Israel

9/10/10

Just saying hi and Shana Tova (happy new year) from here in Israel. We're on a tour bus on our way back to Tel Aviv for awhile so have some time to write. Can't give all the stories and details of course (too many!) but will give a summary.

We've been having a great time here. Started the trip in Jerusalem and spent lots of time exploring the Old City and its different quarters (Jewish Arab Christian Armenian) and went to the Wall (several times). Took a tour around the Old City. Did lots of walking around the old and new parts of the city (Rich did some Google maps calcs and says something like 12+ miles total one day!) stopped in some markets, walked around Ben Yehuda street at night which is a popular hang out area, and ate lots of falafel.

From Jerusalem we headed to Eilat where we celebrated our anniversary. A really nice beach town with a huge stretch of hotels and resorts and beautiful beaches. Went snorkeling, walked around, had a nice dinner along the beach. Its been really hot out (guess they call it a desert for a reason).

Next day we went to Petra in Jordan. Really amazing place. There's a site there (which was bigger than we expected) where an old civilization literally carved a temple, buildings, and other things into these big rock mountains. You can tell why they decided to film Indiana Jones there (besides Rich's constant reminders of asking where the holy grail is) because it really does look like a movie set - but more amazing. Really incredible.  It was neat to visit another country too and have Jordanian tour guides. (One of which was a 6 months pregnant woman, modestly covered, who walked the 3 hours with us in the scorching heat.. While fasting for Ramadan. Wow)

Since then we've made our way to Tel Aviv. We have a hotel right on the beach with a balcony looking out onto the beaches and ocean. Really beautiful. The public beaches here stretch on for a very long way and are very nice clean and pretty. And the water is soo warm, its great.

We had a tour to Golan Heights and the surrounding areas one day - with a great tour guide who was a wealth of knowledge, and had true real life stories of growing up here and his days of fighting in the wars that have occurred here. (Randomly he is an Israeli who also lived in Carmel Mtn in San diego for a year or two.. But has also lived all over the world.. Iiterally.. Very worldly and interesting person). We saw all of the Syrian barracks that are still around - they don't get rid of them cause there are still land mines everywhere so its dangerous and expensive to clean all that up. And looked out onto Syria from a close distance. Also went to Meggido - a tel (hill) with 23 layers of 23 different civilizations uncovered there. A really interesting archaelogical place (with a great deal of history and stories related to).  And drove through Nazareth. And stopped in Tiberias which has lots of history too. Saw an ancient synagogue. And of course had more falafel!

Have wandered around Tel Aviv a bit. Went to shul (synagogue) for Rosh Hashana for a bit. Spent some time on the beach.

Today had a tour of Caesarea, Haifa, Akko and Rosh Hanikra. All coastal towns with lots of history. And ruins and buildings from various eras. Saw some neat tunnels and grottoes and landscapes. Saw the Lebanon border. Stopped by an Arab market which was in the middle of celebrating Eid Al Fitr - the Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan. Marveled at the Arab market shops and the toys for sale - literally at least 50% of which are (often quite realistic looking) toy guns. And children playing with the toy guns in the streets. Interesting.

Have a few more days left (and will be sad to leave this amazing place!). Have plans to hike Masada and go to the Dead Sea and visit the Qumran Caves. Also hope to see some relatives from both of our families, see some more of Tel Aviv, and we'll see what else!  We know whatever we do there will be more fun and falafel ahead :)