My trips – hahu"l calul

Athens – the second time

hilalevy — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 07:57:30 +0000

July 2024.

My first time in Athens was a girls trip and it was perfect, Athens pleasantly surprised me.

This time I came to Athens on a family trip with my extended family (husband, children, husband of my daughter, my parents, my brother and his wife), we were a total of ten people, quite a large group for such a trip.

So how was it? What do I recommend doing on such a family trip? All the tips and advice in the post before you.

Athens Greece July 2024 Here we come!

It was a spontaneous trip scheduled from now to now, luckily I was already in Athens,

but for all the other travelers it was the first time there.

The flight to Athens

I booked flights (round trip) through Israir. I don’t recommend it, it’s not worth it, do yourself a favor and stay away.

Why? The reviews about them are not good, people had bad experiences with them and I didn’t listen and I didn’t stay away, I was optimistic.

The flight was supposed to leave the country on Sunday at 21:30, when we got to check-in we were already told that the flight was delayed a bit, the departure time just kept getting longer and longer and further and further away..

Over time we were told that they don’t know if the flight will leave at all because there is a technical problem with the plane , according to them.

We were in the field for hours, waiting for the boarding gate to open, people got angry, lost their ability to travel to the city with a driver they booked in advance, lost the first night at the hotel (because we arrived late in the morning) and more…

the flight finally left at 2:00 in the morning! instead at 9:30 p.m. We arrived in Athens at 4:00, and took 3 taxis from the field to the apartment hotel I booked (Each taxi cost 40 euros.).

Accommodation in Athens

Since I booked the flight quite late, close to the time of the trip,

it was difficult for me to find a hotel with enough rooms for all of us..

I needed 5 double rooms, so I looked for apartments for us in a central area and found an apartment hotel in an excellent location, a short walk from all the main places in Athens.

The hotel is called Triple A and they offer free parking nearby for those who rent a car.

The apartments were beautiful and clean, the service was good and the location, as I said, perfect!

Link to book an apartment here

We arrived at the apartment early in the morning and went to sleep..

Start the trip

After a few hours of sleep we went for a walk and got to know Athens,

we started the day with breakfast at a restaurant called Ciel, there is a terrace on the roof and you can see the Acropolis from there, apart from that we were not impressed by the the food and the service, you can give up. After breakfast we walked on Monastiraki square,

in the square itself we bought sim cards for the phone at a stand, everything worked well and from the moment we all had internet we could split up and everyone went about their business.

My children went to the shops in the Aremo pedestrian mall, we went to find out at Hamam Polis what the costs are and if it is possible to order a treatment, from there we continued to walk around and walk the streets of Athens.

We drank something cold at Starbucks, ate the famous dessert (hot fried donut/spinz balls with delicious chocolate on top) and went for a dream massage.

After resting at noon, we went for an evening walk and looked for a place to sit down to eat,

we sat at a very nice Tavern near Monastiraki Square and next to the Paris Tavern (which was closed until October), there were two singers who played and sang, and it was really nice, pleasant and tasty, we really enjoyed the atmosphere, From the food and the music.

After dinner I returned to the hotel with my son and the rest continued from there to another tavern,

its name is Kotili, I read mixed opinions about the place and gave up in advance, everyone else jumped there for half an hour and enjoyed the laughter and the excessive atmosphere that was there..

from there They went on to another place to hang out, they are young… every night they were at a bar/roof top/club of their choice..

Good night, day 1 in Athens is over

Monday in Athens - Lake Voligmani

Yesterday was hot, today we are going to refresh ourselves at Vouliagmani Lake

Those who spent last night had a hard time getting up early…

We got up before them, bought water and fruit from the nearest supermarket and coffee

from Starbucks for everyone.

We ordered a taxi with UBER and went to the lake (those who got up later arrived at the lake a little late),

the recommendation is to get to the lake before 11:00 to find a good place in the shade, I understood that you can reserve comfortable seats (beds) in advance.

Entrance to the place costs 17 euros per person!

The place has a restaurant with waiters who go around among you and serve you what you order.

There is also a spa there (prices are not cheap, book a treatment in advance with them).

their website address https://lakevouliagmeni.gr/

We had no problem bringing food and water into the place, but the food should be modest because it is forbidden…

At the beginning of the lake (in the shallow water) there are small fish that come to your feet and

there are people who don’t like it and it prevents them from going in to swim.

We were there for a few hours (not much) and returned to the hotel to rest.

At noon I went to the massage again and after that I walked between beautiful and

nice Coffee shops.

Tonight we have a pre-booked place (for 21:30) at an authentic local tavern called Klimataria,

we got there on time and got in right away, people were waiting outside but didn’t go in without a reservation. The place is very crowded, the band is loud (because we sat close to it), the service is very slow,

and apart from the fact that the food there was delicious,

I don’t really recommend the place and don’t understand why there are recommendations about it.

We didn’t enjoy it. In my opinion, it is better to walk on foot and look for a place that you find pleasant and inviting and sit there.

There are many such places in Athens and the seating is outside and not in a closed and crowded place.

From there we went for a walk in the streets and arrived at Kayak ice cream where there are ice creams, shakes, milkshakes and more..

We ate our dessert there and went back to the hotel to sleep, the young people went out again to hang out until late at night.

They went to a party at Bolivar Beach, the beach we will be at tomorrow.

Day 2 in Athens is also over for him, good night!

Tuesday in Athens - Bolivar Beach

Today, like yesterday, we tried to get up early (not early enough), bought water, fruit, bread, coffee,

made omelettes and sandwiches and set off in 3 taxis. Today we are going to the stunning Bolivar Beach!

Entrance fee to the beach is 8 euros (adults over the age of 65 pay 4 euros),

you are not allowed to enter with water and food (if there is in the bag and you can’t see it, you can bring it in), we came with 2 packs of small water bottles and left them at the entrance, until we went back to the hotel.

The cost of a pair of sunbeds/chairs is 17 euros. Here, too, there are waiters who bring you a menu and serve you food and drinks to order (not cheap).

The beach has “wipe-out” facilities in the water and also the possibility to rent a pedal boat (take the one with a thatch) and/or a SUP. My kids rented it,

I don’t know how much it cost.

The beach is very beautiful, clean, spacious, there is a restaurant on the beach, the water is blue and beautiful and all in all we had a pleasant and fun time there and we really enjoyed it there.

We were there from morning until noon, from there we split up and everyone went about their business.

We went to the hotel and from there we went for a walk around the city.

We rested for lunch and went out in the evening to the Plaka area, we ate ice cream there, we went back to the hotel, the young people again went out to party at night.

And so ended our third day in Athens, good night

Fourth and last day in Athens

We didn’t make any plans for today, it’s a free day for everyone to choose what they want to do.

My daughter and her husband returned on an earlier flight than ours, so their trip ended here.

We got up a little late and went to breakfast that we received as a gift from our hotel, it was a simple and satisfying meal (crisps, croissants, butter, chocolate spread, hard-boiled eggs, cheese pastries, coffee, water), from there some went to rest a little more in the room,

some went for final shopping and some Took a taxi to the Acropolis.

In the afternoon we all met and went to have one last massage,

after we finished we sat in an Italian restaurant called Avio which the opinions I read about it are divided.

Our opinion: Expensive, small dishes, but tasty and special!! worth trying!

Those who love Italian food will enjoy it even more!

From there we continued walking around the city in the shops until it was time to go back

to the room to pack and get ready for our flight back home.

Public transportation in Athens

We traveled mostly by taxis, we used the Uber app which worked great.

Another app for taxis that they recommended (we didn’t try): Freenow

If you arrive at the airport at a normal time you can travel from the airport to your hotel by metro,

there is an excellent metro from the airport straight to the central squares of Athens.

To Monastiraki and Syntagma. 9 euros per person.

It is possible to order a shuttle from Booking, after you have booked Hotel Booking will offer you to book your shuttle. Good service and recommended.

You can order a shuttle through Nikos, phone: +30-690-742-3737

The Athens electric train – is the most convenient and fastest way to get out of the city,

it also reaches most of the beaches, it leaves from Syntagma Square.

The Mobit app Moovit for public transport works well in Athens.

Massages in Athens

There are many places where you can get a massage in Athens, if you walk along the Aremo pedestrian street they will offer you to take a flyer with details, prices, address and more…

I have been to 2 different places where I had a massage, I liked one of them more than the other, but there too – very much depends on which therapist /t you will get. There are better ones and less good ones.

I suggest you ask for a strong massage and if it is too strong for you, you can always tell them during the massage to lower the intensity.

The place I’ve been to several times is called: Centro Di Massaggio

and the address is: Voulis 22, 1st floor. Phone (also possible on WhatsApp) +30-698-686-9055 Average cost for a 50-minute massage: 30-35 euros.

Another place – a hammam – for a special treatment of scrubbing + massage (50 minutes each)

is called POLIS HAMAM. My daughter and her husband were there and really enjoyed it, a scrubbing and massage treatment costs 97 euros.

Web site: https://polis-hammam.gr/

addres: Avliton 6-8, Athina 105 54, יוון

phone: +30 21 0321 2020

More places for massage:

Salon De Massage at Armo 16, also at Armo 18 there is a place where massage is done.

Another hammam: Al Hammam Plaka

Restaurants/taverns and desserts

In Athens there are restaurants that are on a high floor and overlook the Acropolis,

it’s called Roof Top.

Example roof top: Attic Rooftop

Italian restaurant Ovio – those who love Italian and special food, this is the place.

Mashlane restaurants- https://yasasgreece.com/michelin-restaurants/

A rare fish restaurant, great prices-Μπαρμπουνάκι Μητροπόλεως

Recommended Gyros – Tylixto Greek Wrap

The Kuzina Athens restaurant on Adrianou street, a restaurant that has been receiving Michelin stars for several years in a row. The restaurant serves dishes of all kinds – meat, fish and pasta. As in any Michelin restaurant, there are 5-6 dishes in each category, the decor is warm and pleasant and the prices are completely reasonable for a Michelin restaurant.

Overall croissanterie – special and delicious croissants

A rare ball dessert LUKUMAΔΕΣ – we bought there several times, about 6 euros for 10 balls with white chocolate and pistachio chocolate.

Little cook – a magical place for desserts, both day and night! A special atmosphere, the concept changes every few months, currently the concept is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (before that it was Alice in Wonderland).

Fairy tail – a beautiful, special, pink and dreamy cafe.

Kayak Ice Cream – ice cream parlor, shakes, yogurt and more… recommended.

Davinci Gelato – ice creams, natural fruit popsicles and more.

Winners Vegan – a vegan restaurant.

Juan rodriguez – A delicious and special cocktail bar.

Lohan club – a club in an area of clubs in Gazi. web site: https://lohanathens.com/

Beaches near Athens

Bolivar – a beautiful beach, recommended. About 20 minutes drive from the city, we were there.

There is a massage on the beach for 50 euros per hour. At night there are parties there.

Astir Beach – also a good beach, we weren’t.

Dior Beach – I wasn’t, looks beautiful and chic.

Shopping in Athens

Athens Mall – Metro Mall, a large mall, many stores and well-known chains.

There is a huge gumbo near the mall – an experience!!

Ermo Street and Luxury Brands Avenue, a promenade full of shops, including Zara, Mango, H&O and more.

Glyfada center – an avenue of boutique shops, restaurants and bars – recommended area!

Hondus Center chain – cosmetics at good prices!

Nike store – near Singrama Square at the beginning of the street up parallel to McDonald’s.

Pool & Bar down the middle of the street of Ermo on the left.

*Tax refund from 50 euros or more to take the receipts, ask for forms when paying at the cash register, sign the forms you received before handing over your luggage…cash back at duty free after you hand over your luggage and go through security…very worth it!

Recommended hotels in Athens

Clicking on the hotel name will take you to it in the booking.

The apartment hotel we stayed at – TRIPLE A – Details at the beginning of the post..

The hotel I was in last time in Athens, Elia Aremo is located in the middle of Aremo Promenade

Nix Hotel – Good hotel, but the rooms and pool are relatively small

Central Boutiqe Hotel – Classic Hotel By Athens Prime Hotels

Electra Metropolis

A relatively new suite hotel Woo suits

*Please note, the Ammonia Square area is not recommended, do not take a hotel there and do not travel there. Its not pleasant there.

