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laineystein · 2 years

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What to expect at 🇮🇱Ben Gurion🇮🇱 Airport:

✈️ ARRIVING

When you get off the plane you will need to stop at the passport kiosks. They are not labeled. They’re the silver machines with screens to scan your passport. No one will tell you to use them but I highly suggest you stop and scan your passport. It will give you an entry pass. This will come in handy later.

Go down the ramp. I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this you do not hold Israeli citizenship, so you’ll want to stick to the right. It’s actually very well labeled. I say “actually” because things in Israel rarely are. This line will be much longer than the line for Israeli passport holders. Wait in it and deal with the merge/bottleneck situation that occurs before passport control.

At passport control you’re going to hand over your passport and your entry pass. If you don’t have an entry pass they’ll give you a dirty look so get the entry pass (at those inconspicuous scanners I mentioned earlier). Go up to the window with everyone in your party - if you don’t, they’ll ask you who you’re arriving with and then you’ll need to call those people up. They may then ask for some people in the party to step back as they ask one or only some people questions. Just answer their questions. Usually it’s brief, they give you your card and you’re on your way.

Out of passport control you’re immediately at more scanners that look like the passport kiosks I mentioned before (that I hope you stopped at!). You’ll scan the card passport control gives you, the gate will open, and you’re in baggage claim.

It’s the Wild West now. Grab your bags (can’t miss baggage claim or the screens assigning flights to belts). Declare things at customs if you need to (can’t miss the sign - it’ll be on your left as you’re heading out into the main area of the airport). Genuinely, once you’re through passport control things get much easier and it’s very easy to figure out. (Signage isn’t great in Israel but the signage we do have is in Hebrew, Arabic, and English so I have the utmost faith that you’ll be able to figure it out.)

Getting out of the airport - call a Gett or take the train to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem or wherever you’re staying. The airport train is decent but I don’t recommend it if you have a ton of luggage. If you’re taking a taxi, sometimes they’ll charge you extra for putting your luggage in the trunk so hold it on your lap, if possible.

Shalom! You’re in Israel.

✈️ DEPARTING

If you are not checking bags -> proceed to the line straight ahead. It will be shorter and no one will have big luggage. This is the line for people that are not checking luggage. [Skip to 3]

Assuming you are checking bags -> When you arrive to the airport to leave, look to where your airline is. There will be two long lines on either the left or the right. Go to the line that is nearest to your airline’s ticket counter.

Wait in the line. Sometimes it takes ten minutes, sometimes it takes an hour. This line is not for your airline — this line is interrogation 1/♾️. Do what you did in passport control: approach with whoever you’re traveling with and answer the questions they ask honestly. They may tell some of the party to step back so they can speak to specific people, just let them do their job. Their questions may feel a bit intrusive (Why did you come to Israel? Where did you stay? What is your relationship with the people you traveled with? Who packed your bags? What’s in your bags? Have you been to Israel before? Do you speak Hebrew? Do you have family in Israel? Do you belong to a temple?) but they exist for a reason. Once they find your answers satisfactory, they’ll put a sticker on the outside of your passport (We’ll come back to the sticker…)

For those who are checking bags -> After they put the sticker on your passport they’ll also put tags on the luggage you plan to check. Proceed to your airline’s ticket counter. Give them your passport. Put your bags on the belt to be weighed…all standard airline ticket counter checking bag business.

Proceed toward security. There will be two security lines. One of the left and one on the right. If you’re reading this, I can almost guarantee you’ll be in the lane on the left. The right is the line for Israel passport holders…the exception being any that have visited high threat countries recently or that the security agent felt needed more vetting. If you’re confused and want to make sure what lane you’re in, show an agent that handy dandy sticker. That number on the sticker will help them determine your lane.

The line on the left, because it’s typically non-Israelis, is always longer and always involves more questions and scanning. Wait in line. You get called up to an agent one at a time. We don’t take off shoes. We do put electronics and anything in pockets in a bin. We also require you to open your bags and let the agent look around. And by look around I mean they’ll shove an explosive trace detector (looks like a microphone) in your bag. If you have a suitcase, you’ll need to open your suitcase. Even though no one is right over your shoulder, you are still very much in view of everyone else so I don’t recommend having anything you don’t want anyone to see at the top of your suitcase. They may also ask you to move items so they can see what’s at the bottom…basically, pack with this in mind. I guarantee they do this with checked luggage as well but at least when it’s checked, the underwear I packed is being viewed in private.

