Hi - I 'm new to the Slow Travel board, but having just taken a quick look around, I think I'm going to like it here! Slow Travel is just my style - find a nice place to tuck in and have a long look around.

I've been "tucked in" and looking around Israel, meeting new people, having great adventures for more than 20 years, and it's still as fascinating and exciting as it was on my first visit, way back in 1979!

Having not seen too much posted about Israel (so far), I thought I'd start right off with this invitation - let's talk about this fascinating country in the heart of the Middle East - you know, the one that's in the news more than probably any other! But if you get your information about Israel primarily from that news, you'll be surprised by what you find here once you come to visit.

So - anyone out there have any comments, questions, advice, experiences - all related to visiting Israel - to share?

suzanne

Shalom Suzanne! I am copying your post up to the Introduce Yourself forum. In addition, be sure to read through our Message Board Rules and Rules for Business Owners.

And now that the housekeeping is over, I do have a question I hope you can help with. As it turns out, I will be in Israel next week for workshops in Jerusalem, and visiting my partner school in Haifa. Since I don't have meetings scheduled over Shabbat, do you have any suggestions for things I can do in Jerusalem on a Saturday afternoon? The friend I was hoping to see may need to cancel because of family comittments, so I'd like a back-up plan.

Well - first I have a question for you... will you be in Jerusalem or in Haifa on Shabbat?

And since you are coming to Jerusalem, if you have a moment to spare, we could meet for a coffee in town - which could be nice!

What are the workshops and what's the "partner school"?

suzanne

I will be in Jerusalem for the Shabbat in question. I'm involved with the Boston-Haifa Connection, and am traveling with a group of teachers working on a joint curriculum project with kindergardens in Haifa. My free time will be extremely limited, but thank you for your kind offer!

Hey Amy - well, of course, in Jerusalem on Shabbat, most places are closed AND there's no public transportation.

But parts of the Old City as well as shops & restaurants around Saladin Street ARE open, if you have a car or take a taxi.

If you do have a car, I suggest a drive over to Ein Kerem (a suburb) where you'll find the Targ Music Center which has concerts on Shabbat morning and a nice restaurant called The Pundak nearby.

You could go from there on a drive up into the Judean Hills (depending on the weather) to see all the monuments that have been placed out there by the JNF - the Kennedy Memorial, the Scroll of Fire, the Memorial for the Challenger Astronauts - it can be a bit tricky, but the views are spectacular and with a good map, you'll find your way and get back to Jerusalem just fine!

Or - you could spend the day walking around the Old City - the Christian, Muslim & Armenian Quarters are all open with lots of shops and other things to see. Right at Jaffa Gate are two things I can recommend: 1) Henry's Cafe is run by a great Armenian guy who was born & raised in Jerusalem - it's just opened, very tiny, good coffee & cakes, a great place to sit and watch the life go by and 2) the Tower of David which houses the Museum of the History of the City of Jerusalem is usually open on Shabbat (but call ahead 626-5333 to make sure). They have a good audio-guided tour to help visitors better understand the exhibits in their historical context.

If you want to experience Jerusalem as a religious Jerusalemite, attend morning services at any of a number of synagogues, like the Jerusalem Great Synagogue on King George Street or a very popular, new synagogue called Shir Hadash (a new song) in the German Colony. If you prefer a Christian service, Baptist House is located right in the middle of town on Narkiss Street and holds their main family service at around 10:30AM.

I hope this has been of help - if you have any questions, just ask! And have a great visit to Israel - hope your meetings go well.

suzanne

Thanks so much, Suzanne!

I gotta get me in on this action. Becky's chosen a trip over a party for her Bat Mitzvah. We were talking Hawaii at first but now with these latest developments she put Israel back on the table (I love that she follows the news there). So, stick around Suzanne, we may need to talk shortly.

Hi Kim - sounds great! When did you have in mind? And let me know what she finds of interest generally - besides the usual tour stuff, I can let you know what events are going on around that you might want to take in...
suzanne

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Suz, do you know of any tours that are oriented towards the budget end of the scale? I have seen some that look fine, and they are good value I'm sure, but they're more than I want to spend. A backpacker-style tour would be fine.

Do you mean a packaged tour just for backpackers? I'm not personally familiar with any, though I can ask around.

Most backpackers, from what I've seen, stay in hostels [the Israel Youth Hostel Association (http://www.youth-hostels.org.il/english.html) has great ones all over the country] and plan their own tours or take day trips which are available [like walking tours with me or bus tours with United Tours http://www.inisrael.com/united/]. You might also look at http://www.amitravel.com/spni/ which is the travel agency in the U.S. for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.