Conclusion

We had a lovely family trip to Athens, the Greeks are kind and nice, the trip itself doesn’t have to be expensive (depending on how much you decide to spend there and where you’ll sleep),

you can also travel outside of Athens, but if You don’t go outside the city, it’s enough to spend only 3 full days there and experience the city properly.

On a trip to Athens you will find historical sites, plenty of shops, delicious and good food, pampering massages, performances by Greek bands and singers,

beautiful beaches and in short the good life!

we deserve it!

Have fun!

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Northern Italy with adult children

hilalevy — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 15:03:14 +0000

It’s been three years since we flew abroad as a full family! Wow! So much time has passed, it’s hard to believe!

My children are currently at my age: 21, 18, 13.

So here it is finally happening!

About six months ago, I ordered our tickets to Bergamo – Italy and hoped that the trip

would actually come true.

In a crazy time like the one we are going through with the corona epidemic, closures, vaccinations

and various restrictions all over the world.

As soon as the flights resumed as usual and crowds of people full of longing for airports began to fly –

the pressure increased in the airports and in the news

On TV they constantly scared and showed the congestion and long queues at the airport.

In one moment of panic, I decided to order a VIP queue shortening service from the Lauper company, I filled

out all the flight details on their website, including

The details of the terminal from which we will depart (Terminal 1) I paid about 1000 NIS and we were all calm.

A few days before the flight I called Laufer to ask where they would meet us at Terminal 1,

they told me at the gate 2 entrance.

The day before the flight, I get a call from Malofer and they tell me that they don’t have service at Terminal 1.

The day before the flight!! Something they have known for a long time!

I was very, very angry at their audacity! I do not recommend you to deal with this unreliable company!

No matter how angry I got, the service was canceled and my money was refunded.

On the day of the flight, we arrived at the field 4 hours ahead of time and in less than an hour we

were already at Terminal 1 duty free.

There was no need to shorten queues and everything went smoothly, to our delight.

The flight was pleasant, although there was a slight delay of about half an hour.

We landed in Bergamo, collected the only suitcase we sent and went to the car rental station to

pick up the pre-ordered car from Rentalcar.

Car Rental

The car was ordered through the Rentalcar website from a company called Noleggiare – we didn’t make sure

to read reviews about this company before renting the car

And when I read bad reviews, we were already too close to the trip date and we didn’t want to make any

changes to the reservation..

I really recommend you stay away from this Noleggiare company and do not order a car from them, for the

following reasons:

We didn’t get the car we ordered, they offered us a car much, much worse than what we ordered,

After insisting on our part, we got another car that was more reasonable than what was offered to us.

And we’re not the only ones who didn’t get what they ordered, there was a couple with us who got a car that

didn’t have enough space for them

Their luggage was mostly small and not roomy.

In addition, it took hours to pick up and return the car!

When returning the vehicle, the fuel level did not go up to the end even though we refueled “Pul”, they sent us

again to a gas station to refuel, where I took a photo for them

In the video they will see that the fuel is spilled out of the tank and the indicator does not go up!

In short – a problematic company, service is not something they specialize in, look for another company with

good reviews and stay away from it!

Here you will search for a car for rent, pay attention to the company name and the reviews.

The first day of the trip - arrival at the destination and Sirmione at night

After a very long delay in receiving the vehicle, we set off.

I arrived in Italy prepared with a SIM card for surfing and calls and it was excellent

Because I had to call our first accommodation to make sure they were waiting for us there.

You will find details about the SIM card and discount here

So we arrived relatively late at our first hotel, which is actually a cute campsite with a pool, washing machines

and dryers,

A private beach on Lake Garda and more..

We got our room, settled in and went out to eat at a cute and quiet restaurant we saw on the way to the hotel,

the food was delicious.

We ate regular pasta, pesto pasta, pumpkin fettuccine (the childrens liked it, me – less), salad, and chips.

From there we took a short drive to Sermione, wandered around the streets and ate a delicious

and beautiful ice cream there.

We returned to the hotel tired and satisfied, tomorrow we will gradually pick up the pace..

Hotels in Lake Garda

The hotel/camping we were at

Our second hotel in Garda

A recommended hotel

Another recommended hotel in Garda

The second day of the trip - Sermione + Paschiara del Garda + Borgato

I got up early before everyone else, we walked around the campsite,

I saw the amazing sunrise and the ducks in the slowly awakening lake..

I woke up my husband and we went to Super Lidl at half past seven to buy products

for breakfast and snacks for the day.

We bought fresh bread, vegetables, fruit, butter, milk, Nutella, olives, snacks and more.

I made them: omelettes, salad and a hot drink. We ate and set off.

We started the day in Sermione in daylight (yesterday we were there at night),

but before that – on the way to Sermione we saw a small local market

And we decided to stop and take a tour there.. It was nice, we bought some small and cheap things there and continued on our way to Sermione.

In Sermione, we left the car in the parking lot with Midhan and later sent the older son

Add money and extend the parking time.

Minimum trip there: two-three hours.Sermione is a picturesque town surrounded by water on all sides, the

town is in the southern part of Lake Garda, beautiful and very touristy.In Sermione you will see tall pines,

ancient villas that lie on both sides of a peninsula,

ducks swimming in the lake, shops, ice cream parlors and more.

Point the Waze to the Parcheggio Auto e Camper car park

At the entrance to the old city you will find an impressive fortress (Rocca Scaligera), which was built in the

13th century by the Scaligera family

who ruled the city at the time. If you want to go up to the observation deck at the top of the citadel,

you have to pay, you can be satisfied with seeing it from the outside.

From there, continue walking between the old houses towards the amazing Jamaica Beach.

On the way you will find many ice cream parlors where you will eat the best ice cream of the trip.

We walked through the alleys, sat by the water and watched the ducks, ate ice cream again and a

few hours later we returned to the car

And we saw on the way to the parking lot a large amount of luxury vehicles that especially excited

the boys.

The large parking lot in Sirmione on the right side – the parking lot is very close to the fortress,

It is highly recommended to take a boat ride in the botka, which is 50 meters from the parking lot along the

lake, and ask the boatman to drop you off at the entrance to the fort.

Links to parking in Sermione:

Google Maps

Additional parking on the left

Waze

From there we continued towards a shopping center called IL LEON,

it is near our next destination – the karting.

In this center my son was looking for an iPhone 14 and found it in a local store (not an iPhone store),

we convinced him not to buy from there

Because he probably won’t have a sufficient warranty on the device… so after persuasion and efforts

he gave up and will continue to look for a phone during the trip..

In this mall I bought a SIM card with 200 gigabytes for 25 euros from the W3 store and installed it in my

big daughter’s phone.

Two days later the internet ran out, we went to the store and realized that we had to top up the card

with a minimum of 5 euros.

Apparently the seller who sold me the ticket lied to me, but even with the extra 5 euros – the deal is worthwhile.

30 euros for 200 gigabytes.

Open an access point and the whole family surfs together on the same SIM card.

From there we went karting, we saw professional drivers driving the track at crazy speeds that made me think twice

If I want to see my boys on this track! We asked there and were told that only at 17:00

You can rent a car and drive the route, so we drove from there to our next destination because we have until five o’clock…

Address: Via Corte Ferrarini, 2, 25017 Lonato del Garda BS, Italy

Phone: +39 030 991 9958

Useful Links:

Site

Google Maps

Waze for karting.

This is what the symbol of the store from where I bought a 200 GB SIM card looks like:

From there we went to Paschiara del Garda.

The town of Pesqueira is a beautiful town surrounded by canals, walls, a town bustling with life

and recommended for an afternoon and evening trip.

It has a harbor that is probably one of the most beautiful on the lake. Keep in mind that there is a lot

of parking because all the parking is concentrated at the entrance to the town.

We wandered there in the streets, went up on foot to a high point where we saw people watching

And when we got to the point we realized what they saw there, how beautiful!

When we got off there we sat down in one of the restaurants, we ate different types of pasta, pizza,

salad, chips.

This is going to be our regular food for the next week, no objections (except my fitness trainer).

Links to parking in Paschiara del Garda:

Google Maps

Waze car park in the town of Peschiera (peschiera del garda) close to the recommended restaurant Bellavista

From there we went to Borgato, it was also beautiful there but the place itself is small and there

weren’t too many options of places to sit for dessert or something like that.

Such.. So we just walked around the place, took pictures, took pictures and drove away.

Today we will go to bed early.

We arrived tired at our hotel, showered and went to sleep. Buona notte (good night)!

The third day of the trip - Monte Baldo + Lake Tano + Verona Falls and more

Today was cold.

Today we also had a delicious breakfast at our campsite, this time I bought delicious and warm rolls from the

campsite store, we ate and set off.

Our destination: Monte Baldo cable car. We made a mistake and wrote in the vehicle’s navigation

software “Monte Baldo” and it led us to the right mountain but to the wrong point which is near the

cable car but there is no access to the cable car from there, we have to make a round trip all the way back,

it took us a lot of time and a lot of strength and it’s frustrate us a little!

I only had to rely on the Waze on my phone.

The link I had led us to the second ascent point of

the cable car and not the first one down,

But after all the delay we had this morning we didn’t care where to get on the cable car.

We paid at the second point the same price as you pay at the first point + they took money for the masks

we received (they didn’t say it was

Paid, they didn’t ask if we wanted it, I had such masks in my bag and I didn’t need them) but

I didn’t say anything. I paid for a card + masks

(Consider my older son as a child so it turned out in the end that we paid as we should have

paid in the first place without the masks..).

We boarded the cable car which arrived within a few minutes, the car from this station

(unlike the first car that takes from the first station to the second) turns around

180 degrees and thus you can see all directions of the landscape on the way up. We reached the top and

walked for about fifteen minutes to the edge of the mountain from where there is a point

Good view of Lake Garda.

If you fell on a cloudy day and visibility is not good – you can skip the experience and not go up the cable car.

Ticket cost 25 euros (child pays less).

The cable car site

Parking links (can’t tell you which station the link leads to):

One link

Second link

From there we drove to the amazing Tanu lake, a stunning turquoise lake, it was cool so there was

no point in sitting there for a picnic, we enjoyed the sight of the lake,

From the clear water, we fed the hungry fish with bread and about half an hour later we returned to

the car (we parked there for free).

site

From there we continued to Verona Falls, a lovely place that doesn’t take long to visit, entrance fee:

about 6 euros per person, there is a discount for families with

Children. You can see the waterfall from below, climb a few steps and see it from above as well,

you will get wet from the trickling water, so you should have shoes

suitable and in raincoats or in special bags that wrap the clothes, you can buy at the entrance to the place.

The site also has stunning vegetation with signage next to each plant.

site

Link to parking at Verona Falls

Riva del Garda + lemonade

From there we continued to the beautiful Riva del Garda and Lemona

They say that Riva del Garda is the most beautiful town on Lake Garda!

Parking outside the old town in the parking lot: Parcheggio ex ospedale.

Recommended restaurant: Ristorante Pizzeria Maffei.

The main square in the city is called Piazza 3 Novembre.

In Riba del Garda we had lunch, in Limona we made a short detour because it started to drizzle

so we didn’t linger..

A link to the partially covered parking lot in Riva MonteOro is recommended for those with children

and strollers, close to the boardwalk

The town of Limone sul Garda is a small town located 10 km from Riva del Garda.

The origin of the name comes from the word “lemon” which means “olimus tree” or from the Latin word

“limen” which means “border”.

The town is full of citrus and lemon trees and shops selling limoncello.

In the entire area and the settlements that surround Lake Garda, you can find restaurants,

rent a boat, stroll along the boardwalk and pass between shops.

The beauty of the town is very similar to the beauty of many other towns around the lake,

the restaurants there are touristy and expensive,

And you really don’t have to stop here for more than half an hour, and that too – to mark a V.

From the main road adjacent to the west bank of the lake (SS45) go down towards the lake,

There you can park in arranged parking lots and stroll through the ancient and beautiful alleys.

There are also many restaurants and cafes in the place, and apart from limoncello,

there are also many flavored liqueurs sold there.

We bought liqueur + limoncello from our favorite Lidl supermarket, much cheaper!

From there we went to the baths located near Kfar Kola. Some important things about these baths:

The parking is quite far from the baths.

From the entrance after you have paid, you still have a long way to go to the main building.

To get a locker you will have to pay 3 euros + leave a 10 euro deposit.

It is not worth coming to the place at night and when it is lying because the place is not covered.

It is better to arrive in daylight and in pleasant weather or to choose indoor baths (I will recommend another place later).