Once they’ve deemed your packing to be sufficient they’ll bring your bin to the scanner and put it through. You push your bag through. Then you walk through the metal detector. The agent will be watching your items as they go through. They are watching while there is also a radar tech watching. If they proceed to ignore you, you’re good to go. I don’t know what to tell you if you get stopped for any reason…

Congrats! You’ve made it! Go to duty free! Daven at Chabad! Stop at what is likely to be your last kosher McDonald’s for awhile! Israel has thoroughly criticized and judged you in a way that only Israel can and you survived. Proud of you. 😏

#Ben Gurion Airport #Israel #travel tips #israel tips #safest airport in the world #also the judgiest airport in the world #had to ask a friend that works at the airport for some of this #if you’re not from Israel and you’ve traveled here feel free to share tips!#sorry this is so late 🫣

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dailyaudiobible · 4 years

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03/23/2021 DAB Transcript

Numbers 36:1 – Deuteronomy 1:46, Luke 5:29-6:11, Psalms 66:1-20, Proverbs 11:24-26

Today is the 23rd day of March welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I'm Brian it is great to be here with you today like it is great to be here with you every day as we come in from the swirl of life that can lead to chaos, or confusion, or whatever, just all kinds of challenge. This is a place we try to create together that is free from those things. We can't insulate ourselves from every challenge of course, but in this place we can because this is a place where we let it go and can leave it at the door. This is a safe place where we’re here to hear the Scriptures to be together, to invite God to lead us, and then we regroup, and we go back into the world. And it's amazing, at least for me how much, how different things can look after some…some deep breaths and just hearing the Scriptures and just reorienting to God how different things can look. And, so, let’s just take a deep breath and let it go. Let it go and let's allow the Scriptures to speak. Today we are going to conclude the book of Numbers and then we are going to begin the final book of the Torah or the Pentateuch known as Deuteronomy. And when we get there in a couple minutes once we finish this 36th chapter of…of numbers we'll talk about Deuteronomy. We’ll fly over it, get our bearings and then dive in. But first Numbers chapter 36.

Introduction to the book of Deuteronomy:

Okay. This brings us to…well…that brought us to the close…we close the book on Numbers and now we’re opening the book of Deuteronomy, which is the fifth book of the Bible. So, we’ve read four of the five books of the Torah and we’re moving into Deuteronomy. And Deuteronomy again might feel like, “haven’t I heard…didn’t I hear this already? Like, didn't…didn’t we cover this ground?” And it could seem like, “wait, did I? Did we cover this ground? Is this new ground? Are we reviewing? What's happening here?” The truth is that we are going to be doing some reviewing and some looking forward. And to put ourselves in the right frame of mind, imagine that you know that your time upon the earth is limited. And of course, we all know that, but like extremely limited. Like…like it's not an arbitrary thing, it…it's coming very soon, and you have a lot left to say. And, so, you find a way to get everybody that you have anything to say to together and say it, that is the book of Deuteronomy. These are the last things that Moses has to say to the people that he has been leading since his calling at the burning bush. And Deuteronomy essentially breaks down into three different speeches or discourses where all of the people are brought together to hear what Moses has to say. He's leaving nothing left unsaid. He’s saying everything that he needs to say because this is the last time he'll be saying anything to any of them. And they need to be reminded. We’ve been traveling with them and we've been finding that we need to be reminded because we’re the same way. Moses wanted them to remember who they were and why and who God is and where they're going. And aren’t these the things that we forget? Just like they…just like they forgot. And, so, in the same way that we kind of come around this Global Campfire together, we would have to imagine ourselves to put ourselves in the right perspective for Deuteronomy that we are in a throng of people. We have been wilderness dwellers our whole lives. Our ancestors who came out of Egypt. They’ve died off, but we know all those stories. We’re not so far removed. We know that we’re in a period of transition and that God is calling us forward but we’re gonna lose our leader and someone else is gonna take us into our destiny. And the leader who has been…who has been the leader of the people our whole lives has some final things to say and some final things to do. And, so, we take our seats, and we begin to listen. Deuteronomy chapter 1.

Prayer:

Father, as is our custom on a daily basis because it's always true, we thank You for Your word. We thank You for the Scriptures, we thank You for the community that You've allowed to form around the rhythm that we share here of being involved and interacting with the Scriptures each and every day. We are grateful. And as we move through this transition into the final book of the Torah as we move into Deuteronomy and hear are the final discourses of Moses, this is somebody that we've gotten to know well because we’ve been traveling with the children of Israel for quite a while now along with Moses. And, so, understanding that we’ll be saying goodbye and moving into new territory, this gives gravity to what Moses is saying. And we have learned a lot in the wilderness, we’ve learned a lot about ourselves as we’ve gone through the wilderness territory here in the early books of the Bible. And so many times the stories have become a mirror into our own souls. And, so, Holy Spirit help us to pay close attention to the final things that Moses is saying in this book of Deuteronomy because they apply to us too. Help us to have eyes to see and ears to hear what You are saying to us in our lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com that is home base that is…that's where the Global Campfire is. And, so, that's where you find out what's going on around here. If you're using the app, the Daily Audio Bible app you can find out what’s going on around here there as well.

