Hatrack River Forum: Israel: Stuff to do?

This is topic Israel: Stuff to do? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

I'm heaing to Israel. I'll be chilling with my family for the most part, but I will, of course, soon start to suffer from ennui.

So any ideas for things to do? Going North to see first hand rocket attacks is not on my calandar, unforutnatly. Nor is the Gaza trip. But other ideas? [Razz]

I'm gonna be in Jerusalem.

Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :

Perhaps you could write an exciting novel incorporating many of the historical and architectural artworks that the city of Jerusalem holds. Then you think up a far-fetched plot, and pretty soon your book will end up at the top of the bestseller-lists. And it'll stay there for over a year.

Pardon the sarcasm, if you please.
I actually have no real suggestions, but wish you to have a very good time.

Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

O_O

How did you guess I was going to research my latest novel? I've decided to write about how Leonardo De Vinci had a baby with the Mona Lisa, and that baby trained his baby to train his baby and so on... to train George W. Bush in arm to arm combat!

Through in three vampires, a witch, and a weird scar. Stir.

Now THERE's a best seller.

Posted by Edgehopper (Member # 1716) on :

More seriously...

Unfortunately, you're probably going to want to avoid Haifa at the moment. If it calms down a little, the Baha'i temle in Haifa is impressive.

In Jerusalem, you may want to look into a tour of some of the underground excavations near the temple. It was pretty cool.

For regular fun, Eilat (at the Southern tip) is the beach resort city of Israel. Very nice beaches and touristy stuff.

A trip to the Dead Sea is a must, though it's only necessary to do once and make sure to bring some pain relief ointment afterwards. If you had a minor scratch on any part of your body before you went in, you'll know shortly afterwards [Smile]

Travel's not a big problem--you can drive to anywhere in Israel and back in a few hours. It's a small country.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Edgehopper:
In Jerusalem, you may want to look into a tour of some of the underground excavations near the temple.

I was going to recommend this as well.

You should also visit Meah Shearim. Check out the Olivewood Factory, duck cars and pedestrians on the narrow cobblestone streets . . . [Big Grin]

Machane Yehudah is great fun (and you can get great bargains too).

Back in the Old City, there are many small artisan's shops just up the hill from the Wall (just beyond the touristy little restaurants and postcard shops). They have some lovely stuff, including the occasional small-enough-not-to-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg item. [Wink]

(I got my kids some beautiful one-of-a-kind dreidels there.) And with the drop in tourism, they'll really appreciate your business.

And a trip to the Old City is hardly complete with a visit to the Temple Institute.

Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :

Climb Masada for the sun rise. Birthright woke us up at 3 am to do this, and I really had not even heard of it before so I thought they were nuts. Probably one of the most breath taking sights I have ever seen.

Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

Thanks for the advice, guys [Smile]

. Anymore? ^^

Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :

Check out Ben Yehuda (a street not too far from the old city). Lots of cools stores, restaurants, and places to chill there. You can often find people playing music, and sometimes other cool acts too (I once saw some kids displaying their capoeira.

If you're a juice fan like me, I'd highly recommend shopping around both in a bunch of the grocery stores, as well as all the little fresh-squeezed carts and such that are around. Juices in Israel are so weird and yet soooooooooooo good.

Also, keep in mind that Tel-Aviv is only about an hour away, and you can take a sheirut (think airport-shuttle kinda vehicle) from right by Ben Yehuda to the central bus station in Tel Aviv for 20 or 25 shekels, if I remember correctly. (About 4.5 sheks to the dollar)

Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :

You might try emailing Raia... she hasn't been on the forum too much lately, but I think she's still checking her mail.

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

She's in New York for the week, but I could ask her for you later tonight.

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

What to do in Isreal? The same thing you do anywhere, try and take over the world.

(I did not say, What to do in Isreal? Why invade Lebanon of course. That would have been a cheap shot and I wouldn't do that)

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

Raia said there's a lot to do, then we got distracted and started talking about puppies.

But she mentioned that the Dead Sea is apparently drying up, and it's harder to get to, or something like that. So I guess see it while you can.

Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :

"Climb Masada for the sun rise. Birthright woke us up at 3 am to do this"

I tried this once, and it after all of the climbing and waking up early, it was too cloudy that day to see the sun [Grumble]

Posted by Beanny (Member # 7109) on :

I strongly reccomend the Nave-Tzedek and Nave-Shalom tour in Tel-Aviv, the architecture is beautiful and the historical background interesting.
If you know Hebrew, then you find the Tel Aviv Palmach museum very exciting.

Bad fastfood - Burger Ranch. BurgerKing and McDonalds are ok if the kids want it, but BurgerRanch... forget about it.

Good places to eat in Tel Aviv and its surroundings: Marmorek (good Fucacha and hamburgers), Miyako (Japanese), Manta Ray (sea food), Ilans (good coffee and great service), Max Brener (chocolate!), Badolina (cosher, in the harbour, good everything!) Saeed (great oriental food, do not confuse with Saeed2000).

Don't even consider a restaurant in the area of the Opera Buildings near the sea (many are tempted to do so from some reason), the mediocre meal won't be worth the money. If you want something fancy, tasty, with a wonderful seashore view - try Manta Ray.

Massada is great, and so is Ceasarea. Massada has a sentimental value beacuse of its history, but Cesearea is just as interesting, and there's a pleasant ocean breeze.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

One more thing to do in Israel: Meet me! (assuming you will still be there at the end of August)

[Big Grin]

Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

I will be there until August 24 [Razz]

.

Thanks for all the advice! I will certainly put some of it into action [Smile]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Darn it!

You're just avoiding me, aren't you? [Cry]