The water temperature is different from region to region, and if you entered the boiling jacuzzi and

warmed up – then as soon as you leave it the warm water outside You will have coolers for the jacuzzi.

it’s all relative..There is no time limit at the place.

Address: Via Madonna, 23, 37017 Colà VR

Parking (not close): Link to Waze

We were there for about two hours and when we finished we went back to our hotel to sleep. A long and full day has passed us,

Buona notte Buona notte (good night)!

The fourth day of the trip - Venice

Today is Sunday, New Year’s Eve, 25.9 my birthday – today we will spend the whole day in amazing Venice!

We vacated our room at the campsite and went to another campsite outside of Venice.

Our hotel/camping near Venice

We checked in and drove to the Mestre train station. There we left the car in the parking lot

(maximum 18 euros per day),

We wrote in the search in Wise Venezia Mestre station and left the car there.

We bought a daily ticket for 24 hours for public transport from a kiosk located at the station,

25 euros per person for a daily ticket. And we traveled on the Venice train about 2 stops to a station called Santa Lucia station

We got off there and started our walking tour towards San Marco square.

Upon our arrival in Venice we saw a Magnum ice cream shop and indulged ourselves

In a special and delicious ice cream. We continued to walk until San Marco Square,

there are signs all the way and from there we got on a Wupperto

With him we went to our Creator (with our daily ticket)

In our colorful and special creation, we wandered through the alleys, ate chips,

drank something and returned by bus (there is a long line for the boat

Coming back from there! Prepare yourself mentally, we saw this queue already when we arrived at the place).

In the evening we returned to the alleys of Venice and from there we went to the Jewish Quarter

for the holiday eve prayer, after the prayer at the Chabad house we joined the holiday dinner

that we ordered in advance, there was a good atmosphere, it was pleasant and fun,

and all the people at the table even sang to me in a loud voice “Happy Birthday”…

After the holiday dinner we returned by train to our car which was waiting for us at the station

and from there to our campsite to get the room, shower and sleep.

Buona notte (good night)!

A little more about Venice:

Mercato di Rialto Market – Near the Rialto Bridge there is a nice market of souvenirs and also

many stalls of fresh cut fruit and natural fruit juices.

If you travel to Venice in the summer there is no doubt that a refreshing fruit drink with ice

can be a good choice. The market is called Mercato di Rialto.

A nice place that serves reasonable coffee and also delicious sandwiches (worth knowing: if you sit

inside the cafe/restaurant The prices are half the price of those who sit outside):

the place is called Ristorante Al Theatro and I heard that the strudel there is also very nice.

Kosher in Venice: the restaurant also has the meat, there is a pizzeria that has other things (dairy) there,

the name: also Godis,

There is a kosher bakery in Venice, and a meat “restaurant in the ghetto” opened not long ago.

The fifth day of the trip - Verona + thermal Baths

Buongiorno (good morning)

This morning we had a paid breakfast at our campsite near Venice, after breakfast

We emptied our caravan and went to Verona!

There we left the car in a covered parking lot (expensive) and walked towards Yulia’s house (we used Google Maps),

We walked through a boulevard of brand stores until we reached Yulia’s house, we saw the balcony,

We took a picture with Yulia’s statue, the line was quite short and everyone touched her chest

without any hindrance..

From there we continued to the alleys of the city, sat down to eat a delicious dessert, entered a few

shops and returned to our car.

Luckily we didn’t stay too long because the price of parking was excessive.

Verona is a historical city with dozens of attractions: castles and bridges, an amphitheater no less

impressive than the Colosseum in Rome.

You will find a fascinating car museum here and the list goes on. Worth dedicating at least a day to Verona,

we didn’t spend much time on her.

The city of Verona Verona is best known as the scene of the famous and tragic love story between

Romeo and Juliet,

And Julia’s balcony is probably the most famous site in the city. Besides this site, Verona is also

considered a World Heritage Site,

Due to the fact that many buildings from the Roman period have been preserved. History buffs will

especially enjoy the museums and ancient buildings,

Chief among them is the Arena – the ancient Roman amphitheater, which is the third largest in the world.

In its past, Verona was of great strategic value and a wall was built around it, the remains of which

can still be seen today.

The famous balcony where the two confessed their mutual love is in Verona, at Via Cappello 27

In front of a house from the 13th century.

Julia’s house is in a central and touristic area of Verona,

You can come to the place and see it from the outside and feel the special atmosphere of the place

Or purchase an entrance ticket and see the house from the inside, inside the house there are

interesting exhibitions

which include collections of paintings and sculptures and even the setting of the movie

Romeo and Juliet that was released in the late sixties.

You should check the opening times (of the house itself) in advance.

From there we went to a shopping center in Verona ADIGEO – the mall is open every day from 09:00 to 21:00.

The shopping center is at the entrance to the city of Verona and it also has a Primark.

We were focused and did not enter irrelevant stores,

Only to specific and individual stores that you planned to enter. Because we have an outlet on

schedule soon and that’s where we will concentrate most of our shopping.

Waze to parking

From there we drove to our next hotel, got the room and went to the Aquadance baths, not before

eating pizza at a pizzeria on the way..

Tips for those coming to Aquadens baths:

If you want to shorten the waiting time in line at the entrance – order a ticket in advance on

the venue’s website.

If you want to stay at the place for less than 4 hours – order a ticket in advance on the website of the place.

If you don’t order tickets in advance you will have to wait a long time in line and you can order a

ticket for 4 hours or less.

In my opinion, two hours is enough (I personally exhaust myself after an hour, but that’s me).

No swim cap required.

The place is partially covered, the water is warm and pleasant in all the pools equally.

You get a locker at no extra charge.

There is something to buy, eat and drink on the spot (toast, salad, pizza, and more).

You should arrive in the daylight before dark and stay there even in the dark, it’s beautiful there

in the light and in the dark.

And so we ended this day with about 3-4 hours in the baths (we didn’t order a ticket in advance then…)

Waze link to the therma

The sixth day of the trip - shopping and Lake Isau

Buongiorno (good morning)

We started the day at a beautiful and open outlet called Franciacorta Outlet Village

site

We shopped there mostly at Nike, sat at Starbucks and when we finished there we went to Lake Iseo

We wanted to tour Lake Isau by bike but we couldn’t find an open place to rent bikes, so we did a hike there,

The place is really really beautiful and peaceful, we ate ice cream and returned to the car.

The lake is in the Alpine region of Lombardy between the cities of Bergamo and Brescia.

It stretches 5 kilometers from west to east and is 25 kilometers long from north to south.

You can go hiking in the area in all seasons, but the most popular months are from May to October.

Lake Iseo is surrounded by small towns that can be visited by special boats that run on a schedule

Special from town to town and entrances to each of them.

Tip:

When parking in Isao, I activated the EASYPARK application, very recommended and convenient,

Download the app upon receiving the vehicle, enter details

car and means of payment and when you get to the parking lot open the app,

It scans your location and tells you if parking is found there

which is in an arrangement with them, if so then you can activate the parking, set a time

(it is better to set more)

And when you have finished and returned to the car, you stop the parking in the application.

That way you don’t have to put unnecessary money in the meter without knowing how long

you will be traveling there and without rushing back

to the car…

From there we went to our hotel which is near the airport, we got two gorgeous rooms, the kids

stayed at the hotel and we went to return the car.

Link to the hotel at the airport

We were delayed a lot in returning the car, meanwhile the older son walked in the mall next to the

hotel and found there the phone he was looking for the whole trip (-:

We returned to the hotel to get ready for our flight, my husband helped the child purchase the phone,

they also bought a large and satisfying dinner from the mall

And we all went to sleep.

We got up the next day at 4:10 am, checked out and walked about 12 minutes to the airport.

If you want a shuttle

It’s a minute’s drive from the hotel and costs 5 euros per person.

Depositing the suitcase in the field was independent, also the weighing of the suitcase, it went easily.

The flight back was fast and pleasant, the trip was beautiful and fun for all of us!

Hope we will travel again very soon!

Italy is amazing, enjoy! Chow (bye and hi in Italian)!

Tips and recommendations

Take small coins with you for the dispensers and to enter the toilets.

Keep small money mainly for parking in isolated places like Tano lake where you can’t use bills.

On the highway it is actually possible.

Don’t be afraid to use the freeways, it’s great, it saves traffic and it’s reasonably priced.

Just note that you are in a lane that is not for subscribers (in yellow, TELEPASS) but where there is an

icon of a hand with money in white.

There are sometimes paths that are both.

In the hot season (when it is packed with tourists) it is advisable to avoid driving on the bypass road

of the lake, especially on the weekend.

There is a chance to get stuck in traffic there. Although it’s an amazing road,

it’s likely that you’ll drive there once or twice anyway when you have to.

WAZE works great in the area, you just have to be very attentive because the traffic circles and

small turns are sometimes complicated.

Not everything is parks and parks, don’t run to all the parks and exhaust yourself, the views are beautiful

and there is a variety of things to do.

* Be nice! You returned to the car and you still have time left in the parking lot (where there is a meter)

give your ticket to the person who just arrived in the parking lot, he must be

He will be pleasantly surprised and it will make him very happy, that’s what we did.

Pay attention to driving according to the speed rules, there are plenty of cameras everywhere

and certainly not to enter the restricted vehicle zones (ZTL). This is what the sign looks like:

Driving rules in Italy

*Pay attention to Italy as Italy has its own driving rules, cameras scattered every 500 meters and

inconsistent speeds on roads that can vary 3

times per kilometer, so pay attention to the speed limit, you should download an app called “camsam”

which detects almost all cameras unlike wise.

The speed on most intercity roads is about 70 km/h and on the highways 130 km/h.

We used the vehicle’s navigation software as a backup for Wise’s navigation because it alerted about cameras.

*In addition, in every city center there is an area where it is forbidden to enter with signs in Italian,

Zona traffico limitato, pay attention to where you enter!

Do not enter this area under any circumstances.

I use Google Translate to translate my website into English. If you found mistakes – I would appreciate it if

you sent me a message about it.

Thanks!

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New York for the second time

hilalevy — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 12:00:12 +0000

After almost two years, in which we did not fly anywhere, something began to release in us,

I felt this was the most appropriate moment for the flight. Why exactly?

Mainly because we are defined as recovering and the chance of being infected again

two months after recovery is minimal.

The truth is that besides that there were many reasons to book a flight and do so,

But it does not really matter why .. the main thing we did!

I booked an El Al flight to New York! I used the credit I had with them (credit for a canceled flight)

And in just a few days I was supposed to close out all the details of the trip!

So the first thing I did after booking a flight was travel insurance.

I called Tomer from Smart and we arranged the insurance, including corona expansion.

We had 7 full days on the trip and since this is my second time in New York I decided to take

a two day trip to Niagara Falls.

The next thing I needed to order is:

Internet SIM card for calls

I ordered a SIM card from Globus Sim with the discount I have.

And already when we landed there I was with internet and calls to Israel and abroad.

Want a discount too? Enter the Hilal code when purchasing

For more details visit Here

Hotels in New York

I had to book a hotel for the first night, go on a two day (one night) trip to Niagara Falls

And book a hotel for the rest of the nights in Manhattan New York.

I knew I wanted to settle in the Time Square area and booked the Pod Hotel for the first night

Pod

The hotel was pretty close to Time Square (but our next hotel was closer),

The Food Hotel is a really cute hotel, very small rooms but clean and cozy,

And those looking for a clean and inexpensive hotel close to Time Square can greatly enjoy this hotel.

To book a room at the Pod Hotel, enter Here

Photos from our room:

We landed in New York at Newark Airport at five in the morning, we left the

airport without delay,

We followed the signs leading to the Air Train and bought tickets for

the airport train (We used the place to book tickets) and took this high-speed train

to Manhattan.

For Penn Station, it was fast, cheap and efficient!

We left the train station and straight away we were greeted by the tall buildings of New York,

it was a beautiful sight,

From there we walked to the Pod Hotel, we had a walk to do but we had a nice walk and

also did not rush anywhere.

We arrived at the hotel early in the morning and were immediately given the keys to the

room that was waiting for us.

We rested a bit in the room and then went out to the city for a first coffee

in New York + donuts of course.

So what do you do a second time in New York?

