall the have the Lord's Prayer in at least 44 languages.

Church of Mary Magdelene
http://images1.snapfish.com/34767%3A6%3B%3A%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A %3A%3EWSNRCG%3D323397676%3A%3C%3A5nu0mrj
This is a Russian Orthodox church, and the most impressive part of this church is the golden spires . I enjoyed this church because it is not crowded with tourists, and you can sit in peace to pray.

[Asha]

Mount of Olives Con't

Church of All Nations & Garden of Gethsemane
http://images1.snapfish.com/34767%3A6%3B%3A%7Ffp339%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A %3A%3EWSNRCG%3D3233976752399nu0mrj
Jesus is said to have prayed here the night before his arrest. It is a small courtyard filled with beautiful olive trees. The Church of All Nations was built by people from 16 different nations and holds the rock where Jesus' wept tears of blood in agony. There was another olive tree garden across from this church enclosed by a wall. It was open, so we went in. There were people quietly praying here. We weren't there long bc we were soon kicked out as it was only open to people with special permission.

Tomb of the Vigin
http://images1.snapfish.com/34767%3A6%3B%3A%7Ffp33%3B%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5% 3A%3A%3EWSNRCG%3D32339767864%3B4nu0mrj
This holds the tombs of Mary and Joseph. It is pretty cool because you have to down steep steps below the ground, and the place is musty filled with lots of incense. Here you see lots of people bowed on the ground worshipping Mary.

[Asha]

Jerusalem Con't

Via Dolorosa
http://images1.snapfish.com/34767%3A83%3A%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A%3 A%3EWSNRCG%3D3233976769797nu0mrj
We didn't do this all in one day, and in order. I wish we had, but that's the way it worked out. If you are Christian or interested in religion, I reccomend you bring a small Bible with you while seeing the religious sites in Jerusalem. My doesn't know a lot about Christianity, so he was interested to have me read the passages in the Bible that related to the sites we were visiting. Do not bring the Bible on the day you go to the Temple Mount because they do not allow non-Islamic religious items inside, and they will take it away from you if you want to go inside. Don't think you can hide in a bag either bc often they go through your purses for security at a lot of the sites in Israel. the Via Dolorosa is the path Jesus took to be crucified on the cross. Along the path the Stations are numbered, but they are not labeled as to what they are. A tour book will tell you what each station is.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre
http://images1.snapfish.com/34767%3A83%3A%7Ffp343%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A%3 A%3EWSNRCG%3D3233976785663nu0mrj
This is the site of the last stations of the cross. Keep in mind that you must be dressed appropriately. Also, it is crowded, and you will have to wait in line for some of the sites. Despite it being a religious site, there are lots of line cutters, so you have to be a little more bold or you will never get close to some of the sites. It is also interesting bc the church houses the six oldest Christian religions - Roman Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Egyptian Coptic, Ethiopian, and Syrian Orthodox. There is a slab of rock that marks the place where Jesus was wrapped before being placed in the Tomb. The stations end at the Sepulchre, the tomb where he was resurrected. You can light a candle here and pray at the spot.

Coming Soon...
Even more Jerusalem

[Vishenka69]

Asha, great review! Unfortunately we decided to go to Europe instead. DH's cousin is considering postponing the wedding, as many of the relatives have fled to Germany to stay with family. We've both been to Israel before and this trip was to mainly visit the family, attend the wedding and see stuff we missed on our previous trips. Since we can no longer do the first two, we decided to postpone our entire trip until more calmer times. I'd be sure to save your review until then.

[Asha]

vishenka - i will keep your family in my thoughts. i am sorry to hear the wedding had to be postponed.

[Asha]

Jerusalem Con't

Bible Lands Museum
We didn't intend on going to this museum, bc we had wanted to go to the Israel Museum that day. We had never imagined that the Is. Museum would be closed on a Sunday bc we thought it would have been closed on Shabbat. Across from the Israel Museum is the Bible Lands Museum. We had arrived just in time for a guided English tour of the museum highlights. It was nice bc we were a small group and could ask the guide questions. I guess, it was a little naive of me, but I didn't realize it was going to be only a Jewish Bible museum because I thought they would have included information from the New Testament, but that didn't ruin the tour for me. I was just a little surprised.