So, indeed, check out, especially be aware and be familiar with the Community section. That's where the Prayer Wall lives. And, so, we are constantly praying for one another there on the Prayer Wall. That’s also where the different links to get connected in places like social media are. So, yeah, be familiar, check that out. Get connected.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if this Global Campfire mission that we share to bring the spoken word of God read fresh every day and just offered to whoever will listen to it wherever they are, anytime of day or night no matter where…where we are on this planet it's available. And because we do this every day, every single day it becomes a rhythm, step-by-step, day by day we take the next step forward together. So, if that has been life-giving to you than thank you for your partnership. So, there's a link on the homepage. If you’re using the app you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement you can hit the Hotline button in the app or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hello, DABbers this is Rosie __ I haven’t called for a bit but I’m always __. This is my 5th year being with you guys and I gotta tell you every year it gets better, and I get more in. Those prayers at the end have been lifeline and I love to sit there and hear and get, you know, get filled by its hope and also be able to pay for one another. And __ I believe in the power prayer and I’m in need of a prayer. I have tried to do this myself and I just felt that I need to just put in prayer. I know that there’s a worldwide right know prayer. You know, I’ve come here before and I know God __ seen me through it. I know that with more prayers I can get through this. I don’t what it is but I’ve been having for two years a pain on my right side, by my liver and kidney and they’ve been saying things and I’ve been trying to just put it to the side. I just…I’ve been serving. I’m in ministry and I have to be made strong and I have __ of faith but it can seem like I’m falling apart at times. And I know my God is faithful and I know he doesn’t give us more to bear and it’s just nothing it just could be another stone that I had previously before, and I had surgery before. I don't know. I had Covid. And…and ever since after that the pains are getting harder and you know from a 1 to 10 the pains about 6 or 7 and I just wake up and go to bed with the same pain. So, I just need you guys to pray. __ so well __ 4 to 7 is my promise that by His stripes I’m healed and everybody that is out there that is needing a healing __ we’re one father…

Hey this is Jerry calling from Duluth MN it's Friday March 19th 1:45 in the morning day 78 of the year day 693 of my midnight journey of being in the DAB during the middle of the night or early in the morning. I was really moved today by Brian's message on sitting in silence and trying to not spend prayer time just talking about myself and talking about things that we would like to make the world better or my life better but to take the time in silence. And I noticed at the end of the podcast they put 4 minutes of waves of rolling and putting us in such a state of being on the side of the ocean. For us in lake Superior living right on the tip of Lake superior. Lake Superior's in inland ocean and we have the same type of atmosphere where you look over the water and there's nothing but water and the waves rolling…rolling in. So I tried to spend those four minutes in silence. Had a difficult time so I backed it up and tried it again and what a great exercise to do to just take and stop talking and listen. May God help us to do this more and put this as part of our practice of our worship. In Jesus’ name.

Hi Daily Audio Bible brothers and sisters this is God's Life Speaker. I just desire that we all magnify the Lord together and we do, and I just love the idea that could be anytime of the day and somewhere else there is a DABber with me praying and as you bring in your prayer requests, I'm praying with you. It could be anytime of the day or night there is just constant prayer. And we can continue it on our own when we magnify the Lord. Having been in the military I really enjoy the compass theory of true North and even just a degree of if you're a pilot would take you somewhere totally outside of where your destination would be just if you were off by a degree. And I have prayed for conviction to live in awareness. We need to be standing in awareness in our spiritual lives so that we can always come back to true North. If there’s a shifting in our soul that we feel that we know what we come back with self-control and the fruit of the spirit magnifying the Lord being helped by the Holy Spirit and just going forward always in the direction of our true North as we magnify Him. Lord Jesus we love You. We just worship You. We praise Your name. You are the comforter You are the God of creation You are the God of our lives, author, knowing before time ever began what our stories would be and I pray Lord that we would die to self and be living in awareness so that we can always be directed towards You, towards true north magnifying You shining You drawing others towards You and always going higher and higher to the upward call. Amen. Bless you Brian. Bless you DABbers.

Good morning DAB family this is Walta the Burning Bush that will not be Devoured for the Glory of Our God and Our King. Today I listened to Radiant Rachel praying for her church family as the pastors being moved away on a mission’s trip to Norway. Radiant Rachel I love the compassion and love that you have for your home family and I felt that even more when you shared that your family has to move across country and basically start from scratch when it comes to your church family. I'm praying for you right now that wherever you're going that God is already preparing a place for your family, spiritually speaking a wonderful family, just somewhere where you would never even imagine that existed. I pray to God that they will welcome you into their arms and I just challenge you to dig deeper into the DAB. I dug into the DAB when I moved my family from Arizona to Liberia West Africa. And that’s why I love this family. It's just solid. Val in Vegas your praise report just warmed my heart. I had all kinds of feelings. I’m praising God for your healing and for your dream job. Your testimony is just why we’re here, is because no matter where you are in the world, no matter what continent you're on, no matter what state of being you are in mentally, physically, emotionally God's got you and the DAB family is always there for you. As long as you can get Internet and if you can't download it before you leave. Love you guys. Have a blessed, blessed weekend.