More leisurely hikers, with no pressure to visit all the places, return to the places

we were last time and visitors to new places, hiking in Central Park,

going to a show and / or show, giving up an expensive vantage point

(We gave up), seeing the vassal from the outside (it is closed because some people

decided to use it as a place for a suicide jump), and also

In Highline and Chelsea, take a guided tour of Bushwick Brooklyn

(not necessarily a guided tour but a must visit), shopping in New Jersey,

And go on a two-day trip out of New York City.

We were in Time Square every morning and evening, the place is always bustling,

busy and interesting ..

We ate our first coffee and pastry in Time Square, here:

More photos from New York and Time Square streets:

In Central Park we hiked with new friends we met just before the hike,

from a Facebook group of hikers in New York,

We met them in Time Square and from there we walked to Central Park.

We enjoyed the good weather, cute squirrels and the atmosphere

that there is only there!

From Central Park we walked to the big and beautiful Apple store on Fifth Avenue,

to check if the new phone is already there.

We had lunch at an Italian restaurant in Time Square, I read a recommendation for

the place and it was indeed successful and relatively inexpensive.

Restaurant name: Olive Garden. We ate two pastas (one with red sauce and one with white sauce)

+ salad + drink.

Total $ 53 per couple including tip.

From there we continued walking a bit on Fifth Avenue,

bought weekly train tickets for each of us and took the train to the station

From which board a cable car to Roosevelt Island.

The cable car ride is short and the view is stunning! The trip is included in the

weekly train ticket (it is possible to pay separately for those who do not have the ticket).

On the island itself we walked a bit on foot, and also took the red bus that does

a free round on the island.

On Roosevelt Island you can rent a bike for $ 15 a day, the bike is right next

to the cable car station.

When we finished touring the island by bus we took the cable car back.

After we returned – not far from the cable car station there is a recommended

confectionery called Magnolia Bakery,

We went in there and bought a special recommended and delicious pudding!

You should also taste the cake called Red Valvet.

From there we drove to the Soho area to wander and soak up the atmosphere, there was

a food market, which we did not know about,

We did a hike there and when we finished we went into a local supermarket to

stock up tomorrow with water, fruit and snacks.

The second day - a two-day trip to Niagara Falls

When we were still in our country, just a second before the trip,

I pre-booked an organized trip to Niagara Falls.

A trip by the Israeli Mali, about whom I read recommendations in several places.

The trip is not cheap but worth it !! It’s hard to describe how much beauty and how much

power there is in waterfalls! Need to see to understand.

On our second day in New York we woke up early (no difficulty because of the jet lag),

cleared the room and we bought delicious coffee and bagels from the

Seveneleven Seveneleven store near our hotel (Pod Pod Hotel).

Mali arrived in transit with other Israeli travelers and picked us up with our luggage.

The road was long and pleasant, with full of stops for refreshment, we got to

know the people who walked with us And it was fun.

Due to the weather (rain was expected part of the way)

Mali made a small change in the plan and first we reached the waterfalls.

An amazing experience to see them up close!

We had to take a cruise that took us close to the waterfalls themselves,

we got really wet!

(We were in the boat upstairs and in front, where we get the most wet)

Those who do not want to get wet should be on the bottom floor

Of the boat, in the middle.

From there we continued for a walk around the waterfalls and then we reached

the nearby hotel, got a little organized and went downstairs

Drink something hot. The room at this hotel is spacious, comfortable and beautiful.

The hotel closest to the hotel is Hard Rock Cafe and they close relatively early.

We saw the waterfalls at night lit by colorful lights and sat at the

bar in our hotel. Whoever wanted went for a swim in the heated pool

And he who grew weary went to sleep.

That day we hiked in other places that are near the waterfalls,

We saw the abundance of water, streams and small waterfalls and overall the

whole area is beautiful and rich in water!

Here are some more pictures from the trip:

The next morning we ate a good breakfast and set off,

stopping on the way at all sorts of places,

Mali bought us corn that is eaten like this straight from the field,

it was a long and interesting road

We saw satellite houses and pumpkins for sale …

We did a hiking trail along a stunning creek and headed back to New York City

And in the evening we arrived back at our second hotel, named Row.

This hotel is well located in the Time Square area, the room is simple (it is recommended to upgrade to a better room),

The elevators are fast but there is a smell of mildew in the elevator and lobby. In the room – no.

This hotel is relatively inexpensive and it met our needs.

All in all we left the hotel every morning and returned to it at night.

Photos from our room at the Row Hotel.

After settling into our room we set out for a tour of Time Square

We ate great pizza at Joe’s Pizza

We waited there for a while in line but it was worth it,

after that we went back to the hotel to sleep .. Good night!

היום הרביעי של הטיול שלנו

today is my birthday!

Yesterday we saw that there is a recommended patisserie near our hotel and

decided that we would eat cheesecake there

It was highly recommended, in addition it is also my birthday!

So we deserve a festive cake!

We got there in the morning, ordered two pieces of cake and a miracle coffee,

tasted and were disappointed.

The taste was buttery, the cakes were heavy, as the Americans probably like.

And it did not go so well with our Israeli palate.

I packed what was left and gave the hungry homeless we met on the way.

The name of the confectionery I do not recommend: Junior’s bakery

From there we went to Little Island – a new and beautiful place!

See, walk, picnic .. what’s good for you. Worth a visit!

I walked there with a shirt of

Happy birthday girl and fetuses congratulated me on a happy birthday (-:

A great way to get attention on your birthday abroad

From there we continued to Chelsea Market which was not far ..

Everything at Chelsea Market was still closed ..

* Please note, many places in New York open late in the morning (11:00)

and close early in the evening (19:00)

Pretty sucks, but not all places are like that. They say it’s since the corona …

maybe it’s going to change for the better.

So most of the places in Chelsea Market were closed but we did a tour of the place.

Really really close there is the most beautiful Starbucks branch,

a special branch worth seeing.

We drank and ate something small there.

I ate a croissant with smoked salmon and drank fruit-flavored iced tea,

my husband drank coffee and ate yogurt with granola and fruit.

From there we had to go to Highline, walk to Wassel, enter a cute free exhibition there

and continue to a not far destination

As far as I know, all they do is take a picture. A beautiful place I saw on Instagram.

Here are our photos:

From there we returned to the hotel area and on the way we entered

a very nice Italian restaurant,

The name of the restaurant in the menu image.

We ate pasta, pizza and salad (we do not eat non-kosher meat abroad)

It was delicious and pleasant!

We went to the hotel to get organized for today’s cherry – the performances in Central Park!

I booked tickets for a special Global Citizen show that features

a lot of shows by a lot of artists

(Cold Play, Jennifer Lopez, Lizo, Billy Aylish, Camila Kabelo and more and more)

but also a lot of talk in between.

The whole thing was an experience, the arrival at the venue, the orderly entrance

of all the large audience, the great artists Who showed up and the many hours we were there!

We arrived at two in the afternoon and returned at night.

Each ticket cost $ 32 (there were tickets at different prices, I chose a

relatively cheap ticket for standing / sitting on the grass)

The fifth day of our trip

Today we started our morning with breakfast at a place recommended

by a group member The WhatsApp of “New York September-October”

which I joined before the trip.

Place name: Bluestone Lane

The place was really nice, the food delicious, but also very expensive!

We ate a salad and two toast with avocado and drank a coffee.

Today we are going to Brooklyn!

We got on the Brooklyn Bridge subway,

got on and walked on the bridge We descended at the end to its left side to

the beautiful park, sat there for a while and walked by the water

Until we saw the recommended ice cream in the area:

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

It was really delicious! Recommended in the cold!

From there we had to get to another place that was quite far from us so we booked

a taxi through the Uber app and we drove to our meeting point with the guide

of the tour company “Free tour by foot”.

At the end of the trip you give a tip, it is customary to

give at least about $ 15- $ 20 per person.

We did a guided graffiti tour of Bushwick, it was interesting but in my opinion

the guide is not necessary, unless it’s really important for you to learn about graffiti culture.

You can check the meeting place, get there independently and from there walk

among the many graffiti paintings.

The place is pretty safe for walking and quite special, I loved the area.

There are places to sit and eat (the best pizza in New York according to the locals, for example)

We cut towards the end of the hike and looked for a subway station, from there we drove to

Fulton Mall st.

Directions to the shopping area: Get on the subway to Jay st Metro Tech station

Or to Hoyt st.

The interesting shops on the street: Macy’s, Target, Century 21, City point shoping

When we finished walking around this street we drove to Coney Island

A place located on the beach, with a promenade and a large amusement park.

In my opinion there is nothing to bother to get there unless you’re with kids or

avid amusement park lovers.

From there we returned tired on a long drive back to our hotel.

היום השישי לטיול שלנו

We started the day with a stunning breakfast at a

highly highly recommended place called:

Le Pain Quotidien

We ate a baked omelet there and drank a coffee + a stunning dessert,

We really enjoyed the meal from the place and the service!

recommended!!!

Today is a long and full shopping day planned for us! We drove at

a quarter past ten from the bus stop …. to the New Jersey Garden Outlet

By bus line 111. In 40 minutes you are in front.

In this mall there are well-known brands at prices lower than the prices in the country.

Excluding the tax paid at every store in the US

(Please note: for accessories yes you pay tax, for clothes and shoes no).

There is also a place to eat.

You can buy at the entrance in front of a discount booklet for $ 7,

but you can also request a discount without the booklet at any checkout.

There are stores that if you give them an email address or download an

app – you will get a discount there. Worth asking at the checkout at any store

How can you get a discount and they will explain it to you.

Pleasant shopping!

In the evening we continued our shopping in Time Square (we made perfections),

went back to the hotel to get organized and went out to eat at Rop Top 230!

This is a restaurant that does not need to book a mirror place to sit there.

It is located on the roof of a building on the 20th floor and the view is great,

Note a little cooler there so you should dress accordingly (both festive and warm).

You can just sit and drink there, because the food is relatively expensive.

I ate a vegetarian burger and my husband ate fish, it was delicious.

The seventh and final day of our trip

Today we are completing places we have not yet visited, such as the “Trade Center”

(I visited two years ago, my husband was there while there were still twin buildings)

This is the New York City Trade Center, where the Twin Towers once stood.

We did not enter the museum for lack of time, but we were outside at the memorial site.

From there we walked up to the Wall Street bull statue, did some shopping at a nearby store

Shopping again ?! Here it just did not get tired …

From there we drove to indulge in food and desserts in the SoHo area

We ate at a restaurant called Sadelle’s

They serve special dishes with bagels baked on the spot, not cheap but delicious and experiential.

We did not book a place in advance but waited about half an hour until we could enter.

Desserts we ate at Dominic.

We drank cold milk in a glass cookie, and ate roasted marshmallows that contained

ice cream and chocolate.

Kind of a sugar load but something special!

From there we continued to the shops on Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center,

which was seen as a kind of renovation …

We finished our last arrangements and commitments with a few shops

and returned to the hotel to get organized for the flight.

We checked out and took the train to JFK Airport easily, cheaply and quickly!

Really recommended

For those who can travel by train with their luggage.

And so he ended an intense, short and concise couple trip to New York + at Niagara Falls!

To read the details of my previous trip to New York, visit here

If you find any errors in my English, please write me a message about it.

Thanks!

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Dead Sea – Israel

hilalevy — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 08:49:34 +0000

Girls trip – did you know that sometimes it is very difficult to organize it?

With the boys, everything is very simple, they meet, decide what the destination of the trip is and

go straight to the point – date, who brings what and what the schedule … and everything flows.

When it comes to a girls trip, everything becomes too complicated from the beginning, as the number of girls

so the number of opinions: where we will go, when and what will be done there .. Everything is discussed

seriously and even after there is a decision everything can change! Not simple, but worth the effort.

So after a lot of discussions in the dedicated “Watts Up” group that we opened for that matter, we decided –

the Dead Sea! The lowest place in the world !! From there you can only go up!

Of course we must also be photographed on the amazing site where everyone is being photographed now!

Dead Sea mushrooms, a must-visit place.

And here I am here to tell you how it was and what we did on this day in the days of Corona (without closure).

Come on, our trip begins now:

We got up early in the morning to get there before the place fills up with people and also so that we can get

home at a reasonable time and not at night.

We took with us a lot of water, sunscreen, water-appropriate shoes, a hat, snacks, phones (of course), a towel

and a good mood.

At first we started looking for another place we saw in the pictures and did not really find. So we went back to

the original program – Dead Sea Mushrooms.

The explanation people wrote about how to get there was too complicated and maybe even incorrect. In the

end we found the place, after a bit of searching.