Yad VaShem Memorial
Let me preface this by saying that we arrived here around 12, and the museum starts closing at 4. This was not nearly enough time to see everything. This is a mueseum where the history of the Holocaust is documented. There are documents, maps, videos, photographs, and artifacts. I can't really express the mangnitude of emotions that we experienced here.

Israel Museum
We spent an entire day here, and it was a day well spent. It was one of my favorite museums I have ever visited. If I ever come to Israel again, I look forward to going back there. It is an enormous museum, so we thought it best to go on a few free guided tours to get a taste of the best of the museum. We went on the Judaica, Archeology, and Shrine of the Book tours. The Shrine of the Book was the most interesting to me because I didn't know much about how the Dead Sea Scrolls had been aquired and the history of them. The building that houses the Scrolls was impressive bc they had designed to the look like the jars in which they found the scrolls. The most interesting part of the Judaica tour is they had actual Jewish synagogues from around the world, and they pointed out how the culture had been infused into these synagogues. In addition to the tours, I especially liked the Sculpture Garden. It was also the first day they had the replica of the Second Temple.
http://images1.snapfish.com/3476%3A7296%7Ffp33%3B%3Enu%3D325%3B%3E447%3E5%3A%3 A%3EWSNRCG%3D3233987%3A63%3C76nu0mrj

[Daisy]

Bumping this up because it looks like we'll be visiting Israel this spring - assuming DH gets his passport situation/military clearance squared away (he was born in Israel and is now a US citizen). Anyway, DH has family there and his sister and her family are now living there (for her work) for the next two years. I've never been, so it seems that now is a good time to go. Can't say that I'm looking forward to the flight though, it's going to be a beast.

Our base will be a suburb of Haifa (SIL's house) and we'll probably rent a car and do lots of day trips. If we visit Elat (sp?), which I would like to do, then we'll probably fly there.

I'm not that religious, so I'm just starting to try to figure out what holy sites I need to see. I am pretty excited about visiting the Dead Sea and getting a mud treatment. :p

Asha - your pics are fabulous! Did you visit anywhere else besides Jerusalem?

[Anna Low]

Bumping back up, as DH and I are once again thinking of going. Our time there will be limited - flying into Tel Aviv then not so sure about what to see. Most of what I would like appears to be pretty far away (Masada, Dead Sea, tour of Petra), so perhaps someone can suggest things that are closer?

[Asha]

anna - how long is your trip?

[Anna Low]

Not long. Arrive on Tuesday afternoon and leave Friday evening.

[Asha]

that is short. so you basically have wednesday and thursday for travel. we didn't get much of a flavor of tel aviv bc we only stayed there on the last day of our two week trip, so we just wanted to hang out on the beach and rest.

my suggestion would be to go jerusalem for weds and thurs. i would spend one day touring the old city and another day for museums. i would chose either the israel museum or the holocaust museum. those both could take a whole day to do.

you could also go to haifa, but it would be a longer drive than jerusalem. the tour of the bhai gardens is spectacular. then on your way back to tel aviv you could stop at ceasearea where they have really cool roman ruins by the sea.

[Anna Low]

We just got back and it was totally awesome. One of the best trips ever.

Arrived late on Tuesday and we had dinner at the hotel. Left super-early on Wednesday for Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Left super-early on Thursday for Masada and the Dead Sea. Spent Friday walking around the markets off of Allenby and then we walked around a very deserted Jaffa. Had dinner at one of the beach restaurants and then left for the airport.

We definitely want to go back - the people were friendly, the food was great and we only scratched the surface of things to see.

[Mrs. M.]

I will be in Tel Aviv for one full day in December (arrive Sat. night, leave Mon. morning)... what are the must-see/must-do items? Can a female explore alone in the daytime or should I stick together with my crew? And what to wear?

