Israel Journals
Entering the Promised Land
Chilling Out A Lot in Eilat
Tel Aviv - Part 1
Tel Aviv - Part 2
Jerusalem: The Holy Land
Yad Vashem
Shalom, Israel
Entering the Promised Land
Chilling Out A Lot in Eilat
Tel Aviv - Part 1
Tel Aviv - Part 2
Jerusalem: The Holy Land
Yad Vashem
Shalom, Israel
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Photo Albums
Links relating to
my trip
my trip
Accommodations
Cousin's apartment in Tel
Aviv
Other Sites
Yad Vashem
Cousin's apartment in Tel
Aviv
Other Sites
Yad Vashem
Israel...
June 2 - June 9, 2006
My Israeli Experience... Highs: The ease of crossing the border (despite my Syria and Lebanon stamps in my passport); creature comforts of home; being able to see family while in Tel Aviv; Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum); Old City of Jerusalem; Old Jaffa (in Tel Aviv); bathrooms with toilets and toilet paper (and sometimes even toilet seat covers). Lows: How insanely expensive this place is after traveling through the rest of the Middle East; some people aren't the most..um..friendly. Best Moment: While I've seen so many great things here, I have to say just being able to stroll around Tel Aviv and having no plan or sights to see is quite a treat. Smells: The Mediterranean Sea (while in Tel Aviv). Sounds: Lots of talking and laughing at the cafes; Israelis appearing to be in heated discussions; Israeli pop music. Sights: Resort-meets-Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk atmosphere in Eilat; Hebrew writing everywhere (I know this is obvious but it still feels like a big change after seeing Arabic everywhere); a Communist demonstration at Rabin Square (directly across from the apartment I'm staying at); tons and tons of cafes in Tel Aviv; graffiti consisting of Jewish stars; Independence Hall; Neve Tzedek; Old Jaffa; crafts market at Nahalat Binyamin; Holocaust Memorial (free). Tastes: All of the Western food you can think of; a much-craved ice blended from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; the best rugelach (a type of cookie/pastry) I've ever tasted. Purchases: Glass bowl, glass platter, purse/bag, earrings, shirt; Tampax Compact tampons (I know this doesn't sound like a big deal..but these are a rare find out in this part of the world). Street Food: Schwarma and falafel; different kinds of breads and pastries. Fun Food Finds: Pink grapefruit Mentos; McShawarmas, potato wedges (in addition to French fries) and corn fritters at McDonald's (in addition to no cheeseburgers). Western Companies Out Here: Sbarro; Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; Domino's; ACE Hardware. Other General Info... Visa needed? No. Type of currency? Shekels. Approximately 4.5 of the make up $1 US. Transportation: Walked right in from Taba (the border town in Egypt); buses will be used to get from city to city. Buses run from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv every fifteen minutes and the ride is only one hour long. Ben-Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv): There is free wireless Internet. Shabbat: Things here are closed from Friday late afternoon until Saturday at sundown. Sunday is part of their normal work schedule. Things Israel Is Known For: Being predominantly Jewish. Religion: Judaism. Costs: $375 |
The beach in Eilat.
The Old City of Jaffa viewed from Tel Aviv.
In Old Jerusalem.