Otherwise, there are lots of reasonably priced packaged bus tours out there, especially in the "low" season (November through March... and especially in January-February), as long as you pick the 3-star hotel options! Most, in fact, include air fare and still can come in at around $1200 or less for a 7-10 day tour, even at half-board.

If I find any tours around that are specifically for backpackers at extra low rates, I'll be sure to post the information here.

When are you thinking of coming and for how long? How about taking a "Slow Tour" by booking into hostels, Zimmers (like B&Bs but really little cabins or self-catering flats) and/or guest houses, take some day bus trips and otherwise, pick one specific area of the country to explore on our own or with new friends you will meet as you go? While packaged bus tours are great for a first visit or if you only have a short time to spend, to really get to know us over here takes time, a relaxed style and an open spirit!

suzanne

Suzanne, thanks for the pointers. I will do some more research. I don't have any objection to the self-managed trip you describe, and that's what I've done several times in Europe and the US. But I was a bit nervous about doing a similar trip in Israel, although I know logically that the odds of suffering a terrorist attack are very low.

A pure "curiosity" question, Suzzane. My tour of the Holy Land was in 1996, and my group was led by Malcolm Cartier. On the assumption, perhaps erroneous, that all tour guides in a relatively compact area, know each other, can you tell me if Malcolm is still in the business? Does he still use his "orange bible" as a group rallying point? Can he still talk, non-stop, for 100 hours?

It's a nice idea, Captain Larry, but ever since the Ministry of Tourism opened up the tour guide school to private companies (which have to go through a rigorous licensing program), more and more people have taken the course and become licensed. For instance, my license number is 7494 and I'm NOT the last by any means!

Plus, while Israel is a small country compared to so many others, still, there's a lot to see and do out there in the countryside and only occasionally (like when I'm showing traditional Christian sites which are the most crowded) do I actually run into other guides "in the field".

But I'll keep my eye out for someone thumping an "orange bible" and give him your greetings should we meet!

1996 was a while ago now, and things here change pretty fast, so when will you come back for another visit?

suzanne

Thanks for the response, Suzzane. It was a shot. At locations where there were several tour groups gathered at the same time - Capernum, Jerico, Masada, Bethlehem - Malcolm and the other guides would often (maybe, always) greet each other in a very friendly fashion.

For our 1996 tour, our tour leader (not guide) was leading his seventh or eighth tour, and asked specifically for Malcolm. In fact, he told the agent arranging the tour that he would not go if he couldn't get Malcolm as the guide.

If (when?) I travel to Israel again, it will probably be with a group of people from one or two Christian churches and the tour will be booked through a US travel agent. Is there a procedure by which you, or any other specific guide, could be requested, as Malcolm was before? Or, are you also the booking agent who would handle all of the arrangements?

Captain Larry - I'm not an agent and you CAN request me. Make a note of my license number and tell your tour leader, who, in turn, should tell the agent or wholesale company. They will contact the incoming company (in Israel) and they will contact me! It's bit complicated but works.

Yes, when I'm out there - especially at the sites you mention (like Capernaum), we always smile and wave or greet each other - I do know quite a few guides but with so many, it's hard to know all!

suzanne

Captain Larry, this Google search indicates your tour guide is still active, at least recently:

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=%22malcolm+cartier%22+tour+guide+israel&meta=

Thanks, WillTravel. That is the man. I've got to train myself to make more and better use of Google. One should never assume that any subject is too obscure for Google to find any reference there might be, and practically no subject is so obscure that there is not a reference somewhere in cyberspace.

Kim: if you go we (meaning my new job)have a great youth wing at the museum.

quote:

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Originally posted by Kim:
I gotta get me in on this action. Becky's chosen a trip over a party for her Bat Mitzvah. We were talking Hawaii at first but now with these latest developments she put Israel back on the table (I love that she follows the news there). So, stick around Suzanne, we may need to talk shortly.

---

So Kim - when IS Becky's Bat Mitzvah??????

suzanne

Suzanne,
I just saw this thread! My husband and I are thinking of coming to Israel in July for the 2005 Maccabiah Games. But I am afraid of possible terrorist activity. Is this unjustified? We are considering 2 nights in jerusalem, then traveling to Tel Aviv for the opening ceremonies and seeing my sister in law play the next day. And trying to do some sightseeing as well.(She is representing the US for women's basketball). My husband wants to go but as I said I am nervous. We would want a private guide as well.
How do we arrange that?

THANKS!

Hi Laura - as I'm sure you realize, no one can tell the exact time & place of the next terrorist attack, whether it is here in Israel or somewhere else, but really, Israel is as safe a place as anywhere in the world these days, so I do hope you will come and will feel comfortable and safe here. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to find, not what you see on TV, but a beautiful, peaceful, exciting and very interesting country!

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