[kalogrias]

It's completely safe to explore in the daytime -- as well as, in most places, at night. There is very little personal violent crime. One day...do you know where you will be staying?

The biggest tourist sites are those in Jerusalem (the Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, etc), but that might be a bit much for one day to go out there and come back...but not impossible, so if you're game, that would probably give you the most "bang for your buck".

In Tel Aviv...

I love the hustle and bustle of the Shenkin area (it's a little bit Soho in a mediterranean way -- very artsy and a little bit weird) or the beauty and relative calmness of Neve Tzedek, the artists quarter. The Susan Delial Dance Center is very nice to walk through, and there is a nice restaurant called Susanna's right infront of it. They serve good lemonade and salads.

Jaffa is very very interesting as well, and is easy to get to -- very "middle eastern" in the traditionally imagined sense with some good shopping -- both market and western. I don't know if the market is open on a Saturday, though. If you do go into the market, watch your purse -- lots of pick pockets around there. There is a cafe in Jaffa called Aladdin -- the food isn't the best, but it's not the worst, and the view of the Tel Aviv skyline can't be beat. It's near St. Peter's Basilica in the touristy section of town. Very nice.

I also really like the new and refurbished port area near the old electric station (hopefully someone will chime in with what it is called since I can't remember) near the domestic airport. Nice restaurants, and the coverted power station is an interesting museum.

For an assault on your senses, go to the Carmel Market -- the "Shuk Carmel" -- which is a market that sells everything from fruit to watches to jeans. Again, not sure if it's up and running on a Saturday, but if it is...make sure you steel yourself for some bargaining, and watch your purse here, too.

If you want to shop (not in a market or in the Soho section), Dizengoff is one of the main drags through the city. I don't love that area, but then I'm not a lover of crowds.

For a nicer, more leisurely stroll (without the stores, though), walk down Rothschild (there is a lovely walking/bike lane in the middle of the boulevard). It is a boulevard in the traditional European sense. There are nice cafes on Rothschild as well, so you can stop and get a cup of coffee (though warning: Israeli coffee kind of sucks overall) and watch the people go by.

If you want some peace and quiet, the Ha-Yarkon Park is lovely...the Ha-Yarkon river runs through it (and there are rumors it is radioactive, so don't get too close ;) ).

ETA: What to wear...in most places, you're fine with normal western dress, be it tank tops and shorts (though it will be too cold for that now) or jeans and a sweater. I've seen people walking around in their bikini tops and hot pants in the summer time -- really they might as well have been naked for all the skin they were showing! If you choose to go to the holy sites, just make sure that you are appropriately covered (ie. shirt sleeves of some sort and pants or skirts that go below your knees). This goes for Jewish, Muslim, and Christian sites. In terms of temperature, this is a cool, rainy time of year there, so make sure you bring layers. Jerusalem is about 5 degrees (C) colder than Tel Aviv because of it's elevation, so if you choose to go up there, make sure you take that into account. I'm never "cold" in Israel -- ever -- because of where I come from (ie. northern climate), but this time of year isn't really t-shirt weather.

[Mrs. M.]

Thank you! This is great, I will print it out. I'll also see what the rest of the crew wants to do, but it's good to have a list.

We are staying close to Independence Park, which I just read is a gay men meeting place. I wonder if the male flight attendants had any input on the choice of hotel location ;)

How do I get around? Is public transport good, or can I walk a lot (I am used to walking tons)?

[kalogrias]

LOL. I take it that you are staying at the Hilton?

Mmmm...I don't know much about public transportation since my parents absolutely forbade me from using it after the 2nd intifada, and have never relaxed that rule (though I guess, at 28, I could disregard it ;) ). I'm generally wary of busses, though obviously thousands of people take them every day with little problem.

You can walk to a lot of places -- Tel Aviv isn't that large, and it's pretty easy to get around. Also, taxis are plentiful, though not that cheap. Beware with taxis -- make sure they put on the meter, because sometimes they will try to fleece the foreigner.

