Blogs from Israel, Middle East - page 161

Following the instructions from the decades-old poster, I visited the West Bank. The journey was perhaps one of the most politically intriguing experience I went through. The boarder between West Bank and Israel is marked by a fenced concrete wall erecting perhaps more than 8 meters. It took us (me and 2 other westerners) 10 minutes to get from Jerusalem to the crossing by shared taxi. The gate was a large complex that resembled much like an international airport crossing. Going into the west bank was simple and easy, for foreigners who bare no Arabic resemblance and hold a developed country’s passport: flash you passport, smile, and walk. The Palestinians on the other hand, have to show detailed documentation, answer questions, then scan their fingerprints on the way in, every single time. After the gate ... read more

Trip ItinieraryBlechman Family Fianlly, we are reaching the last mile in our preparations for the big west USA travel. this trip is a 7 years dream from the moment we were back from our "honey moon" in Australia, New-Zealand and Fiji in 2000. This time, we are planning the trip with our extended family including Roy and Michal (the new-old travellers). For all those who are not aware yet, we are planning a 4 weeks trip in West USA (California, Nevada) + 1 week of relax & massive shopping in Dallas (Visiting Eran and Merav). Trip dates: Departure: June 25th Arrival to Dallas: July 21st Back Home: July 27th Itinerary can be seen on the left side. Just click on the attaced map Main spots we are planning to visit: San Francisco, via route 1 to ... read more

If it was the sense of the exotic that tugged at my heartstrings through all these months in the Arab world - the crowded souqs, the pungent spices, the men kissing and holding hands and carrying on like a trailer for Spartacus - it’s the utterly familiar that gets me off to a good start here in Israel. There are young mothers in yoga pants and Crocs and men wearing baseball caps with Daytona Beach stitched across the front. There are kids debating the National League East standings on a park bench. There’s even a middle-aged dad tossing around the ol’ pigskin with his son on the sidewalk. It’s like I left Damascus and ran smack into the Jersey Turnpike, hitching a ride in the back of a Ford Taurus while some guy named Eddie ... read more

The trip from the border takes us through lush quilts of farmland and fields of bobbing sunflowers - the sorts of Edenesque flourishes that make the words “Promised Land” sound like more than just snazzy PR. We drive through tidy suburbs with orange-tiled roofs and leafy yards, little girls pedaling their bicycles down the street, plaits of hair swinging from their pastel-colored helmets. If there’s any sure-fire sign that I’m a long way from the rest of the Middle East, it’s the fact that it feels like I’ve dozed off and woken up in Poughkeepsie. There are terriers scampering down the street, late-model sedans in more than a few driveways. I’m half-expecting a Mr. Softee truck to come coasting down the avenue, playing a cheerful, off-key jingle while a gaggle of screeching kids follow. With ... read more

Shalom! We have spent the last 3 days in Jerusalem. Upon arrival, we drove in and did nothing the first day. The following day, we booked a tour of the Old City and saw the Armenian, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian quarters. We also spent 1.5h at Yad Vashem (not enough time). I had seen most of these sites before but it was a new experience for Josh, but it's always nice to see things again. The next day we went to the Israel Museum - of which the archaeological wing was closed... until 2009... for "comprehensive renovations". We saw the Dead Sea Scrolls though, which was amazing in itself. Later that day we took a scenic drive to a stalagtite/stalagmite cave near Beit Shemesh... which was closed for the day. Notice the theme. Also, I forgot ... read more