Explanation of how to get to the Dead Sea mushrooms:

The simple explanation: In front of the Isrotel Hotel there is a beach and parking. If you are on this beach and facing the Dead Sea you must turn right on foot

If you see earthworks on the beach (trucks traveling back and forth in this area), you must pass this area and you will immediately see the salt mushrooms in the sea (you can not see them in the distance).

Advanced: If you want to get to Mushrooms by car it is possible (if the staff at the place will not block your access), then just before arriving at the Daniel Hotel and the Isrotel Hotel (before the hotel is supposed to appear on your left) there is a possibility to get off the car dirt. That’s where the “salt mushrooms” are.

* It is possible that when you read this post the works in the place will no longer be and neither will the trucks, but I hope the direction of the place is still clear.

So after finding the place we placed our belongings on the beach and walked slowly in the water towards the

mushrooms (with the phone in hand raised up, so as not to touch the water). It is mandatory to arrive with

shoes that can be worn with water.

Please note: Do not leave valuables on the beach unattended.

Recommendation: Bring a small towel to wipe your hands before you touch the phone whenever you feel like

taking a picture.

Be careful of rocks wrapped in salt in the water! They hurt and scratch and you don’t see them that much !!!

The place is amazing and beautiful to photograph there both in the morning and at sunset. Hopefully you will

be there alone without people entering your frame (-:

After taking pictures and being photographed we walked from there to the nearby beach and washed our

bodies and hair in the showers at the beach.

From there we drove to the new Dead Sea Mall we did a round there (the mall has mostly brand stores and

most of the expensive products, “just to see them” probably), behind the mall there is a really nice and tidy

beach, which looks fun to sit there! Worth checking out.

After walking around the mall and chilling in the air conditioner we sat there at the Greg Cafe for breakfast. It

was fun and delicious!

Upstairs you will find ice creams in a variety of flavors and colors, yummy! You should not miss!

From there we drove to Bokek River for a short and fun route in the water.

At the end of the route we sat by the waterfall, took pictures, laughed and rested and when we

were exhausted we went back up the route to the car.

From the Bokek route we drove to the beach again to shower and get dressed and headed back home.

Please note – parking in the Ein Bokek area and the shores of the Dead Sea for a fee! There are inspectors

walking around there all the time!

It was a short and catchy day! Exhaustive and fun! I hope we do it again in more destinations!

The way I know my friends it will probably take time for that to happen …

See you on the next trip!

Before you plan a trip to the Ein Bokek area, it is recommended that you read more about this beautiful

and magical area.

More information about the Ein Bokek area and the Dead Sea can be found on Yael Magali Cohen’s blog here

Enjoy !!!

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A trip to northern Israel

hilalevy — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 05:03:56 +0000

Our trip begins in the magical Valley of the Springs, which is located near Beit She’an.

For a long time I really wanted to walk in the springs park between the pools and the magical springs and here it finally happened.

I managed to arrange a small and somewhat spontaneous trip to the north of the country and on the way we will pass the Springs Park.

So I pre-booked a Club Car with six seats from the “” Beyahad Bishvilchawebsite.

Please note: there is a discount for credit card holders “Beyahad Bishvilcha” and other entities that give a discount, such as the “Teachers’ Federation” and more.

Those who do not have such a discount can book a car through the park website.

The payment for the car does not guarantee that a car will be waiting for you on the spot, so you should arrive early or arrive when it is convenient for you and wait for a car to be vacated if there are no available vehicles.

We left the house early and arrived at the springs park just before nine-thirty in the morning.

Luckily there were enough vehicles in place and there was no long queue at the entrance.

We took the Club Car and set off after a short tutorial.

Important tips and recommendations:

The car rental is for two hours. In my opinion this time is not enough.

If you only rent a car for two hours, you will have to set aside a few minutes in each pool and that sucks.

So the options available to you are:

* Pre-rent a Club Car for a longer time (payment accordingly).

* Give up the Club Car and drive to the destination of your choice with a shuttle that costs 25 NIS.

* Arrive by car in the main parking lot of the Springs Park and walk along the Kibbutzim River, which is not far away.

And / or at any destination to which your feet lead you, without time limit.

* Arrive with the vehicle to the Ein Moda pool, walk a bit from the parking lot to the pool and enjoy there until you get tired (-:

We started the route on the club car we rented and drove towards Ein Shokek, we were there in the pool for about a quarter of an hour or more,

The water is cool and pleasant,

From there we continued our trip to the “Hatahana” pool and to “Ein-muda” pool of the pool we loved the most.

Costs:

Pictures from Ein Shokek:

A small picnic in the Tahana pool:

And from there to Ein Muda:

From there we drove to the parking lot where we started the route, returning the club car.

It is recommended to do a water walk in the Kibbutzim stream near the parking lot.

We continued our journey north to the attraction near the Kinneret colony (between 30 and 40 minutes drive).

Attraction name: Rob Roy – Canoeing

This is a very nice place, there are shaded seating areas, the possibility to order you something to eat and drink, a makeup stand

Indian for kids and more.

Once again I booked tickets for the attraction through “Beyahad Bishvilcha”, we chose two connected canoes that are suitable for six people (and even more).

We signed up for a waiting list for a vacant boat and waited quite a while, I landed in the shade and the kids went in with my husband to the water to swim.

When it was our turn they called us in a proclamation, put on lifebelts, got paddles and got on the boats.

We had an hour and a half to paddle and sail in Jordan and that was enough, it was fun, from time to time the kids jumped into the water and jumped with a rope from land to water like Tarzan (-:

All along the way there were tents and campsites that improvised people, like this by the water …

From there we decided to drive to the Kinneret colony to experience the Kinneret, where we sleep tonight.

We got the room key, got all the gear out of the car, took a shower and went to rest. The children fell asleep immediately.

Photos from our accommodation – Kinneret Village:

To book accommodation at the Kinneret Village, enter here

After we got organized enough we went to Tiberias to have dinner. We took a walk on the promenade

full of people and found a place to eat.

After dinner and a walk on the Tiberias promenade we went back to sit on the balcony of our room and from

there we went to bed tired and satisfied.

Tomorrow we will have a new day full of experiences!

The next morning I got up early (as usual), drove to the very nearby supermarket and bought some things we

needed to make us a hot drink for the morning.

The nice saleswoman offered to prepare me a free drink and it was very kind on her part.

I woke up my whole bunch at eight in the morning, made them drink, got organized and vacated the room.

From there we drove to Aqua Fun on the Sea of Galilee! Tickets are purchased in advance through the

Koponofesh website.

The kids got into activities at Aqua Fun and my husband and I were waiting for them at a nearby

garden beach, right by the water. From time to time we went in to dip in the water of the Sea of Galilee

The pleasant ones. When they finished they joined us.

When it became crowded in the water we decided to retire and set off ..

We drove north to Moshav Dishon to stay with my dear cousin and her lovely husband Ofer from Dishon ATVs.

Ofer organized an ATV trip for us in Nahal Dishon near their place of residence, so after we reached them and

settled in, we went on a trip in Nahal.

It was fun, the boys especially enjoyed it!

From there we went to visit the visitor center on Dishon ATVs,

We drank a delicious wine with pomegranate, stunning olives and finally we ate ice cream (-:

Highly recommended!

We also visited Ofer’s stunning vineyard

After all this we returned to the host house and got organized to sit down.

The next morning we were looking for a stream that we could walk in, we wanted to go to Nahal Snir,

but the registration on the Nature Reserves and Parks website was already closed.

We searched and searched until we found a vacancy to register for Nahal Eyun (the oven),

which is half an hour away from Fertilizer.

We signed up, got organized and went out with the boys.

We parked the car in the lower parking lot and started the route

(in retrospect we had to do a reverse and park up, that way our way on the hike route was downhill and not

uphill).

Warm recommendation: Arrive with two vehicles, put one vehicle in the lower parking lot and one vehicle in

the upper parking lot. Depart from the upper parking lot and finish the route in the lower parking lot,

where the vehicle you left behind will be waiting for you.

We, as mentioned, started from the bottom, right at the entrance to the track there is a nice paddling pool

that you can enter.

From there we walked to the Hatanur Waterfall, the waterfall is very beautiful!

More information about the reserve can be found here

From the Hatanur waterfall we walked towards the Haeshed waterfall, this waterfall is barely visible,

only heard ..

On the way there is a beautiful vantage point from above on the Furnace Falls.

The road is not shaded, and in part there are steps and stairs. Halfway through we decided to split up

because we knew our vehicle was waiting for us downstairs and that we would need to

Return the entire route because we arrived with one vehicle.

So my little son and I got back in the car and drove to the upper parking lot. We presented a reception at

the entrance, entered the reserve from there and waited for my husband and second son.

We waited for them at the first waterfall, Iyun Waterfall, which is 100 steps from this entrance.

The whole route we took took us about two hours.

From there we drove back to our host house, straight for lunch, shower and rest!

On Saturday night our fun trip ended and we drove all the way home …

Three hours drive from the Upper Galilee to the Negev!

We had fun, see you on the next trip!

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Nachal Arugot – Ein Gedi

hilalevy — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 11:17:14 +0000

We have finally set out to tour our country!

It has taken us a while to go out for a walk again since the last time we were in Eshkol Park,

which is not far from our house.

This time we walked in Nahal Arugot in Ein Gedi.

Together with another family (our friends) we were looking for a hiking route in the Dead Sea area

on the website of the Nature and Parks Authority and signed up to visit Nahal Arugot for a hike that will

start at ten o’clock.

I was a little apprehensive about the relatively late hour and the heat that was supposed to be there at

such an hour in early August,

But in the end it was not terrible, because most of the route you walk in water and catch a cold like

that and it’s fun.

How good it is to register in advance (because of the corona virus) and the Nature and Parks Authority

limits the number of visitors to the place,

This way you avoid congestion of visitors and you can walk at your own pace and without a feeling

of overcrowding and congestion.

Please note, when registering you have to choose which river you want to visit

(Nahal David or Nahal Arugot), there were people who did not pay attention and accidentally booked a trip

In Nahal David but intending to hike in Nahal Arugot, they were forced to change plans and move on

to Nahal David.

We arrived on time, the unique heat of the Dead Sea area did greet us.

We quickly got organized with a light breakfast that we brought with us under a poor,

leafless desert tree that pampered us with some shade.

The parking at the place is not shaded and it sucks.

After eating (jahanun, eggs, borax, vegetables, olives, water and more) we went to the checkout to pay,

entered quickly and easily and we started the route at 10:40.

Before we ate we checked at the checkout that we could linger and eat first, and there was no problem

with that.

It is recommended to eat before starting the route and not to get carried the food with you.

From the checkout we started the walk and within about 7-8 minutes we have already reached the

water walk (those who do not want to walk in the water can choose to walk the dry route),

at the checkout you get a map and an explanation of which ways to walk.

The goal: the hidden waterfall and on the way of course to splash around and slide in the water

as much as possible.

Good to know:

We did the route marked in blue. The route is suitable for hikers!

It is not easy.

Although the route is not easy, children can also walk it, but the younger the child –

the harder it will be for you.

Those who find it particularly difficult can only reach the first “pools” / first water point and

from there return.

The route is not circular and you have to return the same way when you return to the car.

We arrived at the waterfall itself at 14:00 (almost three and a half hours, including breaks on the way).

Back from the waterfall to the car – took us another two hours, including two breaks.

A total of five and a half hours the entire route, without the upper pools,

which we gave up this time.

As mentioned, we did not continue to the upper pools, although it is really recommended.

If you want to get there after the hidden waterfall you will start the route early

And also ask at the checkout how to get there and what time you can get there.

Required equipment for this trip:

Sunscreen, visor cap, plenty of water (3 liters per person),

Comfortable walking shoes that you can get into the water with (no crocs! No variance!),

Backpack for your equipment,

Comfortable clothes for walking and wading in the water, change of clothes + towel

(which can stay in the car).

A little more about Nahal Arugot:

The hike in Nahal Arugot is a hike in a canyon channel,

Look around you, also upstairs and see how much beauty there is everywhere, try to identify

animals that live here like in their own private paradise.

Nahal Arugot is one of the largest streams in the Judean Desert. The place is abundant in

water in all seasons.

More sites nearby:

Qumran National Park (about 30 minutes drive).

Cliffs Springs Nature Reserve (about 20 minutes drive).

Masada National Park (about 15 minutes drive).

It was a challenging and successful trip, everyone enjoyed it, small and big!