It's easy to get from Independence Park to Dizengoff on foot, not so easy to get to Jaffa or Neve Tzedek...that would be at least an hour's walk But it's also not that far...

The Tayelet area (basically the boardwalk on the beach) is also interesting in that there are a lot of cafes and stuff down there -- and you will be right on top of it. If you are into smoothies, down the Tayelet, right by the US Embassy (past the Sheraton), there is a place called Yotvota (I think that's the spelling), and they make amazing fruit drinks. They basically grow all this stuff on their kibbutz (which is a dairy kibbutz, so they provide their own homemade yogurt and ice cream for the drinks), and have a vast smoothie menu. Just as an FYI -- right next to Yotvota is Mike's Place, which was the scene of a suicide bombing a few years ago (which means nothing in terms of safety, it's just an interesting factoid).

[Asha]

mrsm - we walked everywhere in tel aviv. it took us about an hour to walk to old jaffa, but it was a nice walk along the beach. we didn't take public transport. we drove, walked, or took taxis.

annalow - so glad you had a good time. i am jealous you got to go to bethleham bc dh isn't a u.s. citizen and multiple times the authorities sternly told him not to go anywhere that was under palestinian control.

[Anna Low]

We were kind of surprised that we could go. I had been under the impression that it was one of those places that was off limits, but the tour we signed up for included it. At the time of tour booking, the time of tour pickup and several times throughout the day, we were reminded that we could not go on that part of the tour without our passports. So, we had them actually in our hands when we got to the drop point. No one asked for them and we had no issues. One of the guys in our group was from another country (Italy) and it was fine for him to go. Is your husband Jewish? That was pretty much the only big no-no that we knew of.

[Mrs. M.]

Thanks for the responses!

Now I know I will have tons of fun - my 4 year old just informed me that Tel Aviv is where the Teletubbies live (Ya know since both words start with T-el...)

;)

[Anna Low]

Yotvota is a great place to eat! Breakfast especially!

[Mrs. M.]

I really liked Tel Aviv! Thank you so much for all the suggestions! The crew split up and I was by myself, but thanks to my CC advisors, I had a really good day!

Here's what I did: Started at 11 from Independence Park, walking towards Yotvota. Their signage was all in Hebrew, but I found the name on a menu that was displayed. If anybody else wants to find it, their logo is an orange sun between two green palm trees that connect at the bottom. I had the Israeli breakfast which was a ton of great food plus smoothie which was delicious. I didn't eat again until dinner!

Kept walking down along the beach - it was very calm and not a lot going on (must be the season). Walked all the way to Jaffa - I didn't think it was very far at all! Jaffa was interesting but I didn't see a market (maybe not on Sundays). A bit touristy though with all the "art studios". Then I walked towards Neve Tzedek, passing a lot of art places (mostly acrylic paintings), took Rothsild Blvd to Nahalat Binyamin Street. This street has tons of fabric stores, and I loved how they arrange them in the windows to look like couture dresses. This took me to Hakarmel Market which was very cool. Like a bazaar and it has everything. I got a delicious freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, mmmmh!

I continued on Sheinkin St. and did some shopping at a beads and jewelry place and a kids' boutique. They had the cutest local designer kids' clothes and locally made toys - too bad I can't read their name :p Then I took Rothsild up to Dizengoff I passed the Habima Theater which is marked as a landmark in my map, but was in the process of being torn down. Dizengoff was very busy. I went to the mall, but man that place is confusing! Then I continued to Dizengoff Square, also marked as a landmark, but I didn't see anything remarkable. Did a little bit more shopping along the way and enjoyed seeing all the bridal shop windows - I love pretty dresses! That eventually got me back to my starting point in time to join the rest of the crew for dinner - up the beach this time to a very nice fish restaurant (of course I don't remember the name :rolleyes: ) Shopped for some Ahava skin care which is really great and smells so nice, and called it a day (I had to leave for the airport at 5AM).

I had a great time, and will be requesting this flight again!