Thursday, June 21, 2012

Tel Aviv in June

Avoiding climate zones with temperatures below 30°C I traveled from Barcelona over Athens to Tel Aviv to visit my friend Karin. The two things that impressed me most: amazing city beaches and the best food ever! I have a new mission in life now: learning to make humus, that is, the real stuff, not the garlic-infested slobber we get here. 

Surprisingly I was allowed to take all important ingredient out of the country - local Tahini - maybe the customs officers overlooked it while they were busy breaking the seals of all my new Ahava cosmetics just in case I was hiding a weapon in my dead sea body lotion.

Anyhow, this will be my bible: The Humus Blog. And this was the reason for a life changing taste experience: http://youtu.be/ZXPJUyFGMgE

Apart from eating and shopping I also traveled around the country conveniently in a rental car. Karin gave me a quick tour of Jerusalem, where we managed to break the Shabbat rules by writing our notes for the Wailing Wall. An upset guard tried to stop us - writing is work and very unholy on Shabbat. I did not dare to ask how her work as a guard conforms with the Shabbat rules...

More of a highlight than strange religious practices and bazaars full of Jesus souvenirs (thorn-crown, anyone?) was our afternoon at the Dead Sea. Amazing, amazing, amazing, just don’t ever get that stuff into your eyes!


Rejuvenated and energized by Dead Sea mud I spend a long day taking a drive around the Northeast of the country, visiting more Jesus-related sites (well, you cannot drive for more than half an hour without running into one anyway). Sea of Galilee near Golan Heights, where Jesus preached from a mountain (which incidentally was closed when I passed by). Lovely landscape though, the lake would be a nice summer holiday destination if they would not have all these great beaches anyhow. And in front of their doorsteps in every coastal town!

Akko was thoroughly charming, even though – surprisingly – I ate the worst humus of my trip there. I cannot confirm the rumor that Akko has the best humus of the country. Haifa was worth a stop for its great location but apart from the Baha’i gardens, which were already closed when I arrived, there are no other great tourist attractions I would have noticed. Apparently they have a vibrant night-life and better bars than in Tel Aviv but I did not get a chance to verify this.

Anyhow, I have to say Israel people are great fun and open and friendly and straightforward and sometimes a little weird (who would not be after spending years in the army or even in combat). I will definitely be back some day!

Israel - June 2012


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tenerife in May


After a high altitude winter straight down to sea level in Tenerife! Although I ventured up to 2300 m again on the volcano Teide - did not make the top of 3700 m, a bit too lazy for walking, but we explored a great part of the island by car. And spent a day in neighbouring La Gomera. And still found time for 3 surf sessions at Playa de Socorro! All in all - seen loads, done loads, ate loads!
Teneriffa - Spanien