Come prepared and ready and You will enjoy every moment.

See you on the next trip!

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Tourism after Covid19 – Eshkol Park

hilalevy — Sun, 17 May 2020 12:13:30 +0000

The last few months have put us in a new age of tourism.

It seemed that everything we knew so far was changing

and now we have to change our habits and to travel differently.

If so far we have booked flights to different destinations and dates (even far distances) –

then now we are a little afraid to do so and some of us don’t dare or can’t.

So if you can’t fly and travel in another country – what else are we left to do?

Travel our country!

In my case: travel Israel!

Two months at home made me crave and a strong desire to travel the country.

I have said in the past that my knowledge and experience of traveling in Israel needs

improvement and here I have the opportunity to do so.

So I prepared the family members in advance that we start traveling the country,

looking for a place not far away that we can travel for the beginning,

and I also invited other family members to be part of our trip.

Location: Eshkol Park (located not far from where I live)

Participants: My husband, our two children (the third remains at home in bed With the air conditioner)

Traveling partners: my sister, her husband, their children, my mother-in-law and her husband.

Weather: Very hot! 42 degrees Celsius.

To get to the park we had to pre-register on the site (due to new restrictions related to the Corona virus).

A bit of information about Eshkol Park – The Besor National Park (from the park’s website):

The Besor National Park is a green corner in the desert with the Beshor River.

At the heart of the western Negev’s plains is a plentiful spring surrounded by expansive

lawns and thousands of shady trees.

The Besor National Park is a wonderful place for outdoor recreation and a great base for excursions

in the Besur region.

The place is suitable for families with children of all ages.

The place has:

Ein Besor – Abundant spring and wading pools for children.

Trees picnic tables in the shade of trees.

Reconstruction of a railway bridge from the Mandate days.

Locate ancient Egyptian.

Two easy tracks for bikes

Regulated night parking

(a few years ago we slept there in the tent when there was a blooming ball festival).

More information about the place, registration, payment and more can be found on the

Israel Nature and Parks Authority’s website

Click here

So we got up early (relative to Saturday), organized quickly:

Vegetable box, fruit box, watermelon box, cold water, ice cooler, crackers, garbage bag,

Mats, folding table (although not needed, there are plenty of tables in place),

prepaid food pot, Bread, snacks for children (there is a buffet for drinks, popsicles, snacks, etc.), towels, children’s swimwear,

my sister’s baby camping coop, toys, camera and good mood.

We arrived at around ten and found a good spot in the shade near the water.

The kids really enjoyed paddling in the cold, pleasant water when we sat in the shade and we ate delicious watermelon …

We didn’t stay there for a long time, because it was a very hot day and our house was not far away.

So after we ate and we enjoyed the place. we quickly folded all the things that we brought To the driven car and we went home to the air conditioner and pool in the yard (-:

If the weather was more pleasant we probably would have dropped out for a few more hours.

What a fun trip! We would love to visit next Saturday somewhere else.

Other sites there:

Beit Ze’elim, Be’er Rabuva, Tel Schrohan, Remains of the British Railway Bridge,

El- Hayaaen” (To the Ostrich) Farm, Eshkol Park.

Other sites in the area:

Through the Fields – Bashor Creek, the Bashor Creek Bridge, Gerar Creek Park, Ofakim Park, Barry Forest, Eshkol Park National Park, Golda Park.

YouTube video to illustrate:

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Batumi Georgia

hilalevy — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 06:46:37 +0000

This time I went on an organized trip on behalf of my workplace.

Excursion organized by Luna Tours.

We left the country on an Israeli flight,

the plane was a Smart Wings lease

a spacious new aircraft, it was a short, pleasant flight that took about

two and a half hours.

Batumi is a port city on the Black Sea.

We arrived at Batumi at noon, and we immediately saw gypsies.

It must be said that they are real nudes and are in every corner!

It is advisable not to treat them or give them money !!!

If you want to give them some food while you are in the restaurant

It’s possible but it’s best not to mess with them at all!

The gypsy usually pays someone a daily amount for her baby,

they obfuscate the baby with the certain drug so that it does not

cry or interfere and with him, they ask for money from passersby.

Don’t give it a hand! It is terrible.

The currency in Georgia is called Larry,

Larry = about one and a half Israeli shekels.

We arrived at our excellent hotel, the name of the Hotel:

Wyndham Batumi

If you get in trouble with the hotel name when you want to get to it by taxi

Just tell the driver: “Princess Casino“, this is the name of the hotel’s casino

and everyone knows this place.

The hotel is in a great location near the promenade, it has a casino,

excellent service, excellent breakfast,

parking, Internet access, well-equipped gym, excellent spa and

beautiful and clean rooms!

It is highly recommended!

After we got the room I rested a bit and later took a walk around the hotel area.

Near the hotel is Europe Square There are restaurants, shops,

fountains and promenade about 17 km long where you can rent bicycles

(5 Larry for bicycle, 15 Larry for quad bike, 30 Larry for double electric cinema)

or take a horse-drawn carriage, sit by the sea,

go round the giant wheel (3 Larry per round), and more…

I was sitting in a restaurant called Madea, next to the square, eating Hachapuri

(a pastry with cheese), the food at Batumi is very cheap!

There are all kinds of Hachapuri.

This is the Khakpuri I ate:

And this is the familiar and original kashpuri with cheese and butter egg

(which I did not eat):

I completed my day-steps in the hotel gym and ended it on the first day of the trip.

Day 2 – Today, an organized excursion was planned for a waterfall,

after a little group thinking we decided to take two taxi

With a drivers and stroll in places other than a waterfall,

so we closed with our lovely John and Thomas drivers

that each of us would pay 20$ a day for a trip and set off.

John’s Phone (possible at WhatsApp) 995568444844+

We asked the driver to see the Opposite restaurant

(it is only interesting from the outside),

and from there we went to the Botanic Gardens (entrance fee 15 Larry).

In the gardens there is an option to do part of the way with a small vehicle

for the group plus 5 Larry but we preferred to walk all the way!

Please note: since our driver dropped us off at the back entrance to

the gardens We walked most of the way downhill and not up.

From the gardens we continued to the Georgia-Turkey border,

We saw the border crossing, not far from it is a beautiful little waterfall

All the way the driver explained to us in clear English all the things we saw,

from there, we drove to the Citadel of Genonia

It is an ancient Roman fortress. We went in, took a tour, took pictures

and settled on it,

and from there we went to a waterfall (to which the whole our friends

traveled on the organized trip).

On the way we stopped at some beautiful and interesting places,

We got an explanation from the drivers about the streams we saw

and we also stopped by some beautiful bridges that overflowed a stream.

At the waterfall, we met all the guys who were just a few minutes ahead of us,

At the entrance to the waterfall you can buy churchella,

honey and other sweet and tasty things ..

Some sellers have already learned to speak Hebrew (-:

We had lunch at a nearby restaurant

and just as our hike ended, it started to rain.

We got on the vehicles and went back to the hotel.

We had an hour to get organized and went out with the whole group for

an evening of folklore, which took place in a family home in a village.

There we had dinner (not for my taste), after dinner a lovely children

appeared in traditional dances,

one of them sang in Hebrew at the end of the evening,

We joined her in song and dance (Hebrew songs) and enjoyed the atmosphere.

From there we went back to the hotel to sleep ..

Day 3 – We started the day on a walk with our guide,

most of the hike was around the hotel, we passed through the

statue of Madea, the boardwalk, summer theater,

flower Market (not a large market),

We toured a local market, saw a building that in originally served as a bank.

and other interesting buildings and places

Not far from the giant wheel we saw the statues identified with Batumi,

which are Ali and Nino –

a loving couple he was an Armenian warrior and she was a Georgian princess,

an impossible love.

The statues is about 7 meters tall, they move constantly and a few minutes

later come together and separate:

We arrived at Piazza, which has a number of interesting places to sit for coffee,

we saw the Chabad House which is not far away,

at the end of the hike we said goodbye to the guide and went to the funicular.

At 15 Larry, the cable car is on high observation,

all the way there very nice, and takes about 12 minutes each way.

After the observation, we went back down.

* It’s important to get on a funicular at a day with good visibility!

From there we walked up to the dolphinarium.

We passed through a beautiful park with a lake and a small living area,

We bought tickets to the Dolphin show, which was just adorable!

Only 15 Larry to the ticket. It is highly recommended !

From there we took a big taxi for all of us (10 Larry) and drove to

the Alphabet Tower, To the rotating restaurant at the top of the building.

We were told that the restaurant was only going around from 8 p.m.

We had delicious food there (service was a little annoying and slow),

the food there is not generally expensive but it is relatively expensive

for restaurants in Batumi.

From there we walked to Dona Pasta House where there are the most

amazing cakes in Batumi at funny prices!

Dona Bakeshop & Cafe Address:

Pharnavaz Mepe St, Akhaltsikhe, Georgia.

When it was dark we drove to the Chanting Fountains

(operating every day from 9 pm)

There are two places with such fountains, one near the hotel and

one within driving distance.

We watched the fountains (away from the hotel) and then went back

to the hotel Who to sleep and who to turn around in the piazza.

Day 4 of the Tour – we took an organized Jeep Tour for the Mtirala Nature Reserve!

A nature walk in the area about 40 minutes drive from the hotel,

the road was beautiful, we stopped at several places along the way,

We crossed a river on a bridge and also in a wooden wagon on ropes,

Some members of the group did omega (I wouldn’t recommend it,

it didn’t look very safe).

There were some hiking options,

each one chooses the route they want according to their level of difficulty

and destination.

We walked about 700 meters towards the lake, it was beautiful and fun.

When we returned from the jeep tour, we asked our driver to drop us off

at the Turkish market called the Chopa Market,

In the market you will find good counterfeits of Adidas, Nike, Under-Armor

and the like…

There are bags, shoes, clothes, tools for the home and full of Israelis (-:

From there we took a taxi to the hotel, rested for a bit and took a walk on

the street parallel to the hotel.

There are interesting shops of shoes, makeup, cheap cigarettes, clothing

and well-known brands (expensive brands, which isn’t expensive there).

We had dinner at Chabad House again,

recommended restaurant for all opinions! good food, large and rich

dishes and reasonably priced,

and of course – kosher !!

From there we walked at night on the promenade, everything was

bright and beautiful,

we saw the statue of lovers again and saw chanting fountains

in the promenade area.

It was pleasant and beautiful, and from there we returned to the hotel for

one last night in Batumi.

Important general tips:

* 4 full days in Batumi is enough.

* Sim card for the phone (for internet browsing) can be bought at a really cheap price

at the airport or at any phone shop in town.

* We were a big group, we traveled in the same places and still everyone had a

different experience from wherever we were.

There are those who very much liked a particular place and there are those

who did not like (the exact same place), so take any recommendation

in limited warranty.

* All Batumi attractions are cheap! (Meanwhile).

* It is not recommended to rent a car in Batumi because they drive like

crazy there!

Bus drivers also act irresponsibly towards the passengers on the bus.

On the other hand, you can find a courteous taxi driver who travels legally

and knows the driving culture on the spot.

* The taxis in Batumi are very cheap. Taxi ride around town (no matter how

many people) costs between 5 and 10 Larry! no more.

* A day trip outside Batumi (up to an hour’s drive from the city) will cost

between 80 and 100 Larry to a taxi with a driver next to you.

* Those who do not join the organized trips can save a lot of money.

Just decide where you want to go, take a driver and travel independently to

all the sites cheaply, in a very significant financial gap.

For example, we paid 33 $ per person for a jeep ride and there we met people

who took a taxi to the same place,

they paid 80 Larry for a taxi! For everyone together, for the entire trip. Crazy gap!

* Summer: atoms full of tourists, especially from Russia, the roads can be

very crowded.

* Aqua Park – A small water park, suitable for families.

* Near the dolphinarium there is a beautiful park with a small lake and zoo

suitable for children.

* The Black Sea is dangerous – in a few steps the water suddenly reaches deep,

make sure there is a lifeguard on the beach where you are.

* Fish Bazar – picks the fish you want to eat and takes it to a nearby

restaurant there you prepare it as you wish (restaurant name Blue sea).

* Churchhalla – selling everywhere (about Larry and a half), I

buy Churchhalla at a Small Boutique Store

Near my hotel, because it is the most aesthetically clean! a little more

expensive (3.5 Larry) but most delicious and worthwhile!

* Nightclubs – CAUTION! Don’t get into a dubious club!

