“Unfortunately, Israel is the only country in the West in which there is not yet full freedom of religion for Jews. We are paying a heavy price for the Orthodox monopoly.” Yizhar Hess, Jerusalem Post, April 17, 2009.
Top Things to Do and See
During my four plus months in Israel, primarily in Jerusalem, the things that I have enjoyed or learned from the most have been:
- The Mehane Yehuda market
Mehane Yehuda market - Walking around the Old City. The three-hour “free tour” every day at 11:00 a.m. was a good way to get oriented, learn a bit of history and see the main sites. It really isn’t free, the guide expected a tip.
Jewish Quarter Old City - Walking through East Jerusalem and Me’a She’arim.
Security fence/wall East Jerusalem - Looking at the Old City from the viewpoint on Mt. Scopus or the Mount of Olives
Chris at Hebrew University Mt. Scopus overlook - Touring of the City of David
- Looking at the Dead Sea scrolls and related artifacts at the Israel Museum
- Eating a falafal on the street. The one I liked the best is at the Southern entrance to the Mehane Yehuda Market on Agripas street.
- Eating humous and chicken kababs at Abu Shukre in Abu Gosh.
- Visiting Petra in Jordan
Petra - Walking along the beach in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv beach sunset - Visiting Massada and floating in the Dead Sea
Noah floating in the Dead Sea - Taking the free (really free) Saturday morning walking tours sponsored by the Municipality.
Mehane Yehuda market
Jewish Quarter Old City
Security fence/wall East Jerusalem
Chris at Hebrew University Mt. Scopus overlook
Petra
Tel Aviv beach sunset
Noah floating in the Dead SeaFor those of you who have been here, what would be on your list?
On the top of my list of things I have enjoyed or learned from the most, from this side of the world, having NEVER been there, are:
ReplyDelete1. Hanging out in AK with your lovely wife Christine, and talking to you on Skype early in the morning before you have had your coffee.
2. Drinking morning coffee with my husband and regularly reading your blog.
3. Seeing all the amazing pictures of you and your family that Christine shared with me.
4. All the skincare products from Israel that are making me look at least 10 years younger.
5. Getting to know your cat, Tony, who seems to like me better when you are not around.
For those of you who have NOT been there, what would be on your list?
having only been there vicariously thru my sister, chris, brother-in-law, randy and their children, hannah and noah,the UPS man~michael, and co-worker~anne,my bucket list would be definitely to walk the market and float in the dead sea, see petra and gaze across gaza!!!!contact marketing dept of AHAVA and tell them to produce 3.4 oz tubes of their fine dead sea salt health and beauty creams, so we can get them onboard in a QUART-SIZE ziploc thru TSA!!!!!love reading randy's blog, especially on saturday morn along with 'CLICK and CLACK' and "WHAT DO YOU KNOW? w/MICHAEL FELDMAN(WHO WILL BE BACK IN FAIRBANKS THIS YEAR) ON NPR w/ my morning cupa joe!!!!!safe traveling ...
ReplyDeletenansi
oops, and of course, laughing so hard with chris and sarah while talking to randy on 'skype' that we almost fell out of our chairs..hopefully we didn't irritate your morning wakeup call!!!
ReplyDeleteI think some of my favorites places were the Hula Valley and driving north to Psfat. I was amazed by the dessert in the south near Eilat. I loved being able to see Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt while standing in Israel. Masada and Petra were amazing, as was Mitspe Ramon.
ReplyDeleteMost special though was being able to explore all of this with those nice people who I got to hang out with there.