Good morning this is Mary. I am on this for the first time. I just want to thank God for Brian and his family. I would like to just say this is my first time trying to complete this Daily auto Bible. I was on last year, but I did not complete it because of different circumstances but this year I am determined to finish. It is so helpful. It helped me with understanding the Bible verse by verse chapter by chapter. I get so excited every morning when I get up and put it on. And if I miss a day I go back and I listen to it. I am determined. It gives me the excitement of hearing what is being taught. Growing up I feel like I missed out on a lot in the word but just listening to this encourages my spirit. It makes me want to learn more about God and His word in depth and I wanted to thank you Brian and your family and what God has put you in this position to help those who can't read or don't understand the word. I praise God for you, and I ask God to bless you and your family. And for those that are listening God bless you and keep me in your prayer my family. Again, my name is Mary and continue to praise God and lift his name. No matter what is going on in the word…in the world put God first and everything else will __. In the name of Jesus. Love you all.

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topfygad · 5 years

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The Best Things to Do and See in Israel: Looking Past the Conflict

I didn’t at all know what to expect when I boarded that flight to Israel.

My friends had been sending me articles about El Al, Israel’s flagship airline, and their onboard missile defense systems. Apparently, they have the most sophisticated security system of any airline in existence.

I had been warned about the airport interrogations and had been told not to let anyone stamp my passport. Some countries don’t recognize Israel as a country and won’t let you enter if they see that you’ve crossed the border.

It’s a complicated place, this Israel.

It’s no easy task understanding what’s going on over here, and the whole story involves elements of history, politics and religion from hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

If you want to brush up on your knowledge, it might be worth reading this.

I’ll do my best to address the conflict in a future article because I think I would be doing both the country and yourselves, the readers of this website, a disservice by not broaching the subject. But outside of the conflict, and through sinking my teeth into the culture, people, food, and religion, I walked away with a very different understanding of Israel as it stands today.

And on top of that, I found something in Israel that I truly wasn’t expecting.

Things to Do in Israel

My three weeks in Israel were a whirlwind. I covered almost half of the country in the first couple of days, and somewhat slowly completed the rest of it over the following two weeks. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect from a country found right in the middle of a desert, but I knew I would find some unexpected treasures.

And a lot of sand.

Land Rover-ing in the Negev Desert

Inside the Ramon Crater

The Ramon Crater (aka Mitzpe Ramon), found in the Negev Desert, is 28 miles wide and is actually not a crater–it’s what it called a makhtesh. There’s not actually an English translation for this word because the geological landform it refers to is unique to this specific region, where the two official languages are Hebrew and Arabic.

Hanging off the edge of the Ramon Crater

Cruising in the Negev Desert with Adam Sela

A makhtesh is essentially a valley caused by thousands of years of erosion. A hard outer layer of rock forms over a landmass and the softer minerals underneath it wash away. The top layer then crumbles into the empty space below, creating what you see in the images above.

Exploring the Negev Desert with Adam Sela and his Land Rover

Adam Sela, a South African transplant and regional expert, loaded us up into his Land Rover and showed us petrified artifacts, geological formations, and stunning views of one of Israel’s most unique landscapes.

His trusty Land Rover has clocked more than 1.3 million km in the Negev Desert.

Pro tip: Ask Adam about his other job—he has some incredibly interesting stories!

Photographing the Dead Sea

Toasted land next to the turquoise Dead Sea

I didn’t have very high expectations of the Dead Sea. From what I had heard, the coastline was littered with garbage and the water was gross and murky. To be perfectly honest, these assessments are mostly true—the swimming areas of the Dead Sea are cluttered with plastic bags and bottles and the water is brown and salty.

Getting outside of the swimming areas, though, and photographing some of the vistas in the lesser-known areas of the Dead Sea was particularly rewarding. Long turquoise waves brushed up against the toasted brown of the desert, creating an exceptionally rare effect. One particular area on the southern Dead Sea, just outside of Jerusalem, is host to huge salt formations and was perhaps one of the most photogenic vistas I’ve ever seen.

Salt formations at the southern Dead Sea

At 420 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. It’s salt concentration is so high that every part of your body floats and trying to keep any limb below the surface of the water is a difficult and hilarious task.

Pro tip: Don’t shave any part of your body before swimming in the Dead Sea. The salt burns, burns, burns, and if you’re a lady, well, it’s not going to be a pleasant experience.

Exploring Timna National Park

Timna selfie!

30 miles outside the resort town of Eilat lies Timna Valley, an old copper mine now encompassed by a park. Most notably known for it’s unusual and stunning rock formations, the sights in the Timna National Park were created through hundreds of years of rock fractures and erosion.

