I went here (mainly stayed in the Old City, Arab quarters) when I was 13 years old, in 2010 and enjoyed playing soccer with the arab street kids, my parents made a photo of the team and sent lots of copies to the address of the coach.
They had a lot of hate installed in them against the Jews and constantly sought conflict with soldiers and normal Israeli citizens. My father even had to break up a fight between one and a soldier.
I want to spend more time in the Golan heights in particular and work on a farm. First I want to learn some Hebrew so I can be useful.
I’ll be there in 11 days from now! Last time I visited was 2 years ago. I can’t wait to see my grandma and other family members. Going to tour around this time as well and climb Masada again, swim in the Dead Sea, and visit friends down in Eilat. I’m even looking forward to the heat =)
Okay, I arrived in Tel Aviv and was immediately pleased with the bathrooms. You think its dumb, but as a girl who pees a lot, it was important to me. Tel Aviv was very modern, very much like the west. Next I spent some time in Tiberias, Nazareth, and Capernaum. The more well known cities have huge (catholic) churches, which I (personally) found gaudy. However in smaller places like Capernaum, we took a boat across the Sea of Galilee that was very authentic looking (no doubt for tourists like me, but I liked it, so it worked). I spent on day (and no nights) in arab-held Bethleham. It was the only place I visited that was arab-held and their was a checkpoint complete with barbed wire and armed guards on both sides and a “no man’s land” in the middle that you had to walk. Bethlehem was the first (and only) place (in Israel) that I experienced “squatty pottys” So, that already said something in my mind. Surprisingly it was the only place I was afraid and other than the armed guards at the checkpoint, those were the only guns I saw. Which is unlike the rest of the cities. Every person (male and female) at (I’m guessing) 16 is inscripted into the army, so EVERYWHERE you go, there are kids with big guns walking around. Sometimes they are in uniforms and sometimes not, depending, it seemed, on whether or not they were on duty. They seemed to be on a day and then off for a couple of days but they always had their guns (big machine guns mostly), the kind you’d expect a soldier to be carrying. Jerusalem, there are really two cities. One inside the other. The inside one is called “Old Jerusalem” and is literally surrounded by the walls you read about in the Bible. So, I stayed at a hotel in Jerusalem, but only went into Old Jerusalem during the day. Jerusalem was the only place that made a big deal about not mixing meat dishes with milk dishes too. I spent 8-9 days on a tour in Israel and as wonderful as it was, and as much as I saw…I think I could spend a full week just exploring inside walls of Old Jerusalem. That’s why I want to go back.
over 4 years ago
I’m going to Israel with Project Interchange for a university media seminar on June 15, 2008. I am so excited – all I have to pay for is my ticket from Cleveland to New York, and they’ll cover the rest. We’re going to talk to politicians and journalists to learn all about the region and the conflict. I absolutely can’t wait!
“Hi, I’m planning on spending a month in Israel at Tel Aviv U taking classes, and then staying about a week and a half after. I really want to visit Greece—what is the best way to get from Israel to Greece? Keep in mind that I am on a student budget.”
over 5 years ago
“I was thinking of living on a kibbutz after I graduate. Has anyone done this and can you tell me a bit about your experience? Any advice or suggestions on how I can go about this?”
over 7 years ago
Israel air strikes: latest travel adviceDecember 30, 2008
The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Gaza following Israel's
attacks, but has not modified its advice to other areas of the country.
(read article)
Massage, Not Work, on the Kibbutz in Israelby SARAH WILDMANJune 29, 2008Once socialist collective farms, the kibbutz is being transformed into vacation retreats with flat-screen TVs, swimming pools and yoga classes.(read article)
Massage, Not Work, on the Kibbutz in Israelby SARAH WILDMANJune 29, 2008Once socialist collective farms, the kibbutz is being transformed into vacation retreats with flat-screen TVs, swimming pools and yoga classes.(read article)
A tale of Tel AvivJune 10, 2007
The actor and theatre director Steven Berkoff has the best day of his life in Israel's vibrant and ambitious second city.
(read article)