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!
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!
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| Israel - June 2012 |