Climbing Solomon’s Pillars, Timna National Park

With limited time available, I decided to conquer one monument rather than just barely see them all. Solomon’s Pillars, perhaps the most well-known formation in the valley, called my name, and I made it my mission to climb the entire thing. There are stairs leading about halfway up, but the rest required some free climbing.

View of Timna National Park from the top of Solomon’s Pillars

The views from the top, though? Totally worth it.

Pro tip: Don’t rent bikes at Timna. They’re impossible to ride in the sand.

Experiencing the Holiest City in the World

Looking out over Jerusalem

I didn’t have a particular interest in visiting the holy sites of Israel, but I found them just about everywhere I went. Jerusalem is hugely significant to many religions including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and there are sacred places for each religion found all over Jerusalem.

– In Christianity, Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.

– For the Jews, Jerusalem is the ancestral and spiritual homeland. Those who practice outside of Jerusalem pray facing its direction.

– In Islam, Jerusalem is sacred due to its association with Islamic prophets, namely Muhammed, who is believed to be a messenger for God. Abraham, David, Solomon, and Jesus are also regarded as Prophets of Islam, and each one has a tie to Jerusalem.

Western Wall, Jerusalem

The site where Jesus was buried

Lighting a candle inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

People of each faith intensely desire ownership of the city of Jerusalem, and so religion plays a large part in the conflict I mentioned before. Currently the people live in general peace within the city, but there is still a lot of tension. Jerusalem is divided, in fact, and one-half is considered to be a part of the new State of Israel (which was only recognized recently—in 1949) while the other still remains a part of the Palestinian Territories.

To see the holiest place on earth was, indeed, an eye opening experience. To see a city so largely divided, yet living as one, was something else entirely.

Pro tip: The Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem is just minutes from the famous Mehane Yehuda Market and a 15-minute walk to the Old City. They have affordable dorm beds and private rooms and they provide one of the most comprehensive hosteling systems I’ve ever seen.

Falafel, Hummus, and Tahini, Oh My!

Eating in Israel is something to be especially excited about. I wasn’t excited when I arrived, but the more food I was presented with, the more infatuated with the cuisine I became.

With influences coming from all over the Mediterranean and Middle East, the present day cuisine in Israel is something of a Jewish fusion including foods from all over those regions. I was met with chickpeas in almost every form, and some manifestation of bread and olive oil at almost every meal.

And though it usually was, when hummus wasn’t served, I got very, very angry.

Connecting with My Heritage

Coffee with Moshe, my 2nd cousin

But my pilgrimage to Israel was enriched by something more significant than incredible experiences and delicious food. I not only saw one of my good friends who now lives in Tel Aviv, but I met some of my family for the first time—cousins on the side of my family that I haven’t connected with much.

I’ll tell you a secret. It’s something I don’t share with people often, but I have four names on my birth certificate. The name I don’t publicize is a German name which extends from my father in the United States to his family who now lives in Israel. Until my trip to Israel, I had never met another person with this name. But, when I saw the smiles on Hannah and Moshe’s faces, and when I met Henia, Sharon, and Gaya, I felt a unique sense of coming home that I had never experienced before.

You see, my grandparents left Vienna in 1939 at the start of the German invasion and, after a year of refuge in Italy, they migrated to Israel where they have remained ever since. Somehow, their warm welcomes and stories of my family left me feeling like I had found a piece of myself that I never knew I was missing.

Even though I had never met these people, something in me felt safe, and something between us clicked. They told me stories of family which gave context to my name. I felt like I had known them forever. They were my blood, and I could feel it. Through some strange twist of fate, I came to Israel as a tourist, but left feeling like I had found another home.

More Information on Visiting Israel

Traveling to Israel is safe. Unless there are imminent warnings, there is no need to worry about traveling in Israel–it’s a wonderful, culturally eye-opening place to visit.

If you’re looking for more information on visiting Israel, Tourist Israel is the go-to resource for planning your travels in the region. From tours to hotels, restaurants to events, it’s the single most valuable guide I’ve found. Check them out now!

The topic of Israel can be controversial. This is a travel article, not a political one. Please keep your comments relevant and respectful.

READ NEXT: Breaking the Rules in Petra, Jordan: Free Climbing to the Top of the Monastery

Disclaimer: My trip to Israel was made possible through partnerships with the Israel Ministry of Tourism, Tourist Israel, Abraham Tours, and Abraham Hostels. Partnerships like these allow me to continue bringing you content from all over the world. I never allow such partnerships to compromise the integrity of my words and I will only ever recommend companies that I genuinely trust and believe in. Thank you for reading

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teonikolova · 5 years

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Things happen when you least expect them. For example I would have never considered moving to France and yet the opportunity came to me out of nowhere one day.Similar is the case here, as Israel was not in our travel list for this year, but my husband sent here urgently for a few weeks due to work. So I decided that this was a sign, and I shouldn’t miss this opportunity so I decided to tag along.