Men, not agreeing to girls to join your table,

this “pleasure” can cost you dearly!

You will be surprised to receive a 2000 Larry account at the end of the evening.

Stingers of this kind are known from Thailand and there are same clubs here too,

so be vigilant.

Do you have any more tips on Batumi?

I would be happy if you write it in the comments.

* The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi. Want to read more about Georgia?

Read here about a tour of Yochai in Georgia.

Overall this is a close, lightweight destination, suitable for everyone, and it’s

best to get there between May and September.

Enjoy!

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Austria – Family trip

hilalevy — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:01:19 +0000

Summer 2018

As soon as I first saw pictures of beautiful Austria I fell in love with this place

and I knew it would be our next family trip!

Composition: a couple + 4 children ages 9, 14, 17, 18.

Airline tickets are booked 10 months in advance.

When you want to go to Austria you can look for a flight to: Salzburg, Munich, Vienna, Nuremberg, Prague.

To get lower costs, I decided to book airline tickets to Prague.

Notice, Prague has a very long drive to Austria,

that’s why it’s not for everyone.

We flew on El-Al’s UP flight to Prague.

The average price per person is about $ 233

Includes: 2 large suitcases for all of us + 6 small suitcases, and seats for 3 people out of 5.

Accommodation: Landhous Rustika

Once I realized that I wanted this perfect place I did not compromise

and I had reserved places 10 months in advance.

I believe that it is possible to find cheaper accommodation in Wagrain area,

but I did not compromise on that, because it is an experience in itself to sleep and

get up in such a place – well kept, clean, spacious, pastoral, rustic yet modern.

In short, as I said perfect to me.

We got a 2 room apartment + living room and dining area with large and well

equipped kitchen + 2 showers and toilets + balcony.

Pictures from our Zimmer:

Our landscape:

Please note in Salzburgland you pay € 2 per person per night taxes,

This amount is added to the amount of accommodation paid to the owner.

We chose to hike only in the Salzburg region and not spread to other areas,

like the Tirol area and others. Since we only have a week in the area

and there’s a whole lot to do there.

From the wealth of places and attractions you have to choose what you like best

and what’s most interesting, there is no choice, about some of the places

You have to give up (or add days to your trip).

After planning the itinerary and deciding what attractions we want

I figured out how much each attraction would cost and if it was worth buying the Salzburgerland card

Which provides entry to full attractions.

My calculation showed that we should purchase the ticket.

The cost of a 6-day ticket is 33 euros per child (up to the age of 15) and 66 euros per adult.

In Austria, I purchased the Salzburg card at the Tourist Information Center in Wagrain.

What do you need to know about the Salzburgerland card?

The card is valid for 6 or 12 days (depending on what validity you purchased)

from the time it is activated.

In Salzburg, the card can only be enjoyed for 24 hours from the time it is activated.

It is worth checking the viability of purchasing the ticket after planning the route and

before purchasing it.

It is worth buying the ticket in Austria.

So far the dry details ..

After a very long wait of several months the summer has arrived and our trip is off!

The flight from terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport departed on time and moved pleasantly,

We arrived in Prague and collected the vehicle we rented in advance from Rentalcar

Spacious, manual, diesel, with 9 seats and large trunk.

I purchased a 20 euro sim card at terminal 2 in Prague. We turned on GPS

(We also had one in the car) and off we went.

The internet only worked for me in the Czech Republic and when we left the area

the internet stopped working,

although I asked for a sim card that would also work in Austria, the seller probably

didn’t understand me.

We got along with the built-in GPS that was in the vehicle.

When we reached the border of Austria, before crossing the border, we purchased from

a gas station sticker named Vignette for the Expressways at € 9.

On the way we stopped several times to refresh, we did some shopping at the

supermarket before it closed.

*Most supermarket in Austria close around 6:30 pm*

We arrived after a good few hours driving to our Zimmer in Wagrain.

Wagrain is a great location for star trips in the Salzburg area.

We were greeted with a smile by Rainier the owner of the place.

* Link to an apartment / room reservation at Landhaus Restica Wagrain here

* Dirty clothes for laundry can be given to the owner at the cost of 2 euros per machine.

You get your clothes clean and dry.

We settled in the Zimmer, had a dinner and got ready for sleep.

Our third floor apartment name: Glockenblume

Day 2 in Austria: Today our trip begins,

after a good night’s sleep we had breakfast that I made in our private kitchen,

omelettes, bread, butter, vegetables, chocolate spread, hot drinks, tuna-fish (brought from home).

For today’s , I prepared a soft cooler that we brought with us:

Bread, disposable knife, chocolate spread, box with schnitzels

(I made and froze in the country), water.

An ingenious and economical idea: bring frozen ground in a soft cooler with fried

survivors and patties! It was good almost for a full week.

We also took the car with us every day:

warmer swap clothes, swimsuits + towels and sneakers.

I brought simple towels from home that I have no problem throwing at the

end of the trip and we used them outside of the room.

We left the Zimmer around 8:30 and first we entered Altmark,

where we found a creek and dipped into it a pot I did “Hagaala” (that way I can use it).

We also went into nice shops we saw on the way and from there we went straight

to the GoKart, the Parking is free, we purchased tickets for 11am

and we got on a cable car with a beautiful view of the departure point.

Up there we were sitting in a friendly restaurant drinking hot chocolate and eating

a delicious dessert called Kaisersharmen,

Which looked like scrambled pancakes and a dollop of apple puree.

At 11 am we got along with everyone training and set off down the mountain,

it was really fun!

7 km of curvy descent. Everyone enjoyed it!

Address: Rohrmoosstrasse 218,

Schladming 8971, Austria

For more details go to the Site

From there we drove about half an hour to the Zipline Omega

Which is in the town of Gröbming

There we had to wait a bit, meanwhile, we ordered a ticket and arrived at 13:30 to pay,

weigh and receive a fly kit for the rotation that leaves at 2 p.m.

(Sunday pre-order on website due to overload).

When it was time for us to get on a bus that took us up high to the mountain,

from there, we walked a little on foot to the ramp from which skiers.

Up there we were wearing the equipment we got (we asked for help from people

who were there with us), each one sits in turn waiting for a group launch (3-4 people together)

I was afraid and scared and wondered what the hell am I doing there ?!

But I surfed like a big girl with great pleasure (after one second of fear at

the beginning of the surf down)!

It felt like a paraglider,

too bad it ended quickly.

Address: Stoderstrasse 114,

Grobming 8962, Austria

For details enter the site – pay attention to the browsing hours and costs.

As we drove away, we stopped at a town that was on our way,

and did a little pedestrian turn…

and we ate ice cream

From there we rushed to Halstatt,

Why did we rush? Because the kids wanted to have time to get to the Wasserwalt water park in Wagrain

Which is closed at 6:30 pm (the park is open until 8 p.m.).

So in Halstadt we parked in the P2 parking lot near the center,

we did a quick walking tour there,

because of the children’s impatience and we drove back to the Zimmer.

What can you do in Halstadt?

Wander around the town by the lake,

feeding ducks, boating in the lake 8-10 euros per boat,

View of the Halstatt Top

recommendation from the network:

at the end of the Halstatt promenade near the parking lot go through a street

and come to a magical place with games, water slides and more ..

Many talk about the beauty of this place, and in my opinion Halstatt is beautiful,

but we loved Bled Lake in Slovenia more

We didn’t get to a water park in Wagrain, we’ll be there another day.

On the way to the Zimmer we stopped by a huge pile of wood

We arrived at the Zimmer by daylight (summer is light until 9pm) and enjoyed the animals and the yard

In the evening we went out for a beer in the Joe’s Pub recommended on Facebook,

I did not understand why they recommended the place.

The pub looked deserted, we got there at ten o’clock and the waitresses who were there

looked at us a little in shock,

probably because we arrived at such an hour.

at ten o’clock we were informed that the pub was closing, a little delusional.

So after a quick beer we go to bed and gather strength for the next day ..

Day summary video

Day 3 in Austria –

another magical morning in our country cottage,

How nice to wake up here.

If you are good you may be see during the day

fresh egg (or eggs) in the basket at the entrance to the Zimmer

After breakfast, we went to the Sigmund-Ton Klamm,

there walk on wooden bridges beside the water.

A short and fast route that ends at a large waterfall connecting the gorge to Lake Clamza.

The lake is beautiful, it has a mesmerizing color, the water is clear and it all looks like a mirror!

When you reach the waterfall you can walk on the path on the right

on a circular route back to the parking lot through the forest.

In the left turn is a path leading to the lake for a walk

of 3 km at the end of the path leading to the car park.

The entrance to the channel is included in the Salzburgerland card and the lake is

open with no entry fee.

Sigmund Ton Parking Address:
20 Krafthausstrasse Kaprun

Lake car park address:
49 Kesselfallstrasse Kaprun

Not far away, at the entrance to the city of Capron is the Maisiflitzer skis complex

You see them as you pass by, so we went in and surfed the slides

It was short and a little disappointing, so I don’t recommend it.

A much more interesting area – later in our trip – is the Lucky Flitstzer slides in Falchau.

From there we drove to the place where the kids wanted the most, Mount Schmidt

to Schmidolin Park, but it didn’t go so smoothly … The address I had led us to another site,

there I asked for directions from one of the employees, who gave me a map and signaled where to go,

and when we got to this place, and we paid a fee, it turned out to be not the right place.

The cute guy who works there was wrong and wrong, we had to go to another site,

So once again go to cable car number 3, this time it is it.

We see a big sign of the attraction,

free parking and access to the cable car.

Pay attention! If you are asleep in the area you will receive a regional card from your

Zimmer / Hotel owner and you can get on this cable car for free,

If you do not sleep in the area and do not have the regional ticket, you will pay a lot on board this cable.

€ 70 per family only on the cable car!

So we paid, and we went, and to top it another disappointment with my 14 year old.

Motorcycles suitable for his age (it is between the small and the big) –

have to charge for an hour, after every ride !!

Which means – long wait!

His disappointment cannot be described.

The 9-year-old boy, on the other hand, rode a small motorcycle tailored to his age and had a great time.

Riding is allowed from the age of 6.

They say there’s a lot to do on this mountain,

We did not find a transitional matter in it.

Conclusions specific to the Schmidolin site:

We recommend sleeping in the area,

we recommend arriving early,

We recommend you check out a pre-order booking option

(Especially when it comes to medium motorcycles)

Phone +43 (0) 6542 / 789-211

Email: emotocross@schmitten.at

Address: areitXpress, Salzachtal-Bundesstraße 7, 5700 Bergstation, Austria

From there we went to Zell am see to a stunning beach called Strandbad,

with full of pools and water activities, perfect for kids

Admission is included in the Salzburgerland Card

If you do not have a card, you will pay € 7.5 per person.

Address: Esplanade 16, 5700 Zell am See

From there we went to the baths, Amade therme Altenmark

The place was crowned by the children as the most successful place

of the water parks we’ve been to in Austria.

There is: indoor pool, outdoor pool, hot tub, whirlpool,

Challenging water slides, an Olympic pool with bounces,

Minor compound, adult sauna complex.

Included in the Salzburgerland Card

Address: Huaptstasse 624.

Here we spent 4 particularly enjoyable hours !!

At night we drove to Falchau, where a little more alive and crowded

and we ended our day with a lovely summer festival

Interrupted by rain that particularly wet us.

After strolling among the booths, singers and inflatables

and after we got wet we sat at the Pizzeria in Falchau,

We had dinner and returned to our bed (-:

Good night

Day 4 in Austria –

We start our day at the Festung Hohenwerfen.

Hohenwerfen Citadel is about 30 minutes drive from our Zimmer

On a cliff overlooking the valley and the Zalaz River

It was built about 900 years ago and served as a prison in ancient times.

The attraction of the place is the ancient falcon center, where a bird-watching show takes place.

Whoever gives up the funicular up (extra charge)

can walk to the fort on foot about 20 minutes walk,

the road is shady, pleasant and with a beautiful view.

We got paid at Funicular to save time.

Upstairs in the castle is a little activity for small children, a restaurant and a souvenir shop.

It is recommended to arrive about half an hour before the show, no more.

We were at a show that took place at 11:15,

nice show. In my opinion it is suitable for smaller children than mine.

Where should you sit during the show?

On the grass under the big tree, but there is no shade,

then come with a visor cap or sit on the benches next to the wall, where there is a shade.

