I was asked to go on an educator's trip to Israel, and so will be spending 10 days in Jerusalem and Haifa in November. Most of my time will be spent visiting schools and in meetings, but luckily there will also be opportunities for touring and visiting. One fun website I've found is Gems in Israel, highlighting some of the lesser-known places to visit.
Amy in MA "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts: 8582 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
Amy -- I have a friend whose son (Methodist minister) was just in Israel....now on to Turkey. I've been twice and think it is a fabulous, fabulous country. As a history major, I was just overwhelmed! Be careful and have a great time.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com Italy Specialist Certified Swiss Specialist Certified Aussie Specialist My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
I was able to find some of my file notes for Israel:
>>> A few things not to miss in Jerusalem, in no particular order:
Museum in the Citadel of David (may be called the Tower of David) -- it's the Museum of the History of Jerusalem. This would be a good first-stop, as it will help you become oriented in terms of history and geography.
Mock-up of the ancient city of Jerusalem outside the Holyland Hotel. For someone like me who has trouble visualizing, this was very helpful.
The folklore show done several times weekly in the evening at the YMCA across from the King David Hotel. Delightful.
Dinner at the YMCA mentioned above. Reasonable and good, pleasant dining room plus terrace dining in good weather.
>>>
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com Italy Specialist Certified Swiss Specialist Certified Aussie Specialist My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
Lucky, lucky you ! I had the great opportunity to live in Jerusalem for 18 months between November 1998 and February 2000. The political situation then was more stable than it is today so hopefully some of these places in the Old City I can recommend to you will still be open..
Papa Andreas Restaurant in the Christian Quarter of the Old City has a wonderful rooftop patio where you can sit order Mezza with a Taybeh Beer. A great place to sit and just drink in the environment with views of the Dome of the Rock with the Mount of Olives in the background on one side and the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the other.
For the best capucino in town along with delicious Strudel, try the Austrian Hospice on the corner of the first part of Via Dolorosa. Definitely the restaurant at the YMCA in front of King David Hotel (climb the tower for a great view of Jerusalem).
There is of course, the Old City with its "then" crowds with shops,spice sellers and carpet merchants enough to fill your senses with sights , sounds and definitely smells of all kinds.
Do make sure you make it to the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to see the Ethiopian monastery and chapel.
Nearer Haifa there is an interesting achaeological site at Ceasaria. St-Jean d'Acre (Acre or Akko) is also interesting to visit with its Crusader walls and citadel and a great souq with fresh fish and spices of all kinds.
The archaeological digs at Zippori have unearthed beautiful mosaics from the Roman period.
I could go on like this for quite a while but considering you only have ten days, I think these suggestions could help you fill some of your free time.
As so much of my time is being dictated by meetings and scheduled events, (the itinerary looks brutally crammed)I sadly won't have time for more than the ocassional sneaking out. The good news is that I've been told I'll be taken to the Western Wall, the Old City, Caesaria, Har Hazikaron, the artist's streetfair at Nachlat Binyamin, and Masada. Meals will largely be working events, but I will be doing some visiting at teacher's homes and with the several friends of friends who have been lavish with invitations.
I am getting very excited! It's an amazing opportunity, both professionally and personally.
Amy in MA "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts: 8582 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
Amy -- at Megiddo, there's a great little gift shop. I bought two of the long silk vests, and have flat worn them out. If you see one in any colors (they are all kind of a sophisticated tie-dye...I had one that was blue-green, another orange-brown), buy me one and I'll pay you! As I remember, all items in the shop were hand-made, many being the projects of a kibbutz.
Also a great gift shop at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, where the Chagall windows are. Again, hand-made and local.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com Italy Specialist Certified Swiss Specialist Certified Aussie Specialist My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
Edited by Kim to change Masada to Megiddo per note below
[This message was edited by Kim on 25 September 2003 at 12:41 PM.]
Error! Need to correct my message as it just dawned on me that I gave you wrong info (but that dawned more than 30 minutes after posting, so I can't just edit my reply above). The gift shop I was referring to is at Megiddo, not Masada. No gift shop at Masada.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com Italy Specialist Certified Swiss Specialist Certified Aussie Specialist My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
I haven't been to Israel since July 2000, right before the current intifada. I volunteered at the Megiddo dig, but would not dream of going near Megiddo now as it is too dangerous. Most digs have not operated the past few summers for lack of volunteers.
As for Jerusalem: You will probably be escorted all the time, but you might want to try one of the restaurants in the Nachalat Shiva area (Yael Salomon Street). There are great casual restaurants there, with outdoor seating. I especially like the "Tsad Temani" (Yemenite Step) which is a meat restaurant where the food is great. Also, near the YMCA there is a great vegetarian restaurant on a corner, with a garden.
You should also not miss the Israel Museum, and try to get to the Biblical museum. Great artifacts, and museum shops as well.
M
Posts: 6919 | Location: Montclair, NJ, USA | Registered: 16 March 2003
Sally-- If you know the name of the artisan, I can look him up and find out where else the vests are available. I'd be more than happy to pick one up for you, if I can.
Amy in MA "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts: 8582 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
Oh Amy! You are so lucky. Someday, someday, I keep telling myself, we'll go there. Since it'll never be safe by U.S. or European standards, I guess there's no point in putting it off much longer. Better brush up on my Hebrew!
Posts: 403 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 26 April 2002
Aside from the obvious "musts" such as Yad Vashem, an unexpected highlight of my trip was an underground tour of the Western Wall. Most people don't realize that the wall you see is only the top part. The tour was fascinating and highly recommended!
And of course, don't miss a sunrise hike up Masada and then a dip in the Dead Sea
I'm starting my trip early Thursday (why, oh why do I need to be at the airport at 5:45 am? ). Sally, if you have the name of the kibbutz where the vests were made, let me know.
Amy in MA "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts: 8582 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
Had an amazing trip. Wonderful people, historic sites, cities and towns, markets, scenery, food, beaches, shopping, the works.
I felt completely safe, though you can certainly sense the tension in areas of Jerusalem. People are going about their business as normally as possible. I walked around alone, went everywhere I wanted that my schedule would allow; and just avoided public transportation and large public gatherings that were not protected by security.
Please, please consider visiting Israel. I loved the constant surprises, and the warmth of the people was astonishing. (I was invited to lunch by the family of a newly-elected official of an Arab Druze village outside Haifa, and spent an afternoon visiting with his sisters; It is difficult to turn down the constant invitations to the homes of people you have just met; within 2 minutes of entering classrooms I had children speaking Hebrew or Arabic on my lap, and was later swarmed by their parents who wanted to welcome a visitor)
Details to follow over the next several days in a trip report, and when I can make sense of the 200 photos I took!
Amy in MA "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
[This message was edited by Amy on 18 November 2003 at 12:43 PM.]
Posts: 8582 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
Oh-- And Sally, I found what are probably those vests, and a shop where you can order them online! The website details their jewelery lines, but contact Sara directly and she'll tell you what vests she has in stock. I saw beautiful purple ones, reds, blues, and golds. The jewelery is incredible, and very reasonably priced. Sara's Gift Shop
Amy in MA "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts: 8582 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
Topic Closed
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). Sally, if you have the name of the kibbutz where the vests were made, let me know.