So here is how the story begins.

We landed on Saturday evening after 5 hour flight, and everything was closed as it was Shabat so if you are planning your travel bear this in mind.We did manage to find a Japanese restaurant (Japanika) which was open. I think we were lucky because it was also very delicious.We kept coming back every other night there.

The next day we woke up early and decided to start exploring the city of Tel Aviv.I did make some plans ahead of what should we visit, but my main wish was just to walk around and explore random streets and mix with the locals.

When you read for Israel often, the information is wrong and advises you how dangerous it is but honestly I felt so much safer than many other places, even Paris where I live for the past 5 years.

My first day was amazing I walked31km around Tel Aviv just exploring the city on foot.

Going around Tel Aviv can be very easy, if you do not wish to walk you can use public transport.You will need to buy a card called Rav-Kav which is reusable contactless stored value smart card for making electronic payments in public transportation.

Walking

Walking is by far the most pleasant way to get around the city. Because Tel Aviv isn’t big, getting from one end to the other won’t take you much more than an hour. With great weather year-round, walking is a great way to get some vitamin D and exercise. Finding your way is very easy with Google Maps. If you don’t have a cell phone service when you’re here, turn on just GPS or download an offline map and you’re good to go!

Bike around

Tel Aviv is extremely bike friendly, and pretty much everyone in Tel Aviv goes around by bike.Biking lanes connect the entire city, and bikes can be rented at pretty much every corner.

Rent Scooter

Tel Aviv has variety of ways for transportation and one is the electric scooter. The service allows riders to pick up scooters anywhere and ride them for as long as necessary. Riders are charged per minute, and everything is done through the company’s app on a smartphone.

I really felt at home in Tel Aviv, just the way the streets are and the culture of the people.I would not consider moving in Israel as still this is much more religious country for my taste, but I felt comfortable and safe for the timebeing in Tel Aviv.I guess I should have known that I would have fallen for Tel Aviv, because how can you not love cities by the sea.I think there is something special about this kind of cities.

Tel Aviv is blessed with really good urban beaches. Whether for a simple walk along the waterfront during the fall or spring season or a dip in the clear Mediterranean waters when the temperatures rise, going to the beach is among the things to do in Tel Aviv for either fun and relaxation. I noticed that bunch of them was also pet-friendly! I can say overall Tel Aviv is pet friendly and there was dogs everywhere I went.

It was already the late afternoon on our first day when my husband, who was just finishing work joined me. He came at the best time as the sun started setting, the light was simply stunning and we could not get enough of it. We both were so happy to dip our feet in the water, whenever we go somewhere sunny and nice, nothing can keep us away from the water. The water was very chilly still, I guess as even though it is 20 degrees it is still February.

Now we had completely lost track of time just talking and just enjoying the lovely colors in the sky. It was time to walk back and find something for dinner as we were both starving.

The light is special at sunrise and sunset, so I am really happy we got to see it not once but almost every night we were there. Indeed, one of the nicest things to do in Tel Aviv is admiring the sunset along the waterfront.

Explore the markets.

Locals know that the best produce, fresh-squeezed juices, hot off the oven bread, melt in your mouth hummus, and fresh herbs and spices can be found at the shuk (market). Markets, indoors and out, are very much a part of the locals of Tel Aviv. Each has its own unique charm and character, offering shoppers the chance to explore exotic foods and other staples in authentic locations.

I had the time to visit only Sarona Market and later the Carmel Market.

I like food markets. I find them to be the perfect place to learn more about the culture of the city and blend with the locals. Also to observe the behavior of people at the market. Be advised that in Israel you can always bargain the prices, they really like bargaining with tourists. So shop and haggle like a local, and don’t give up until you’ve gotten yourself a deal

Besides, markets are the best places to get some cheap yet tasty street food. Sure enough, going to Carmel Market is a must if you are in search for fresh produce and good street food.

The Sarona Market is closed modest market where you can find a lot of spices and nuts, olives, gelato and some modern food stores, but there is a lot of small street food places inside the market where you can have a taste of the local cuisine.

Other popular Tel Aviv markets include Hatikva in South Tel Aviv, Levinsky in Florentin.

The next day I decided to take it slow and chill a bit go somewhere first for breakfast and then figure out where to go and what to see.

I sat in a local cafe and order what was in the menu as “Breakfast for One” after 15 min a man came bringing me everything that I can think of from bread, butter and hummus to hard-boiled eggs. I regret not taking pictures of the breakfast, as it was huge, but I was enjoying it too much.

You should try the breakfast in Tel Aviv, it reminds me so much of home and what most French people would consider brunch not breakfast. When it comes to breakfast, Israelis take it to a whole new level. Salads, bread, tahini, eggs and other deliciousness are ever present at any proper breakfast table there. In Tel Aviv, breakfast is the most important meal, so I can tell you it is very rich and feeling. Israel is full with fantastic restaurants where take pride in showing tourists what food in Israel is all about. As believe it or not Israel is not only Hummus, yes it is amazing but you can also eat it at home, so I advise you to try other local treats do not just concentrate or Falafels and hummus.