At the end of the show there is a guided tour, accompanied by headphones.

Stand in line for headphones (there are also headphones with audio in Hebrew)

We gave up! and we moved on.

Included in the Salzburgerland Card.

Address:
Hohenwerfen Fortress
Burgstraße 2
5450 yards

From there we went to the Abtenau slides –

Abtenau Karkogel Sommerrodelbhan.

Ascending boarding, enter with Salzburgland ticket.

2km surf in beautiful, fun scenery! Worth it!

There is no need to stand at the cash register, up there was a bit of a queue.

The complex has a cute little playground and trampolines.

Included in the Salzburgerland Card. One free surf.

Address: Abtenauer Bergbahnen 5411 Abtenau

From there we drove thirty minutes to the stunning Lake Gossau in its beauty

We found a great parking spot in the P1 car park, near the cable car,

free on-site parking for up to 3 hours.

All you need to do is put paper next to the windshield of the vehicle, on which you will write

date and time you arrive.

In the lake we rented a boat for 4 people (the little boy was not counted) and also a sap for an adolescent.

The sailing is so fun, a peaceful and relaxing position and the view is amazing!

Don’t miss the experience! It is recommended to rent the boat for at least an hour.

From there we went back to the car and got to the cable car,

notice the last return of the cable car below.

From the top you can see the lake and the Dachstein Mountains, simply stunning!

Included in the Salzburgerland Card

Address: Gosauseen, 4825, Austria

About 20 minutes away are Golling Falls, so we decided to get there today as well.

The route from the entrance to the waterfalls is beautiful and very short,

Stunning waterfall, this is the place for a family picture!

Included in the Salzburgerland Card

But without Salzburgerland card You can also enter the place for free from 6:30 pm.

Address: Wasserfallstrasse 23 Toren.

We wanted to spend time in Aqua saltza very close to the falls but it was closed

for renovations What a disappiontment !

So we went back to our Zimmer sooner

Later the boys went out for a beer in the pub after dinner and the girls stayed in the Zimmer.

Good night !

Video for the last two days:

Day 5 in Austria – Friday week, today we need to get ready for Saturday.

While the kids were asleep we went shopping in the nearest supermarket,

we bought vegetables, fruits, fish (salmon) prepared for baking, milk, water, eggs, drinking,

bread and everything we need to “Shabbat” (except wine).

Today we will go to pray with an Israeli family who is hosting us in their Zimmer

along with many more Israelis that came to prayer.

The group was organized in advance, further from the country, and opened a WhatsApp group.

The people of Israel are the best.

This morning we opened a magical rope park south of Falchau, which is next to a small lake,

and there is: rafting, lake omega, rappelling, mountain climbing and more

The details of the park are in the “Traveling Family” book,

The problem is that you have to arrange the time of arrival to get a guide there.

We didn’t coordinate, so we had to wait for the guide, to whom someone from the nearby restaurant called.

We gave up waiting, the kids played some volleyball and we enjoyed the lake.

site

Address: Badesee Flachau 5542, Flachau, Flachauwinkl.

From there we proceeded to the Lucky Flitzer slide complex.

There was a long queue for the slide box, so the kids chose for themselves instead

other activities, a sagway for the big ones (€ 10 each) and a electric ATV for the 9 years old boy.

It was very nice and the kids had fun.

From there we went on a visit to Magical Jagger lake

There we did a picnic, a walk by the lake, fed ducks and geese

Address: jaggersee.

From there we moved to our main destination for this day –

Alpentherme Gastein Water Park has donated to Bad Hofgenstein

The place heve an outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool,

an indoor pool featuring children’s cartoon movies, bathrooms,

two large slides, spa / sauna area, full naked entrance only.

Parking – out of place, cost 2 euros.

Parking can be refunded. Ask at the box-office.

There is a restaurant on site.

The place is very beautiful and special but our expectations were probably too high, we enjoyed it

But in Therme Amade we enjoyed more.

Address: senator wihelm wifling platz -platz 1,

Bad Hofgastein 5630, Austria

Admission is included in the Salzburgerland Card.

From there we returned to Zimmer to get ready for prayer and to Shabbat dinner.

The prayer was exciting!

At the end we made a kiddush and returned to Zimmer for Saturday dinner.

Shabbat Shalom!

Day 6 in Austria – Saturday:

Today we got up a little later than usual,

and we spent time in our Zimmer.

We walked 10 minutes on foot to Grappenberg Cable Car,

We went upstairs with the cable car and there we walked among the facilities on site.

Lovely and beautiful place in nature,

It is recommended to spend about 3 hours on the spot.

The place is magical and beautiful but I think it is more suitable for small children than adolescents.

Caution ! White ribbons are deployed around the children’s facilities to prevent the cows from grazing

around enter the compound.

These films are electrifying. Although small but it is really unpleasant.

Address: Markt 58, 5602 Wagrain

from there we walked to the Wasserwalt water park in Wagrain

On site: compound with indoor pool (not very large), 2 water slides in the indoor complex,

and an outdoor complex with 2 additional water slides,

sauna area for the whole family, buffet and lawn.

Included in the Salzburg Card

Address: Wasserwelt Wagrain
Joseph Mohr Road 5
A-5602 Wagrain

site

From here we went to enjoy our Zimmer, his special pool, the peace and quiet.

We rested for lunch / evening and got up at night to look for night-life.

The big downside to this area: most places close early,

It is difficult to find a suitable place to spend the night.

We searched for a interesting pub in St. Johann and didn’t find it, so we went back to the Zimmer.

I retired to sleep with the little boy and the rest went out to a little local pub in Wagrain.

good week!

Friday video summary Saturday

Day 7 in Austria – Sunday Today we went to kaprun again.

In kaprun we saw an open supermarket and next to it a shop where we bought gloves that fit snow.

this is the place:

Snow in the summer? Yes Yes. But first:

The reservoirs and dams in Capron

Please note: there is a 10-floors of car park,

It is recommended to park your car on the top floor,

nearest to the box office and the entrance.

After purchasing tickets you will get on a bus,

move from it to a giant funicular,

Then get on another bus (I recommend sitting on the left side of the bus)

From the bus window you will see the blue reservoirs.

I recommend getting off the bus at the top stop,

When you reach the top you will walk on foot above the dams until you reach a kind of glass building

Where there are exhibits about the place.

The view is amazing! It’s time for another family picture.

From there you can continue on foot to the bus stop where you did get off.

An on-site guided tour requires you to purchase another ticket at the box office upstairs when you get there.

Set aside at least 3 hours.

Address: Kaprun Alpine reservoir starting point,

Kesselfallstraße 98, 5710 Kaprun

Very close to the dams is the Kitzsteinhorn Mountain and Glacier,

So we decided not to miss it.

To get to the top you have to get on several cable cars

for 40 minutes !!

Notice that it takes more than 3 hours there,

the last cable car goes down at 4pm so arrive on time so you won’t be under pressure

and you can enjoy the place.

Be careful not to forget things and coats in the cable car.

Lovely place! Like visiting ‘Hermon’ on a hot summer day.

It is important to bring a sunscreen with you that burns from the sun without feeling,

Snow-fit gloves, long pants and a coat (especially for kids).

The kids really enjoyed playing and skiing in the snow!

From there we went back to Wagrain,

We entered the water park again, this time with the ticket we received

at the first day we arrived from our owner Zimmer Ryanair.

And there we ended another day full of experiences.

Day 8 in Austria – today we say goodbye to our stunning Zimmer

and traveling to Salzburg city, it’s our last day in Austria.

We arrived in the capital of Salzburg, Austria’s fourth largest city.

We parked the vehicle in the central and recommended car park in the “Traveling Family” book

and from there we walked to the science park – a lovely place for kids,

With a seamless interactive view, you can be there for 3 hours or more.

It is tiring and the legs of the adults are a bit failing at the end.

The Museum / Science Park is included on the Salzburgerland ticket.

Don’t forget to sign the parking ticket at the Science Museum box office

It gives you a significant discount.

In spite of the difficulty of our feet, we continued to walk around the city,

We stopped to eat at the restaurant, it wasn’t cheap.

They also charge for hot water we requested

and service on everything on the menu (different service tariffs for drinks and food, etc.) ..

But

we enjoyed the food and continued on to University Square.

There we went on Funicular to the Citadel (although the children did not want to go up).

The fort has a beautiful view of the city from above

and all kinds of rooms with exhibits (which didn’t really interest us).

An Aliyah to the Citadel is included on the Salzburgerland Card.

Back in the vehicle we saw the beautiful bridge of lover-locks.

At the bridge you can go on a cruise whose price is included on the Salzburgerland card

We paid 6 euros for parking (after a discount).

Our last 2 day video summary:

From there we drove about 20 minutes to Outlet Feeding because the adolescents needed some shopping.

At Adidas and Nike stores we found good prices for sports shoes and school bags.

Don’t forget to request tax refunds in the field at checkout.

Our trip map:

When we were done we started the journey back to Prague.

A very long way! We tried to stop few times to refresh.

Continue our trip to Prague here

After a little stroll in Prague,

I can say that we had a perfect trip in stunningly beautiful Austria .

I highly recommend you to travel in Salzburg Austria !!!

Other Recommended Accommodations in Wagrain For Families:

Here

also here

Here

and this stunning place here

A warm recommendation from my friend Nir Schiller:

For rafting and canyoning in Tyrol in the town of Haiming:

the attraction called canyoning is suitable for older children,

this is a company, that is 32 years in the field, will not be disappointed and you should

coordinate in advance …

Address:
Canyoning and rafting base
Old Bundesstrasse 44
A – 6425 Haiming / Tirol
Ötztal – Tyrol

Phone: +43/660 68 07 109

The owner of the business for direct contact at WhatsApp:
Marcel: +436641208930

See you at the next trip!

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Prague – a trip with children

hilalevy — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 13:41:08 +0000

After touring Salzburg in Austria, we returned to Prague,

there we landed and from there we return to Israel.

This is a great opportunity for us to taste Prague too.

We were in Prague as a couple about twenty years ago! Wow,

and now we are here with the kids.

After a very long drive from Austria we arrived at the Rott Hotel at 11 pm,

we dropped off the suitcases and asked where to park the car

(If we arrived earlier we could return the car today but we arrived at night).

We got an explanation about the underground car parking (a bit distant) and

there we left the vehicle until morning.

At the hotel we got 2 large and clean rooms with air conditioned,

some of us (those who were not tired) went for a little tour of the city and

then went to bed.

Good night! one day before the flight back, tomorrow is the last day on our trip.

Day 9 of our trip - Prague:

While the children were still asleep, we returned the car to the rental company,

from there we walked back to the hotel,

we had breakfast with the kids and went hiking in Prague,

We crossed Charl’s Bridge, saw the Old Town,

the fire tower, the city’s main squares,

we visited the Jewish Quarter,

We ate kurtosh

We went to the amazing Hamlays toy store (must visit)

We did some shopping at Palladium Mall,

We went back to the hotel for about an hour and went out to a

Dinitz kosher restaurant.

After dinner we continued walking on the streets of Prague,

We saw Franz Kafka’s special sculpture

and some other beautiful places along the way

and we returned at night to the hotel to get organized for the flight.

The adolescents went to do a Thai foot massage

In one of the places that offer Thai massage in the surrounding area,

there are some with a real Thailand atmosphere,

only the price is different ..

They came back satisfied and very much enjoyed from the massage!

Good night !

Yesterday morning I booked a shuttle to the field from “Prague to Go“,

a great vehicle for all of us at 30€.

I wanted to book the recommended “Adam Torres” at 25€ but he was busy!

Contact phone number on WhatsApp with Adam Torres:

420778823988+

Another option for booking a field shuttle at a discounted price

on this site.

We had breakfast and went on our journey around seven and forty,

we arrived at the field, where we first went to make tax returns on our shopping,

then we went to the security inspection post, we were first!

The whole process went smoothly, we went into duty free to complete

recent shopping and we waited for our flight.

Just before boarding, an examination / mirroring is performed,

here all the fluids (water and the like) are thrown away.

And that’s it, we’re on the plane.

It was a pleasant and easy flight home!

A video from our day in Prague:

A place I didn’t know when we were in Prague: a cafe for cat lovers,

a trend that is expanding in the world, to my delight.

Next time we’re sure to pop in for coffee!

all the details of the place are here

Have you been to Prague? I’d love to read in the comments what do you

like most and where do you recommend going there?

Tell me!

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