Israel

History, both modern and ancient, meet in the The Holy Land

Mike’s Snapshot Review

• WHEN: October, 2011

• DURATION: 10 days

• CITIES VISITED: 3 nights in Jerusalem, 3 in Eilat, 4 inTel Aviv

POSITIVES:

• History– You don’t have to be religious (and I am not) to find Israel and its story fascinating. The nation itself may date back only to the 1940’s, but its cities and the surrounding regions are as old as recorded history itself. A lot has happened over 3,000 years.

• Culture– If you are a believer, be it Christian, Jewish, or yes, Muslim, then a trip to Israel (or at least Jerusalem) is practically a requirement. The media might convince those around the world that israel is some sort of war-torn backwater. That’s not the case at all, and it’s a valuable lesson.

• Size– About the size of New Jersey, much of Israel and nearly all its major sights can be seen in a week.

• Weather– It’s mostly pleasant, but It’s desert, so that can mean blazing hot days and cold mountain nights. Tel Aviv is on the sea and gets cooler breezes than other regions. Do your homework.

• Nightlife- This surprises some, but while Jerusalem tends to be a bit more religious and staid, Tel Aviv is a major party beach city. Nightclubs abound, and they go LATE into the night.

• Women– I had heard about the beauty of Israeli women before my arrival, and it was proved wonderfully true. Whether it’s the sun, the Mediterranean diet, or the mandatory army service, whatever they’re doing, it’s working.

• Language– While Hebrew is the national language, nearly every Israeli knows English. However, some things, like movies or the comedy show I attended, may be entirely in Hebrew. Inquire beforehand. ** **

• **Coffee- **The Middle East is a cafe culture, not a pub culture. Israelis love their coffee and sweets, and for good reason- both are superb here, especially the iced coffee.

• Safety– This may come as a shocker if you watch Western media, but yes, Israel is a very safe country, particularly to tourists. This is because smart tourists generally stay in the safe regions. Just like there are certain sections of our major cities best avoided, same goes for Israel. Security forces, police, tour operators, and just about every citizen can tell you what areas are unsafe- listen to them. Areas like the Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, and Left Bank are off-limits.

NEGATIVES:

• Security– I can hear you now: “But Mike, you just told us it was safe!” True, but the reason it’s so safe is there is an overwhelming security presence. If the sight of soldiers and police carrying uzis everywhere bothers you, then you’re out of luck. Leave at least three hours either way at the airports when arriving or departing. This is no joke. You will be answering a lot of questions and it’s very likely your bags will be searched.

• Cost– Israel is a small but wealthy nation. Prices, especially for the nicer hotels and resorts, can be high. I paid more to scuba dive in Eilat than almost anywhere I’ve been.

• Distance– It’s not exactly convenient to get to from the U.S., although there are some direct flights. Let’s face it- it’s a haul, especially in coach. I was passing through from Europe to Asia, so it was somewhat on the way. But if you’re going that far, you may want to tack on other countries to the itinerary.

MUST DO:

• Visit the Old City of Jerusalem. It’s divided into Christian, Muslim, and Jewish sections. Take a guided tour, because there are so many questions to be answered and so much to learn.

• Take a trip to the Dead Sea. It’s true that the salt content is so high you literally cannot sink, and the mineral-richmud is known for it’s healing properties. Rub it all over yourself!

• Visit the ancient city of** Masada** near the Dead Sea.

• Shop at the Jerusalem Market.

• Drink the** iced coffee.**

• Eat lots of hummous.** **

**RECOMMENDED? **

Yes, especially for followers of religion, history and global politics. If these things hold little interest to you, it may be a long way to go for the payoff. It is a place I have been hearing about my entire life, and I was very glad I experienced it to paint a face (and faces) to the image. It was an education as well as a good time, and a place that many people have an opinion on, but few have been. Go there and have your eyes and mind opened.

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