Heaven for Vegetarians and Vegans

Big part of Israeli food is naturally vegan, and this is probably the most vegan friendly country you will come across, where every restaurant is offering multiple choices for vegan dishes and some restaurants solely focusing on vegan cuisine, so this will be your heaven.

Now let’s talk about some of my favourite sour pastry called Boureka.

Boureka is a phyllo pastry stuffed with cheese and /or other ingredients. It’s perfect for breakfast on the go. You’ll find it at any bakery.

This is a standard breakfast pastry for us in Bulgaria also, but we eat it with a lot of white cheese and butter. Here they serve it with hummus, pesto or boiled egg inside and crunchy pickles on side. When they asked me “what would you like inside,” I said nothing and the person looked at strangely… I really just wanted to take it plane first, obviously I tried it with hummus and egg inside also, and spoiler… alert it was really delicious.

Israel has incorporated a lot of cheese in their cuisine, so I asked what type of cheese it is, and local people explained to us that if the milk or cheese is not specified, therefore, this is always Cow’s milk made. If it is sheep, Camel or goat you will definitely see it written in the box. As I am coming from Bulgaria for me, white cheese is also always made with cow‘s milk, but living in France white/feta cheese here is made from sheep or goats milk, which I actually dislike, so I need it to be sure is not feta just white cheese.

Challah

Probably the most famous Jewish bread, challah is often eaten during Sabbat dinner. It’s a bit dry-is and it is a bit sweet but not as sweet as Brioche or Stollen/Kozunak.

I remember when I went for very first time in US in 2011 I worked for a bagel Bakery/Deli/Inn and I used to take care of the owners three kids as my side job. They were Jewish so every Sabbat I was with them and was lucky as they shared their Sabbat traditions for the short time I spend with them, so they would always bake and offer Challah on Friday at the Bakery.

Explore Old Jaffa.

Old Jaffa a beautiful little town considered part of the greater Tel Aviv area and one of the best places to visit in Tel Aviv. I actually decided to do a 2-hours tour for free there. (if you decide to try, they have free tours with the Sandman webpage.) There are daily free walking tours of Old Jaffa that depart at 11 am and 2:00 pm from the Clock Tower. You will be asked to leave a tip for the tour, as nothing is actually free in Israel, but you can leave what you find appropriate. I did sew people who left as soon as the tour asked for tips, though. I did thought it was a bit rude as the woman who did the tour was very nice, given us a lot of info and also funny.

So we started walking through the narrow streets of Jaffa, passing by the Clock Tower, the Flea Market, the Wishing Bridge, Andromeda’s Rock and Al-Bahr Mosque. And we ended up in Jaffa Port, where we joined in the crowds inside Old. Jaffa.

Old Jaffa, the oldest part of Tel Aviv (whose city by the way, is a UNESCO site)

Jews, Christians and Muslims living in harmony in a small district of Tel Aviv.

Jaffa (yaffo in Hebrew) is about 3,500 years old. Ancient Egypt ruled Jaffa around 1500 B.C. then it kept changing hands – ruled by Philistines, Israelites, Moslems, Mamluks, Crusaders, Ottomans, British, Israel. Jaffa is mentioned in the Bible – as the port to where Jonah fled fearing the wreath of God. Napoleon put a siege around the walls of the town, conquered it and his soldiers conducted a bloody massacre there. Later the walls came down.

Today Old Jaffa is part of Tel Aviv. It has been reconstructed but still remains an ancient, charming place. It includes a fishermen’s port , exotic allies and antique buildings, lots of art galleries and shops of antiquities, great restaurants (I was surprised to find a Bulgarian restaurant there, until the tour guide actually said that Bulgarians re constructed the fishermen’s port.), a very interesting Flea Market, the wonderful St. Peter church and last, but not least – a great view of Tel Aviv and the shores of the Mediterranean.

Experience Tel Aviv Things happen when you least expect them. For example I would have never considered moving to France and yet the opportunity came to me out of nowhere one day.Similar is the case here, as Israel was not in our travel list for this year, but my husband sent here urgently for a few weeks due to work.

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topfygad · 5 years

Text

The Best Things to Do and See in Israel: Looking Past the Conflict

I didn’t at all know what to expect when I boarded that flight to Israel.

It’s a complicated place, this Israel.

It’s no easy task understanding what’s going on over here, and the whole story involves elements of history, politics and religion from hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

If you want to brush up on your knowledge, it might be worth reading this.

And on top of that, I found something in Israel that I truly wasn’t expecting.

Things to Do in Israel

And a lot of sand.

Land Rover-ing in the Negev Desert

Inside the Ramon Crater

Hanging off the edge of the Ramon Crater

Cruising in the Negev Desert with Adam Sela

Exploring the Negev Desert with Adam Sela and his Land Rover

His trusty Land Rover has clocked more than 1.3 million km in the Negev Desert.

Pro tip: Ask Adam about his other job—he has some incredibly interesting stories!

Photographing the Dead Sea

Toasted land next to the turquoise Dead Sea

Salt formations at the southern Dead Sea

Pro tip: Don’t shave any part of your body before swimming in the Dead Sea. The salt burns, burns, burns, and if you’re a lady, well, it’s not going to be a pleasant experience.

Exploring Timna National Park

Timna selfie!

Climbing Solomon’s Pillars, Timna National Park

View of Timna National Park from the top of Solomon’s Pillars

The views from the top, though? Totally worth it.

Pro tip: Don’t rent bikes at Timna. They’re impossible to ride in the sand.

Experiencing the Holiest City in the World

Looking out over Jerusalem

– In Christianity, Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.

– For the Jews, Jerusalem is the ancestral and spiritual homeland. Those who practice outside of Jerusalem pray facing its direction.

Western Wall, Jerusalem

The site where Jesus was buried

Lighting a candle inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

To see the holiest place on earth was, indeed, an eye opening experience. To see a city so largely divided, yet living as one, was something else entirely.

Falafel, Hummus, and Tahini, Oh My!

Eating in Israel is something to be especially excited about. I wasn’t excited when I arrived, but the more food I was presented with, the more infatuated with the cuisine I became.

And though it usually was, when hummus wasn’t served, I got very, very angry.

Connecting with My Heritage

Coffee with Moshe, my 2nd cousin

More Information on Visiting Israel

Traveling to Israel is safe. Unless there are imminent warnings, there is no need to worry about traveling in Israel–it’s a wonderful, culturally eye-opening place to visit.

The topic of Israel can be controversial. This is a travel article, not a political one. Please keep your comments relevant and respectful.

READ NEXT: Breaking the Rules in Petra, Jordan: Free Climbing to the Top of the Monastery

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/3dhF56k via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Cheapr Travels

0 notes

topfygad · 5 years

Text

The Best Things to Do and See in Israel: Looking Past the Conflict

I didn’t at all know what to expect when I boarded that flight to Israel.

It’s a complicated place, this Israel.

It’s no easy task understanding what’s going on over here, and the whole story involves elements of history, politics and religion from hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

If you want to brush up on your knowledge, it might be worth reading this.

And on top of that, I found something in Israel that I truly wasn’t expecting.

Things to Do in Israel

And a lot of sand.

Land Rover-ing in the Negev Desert

Inside the Ramon Crater

Hanging off the edge of the Ramon Crater

Cruising in the Negev Desert with Adam Sela

Exploring the Negev Desert with Adam Sela and his Land Rover

His trusty Land Rover has clocked more than 1.3 million km in the Negev Desert.

Pro tip: Ask Adam about his other job—he has some incredibly interesting stories!

Photographing the Dead Sea

Toasted land next to the turquoise Dead Sea

Salt formations at the southern Dead Sea

Pro tip: Don’t shave any part of your body before swimming in the Dead Sea. The salt burns, burns, burns, and if you’re a lady, well, it’s not going to be a pleasant experience.

Exploring Timna National Park

Timna selfie!

Climbing Solomon’s Pillars, Timna National Park

View of Timna National Park from the top of Solomon’s Pillars

The views from the top, though? Totally worth it.

Pro tip: Don’t rent bikes at Timna. They’re impossible to ride in the sand.

Experiencing the Holiest City in the World

Looking out over Jerusalem

– In Christianity, Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.

– For the Jews, Jerusalem is the ancestral and spiritual homeland. Those who practice outside of Jerusalem pray facing its direction.

Western Wall, Jerusalem

The site where Jesus was buried

Lighting a candle inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

To see the holiest place on earth was, indeed, an eye opening experience. To see a city so largely divided, yet living as one, was something else entirely.

Falafel, Hummus, and Tahini, Oh My!

Eating in Israel is something to be especially excited about. I wasn’t excited when I arrived, but the more food I was presented with, the more infatuated with the cuisine I became.

And though it usually was, when hummus wasn’t served, I got very, very angry.

Connecting with My Heritage

Coffee with Moshe, my 2nd cousin

More Information on Visiting Israel

Traveling to Israel is safe. Unless there are imminent warnings, there is no need to worry about traveling in Israel–it’s a wonderful, culturally eye-opening place to visit.

The topic of Israel can be controversial. This is a travel article, not a political one. Please keep your comments relevant and respectful.

READ NEXT: Breaking the Rules in Petra, Jordan: Free Climbing to the Top of the Monastery

source http://cheaprtravels.com/the-best-things-to-do-and-see-in-israel-looking-past-the-conflict/

0 notes