Tours in Israel – hahu"l calul

Holiday in Eilat – Israel

hilalevy — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 10:27:42 +0000

How do you plan the perfect vacation in Eilat?

Haven’t you been to Eilat in years? You do have a good memory of this city, but it’s been a long time since you spent time there? If so, you should know: there is nothing like a vacation in Eilat, and the time has come for you to travel there too. The southern resort city offers a variety of attractions for all ages. Therefore, whether you intend to go on a romantic vacation or whether you are taking the children with you, there is no doubt that you will have something to do in this wonderful city. There are various types of water sports here that you can enjoy alongside a variety of restaurants, pubs and other entertainment venues. Therefore, if you can book a vacation in a great hotel today, why think twice? Vacations are a very important part of all of our lives and you should not give up any such pastime.

All the reasons to book hotels in Israel online

When you think of a vacation in Israel, the first question that comes to your mind is where and how to organize such a vacation? You should know: today everything is waiting for you on the Internet. Therefore it is clear that you can also book your upcoming vacation in Eilat directly online. In fact, if you do a short inquiry, you will see that there are many options for direct booking of such and such hotels in the city. At the same time, when you come to choose the perfect hotel for you, it would be worthwhile to check what exactly you are ordering and what you are getting. For example, does the hotel you choose offer you a price that also includes breakfast? This is not the case everywhere, so it’s worth checking in advance. Another point that is very important to be aware of is the question of whether it is a hotel that can also be canceled or not. Although we all plan vacations and hope to enjoy them, sometimes unexpected things happen in life. For a moment, already when booking your hotel, it would be worthwhile to check the cancellation policy, for any trouble that may arise.

Check what attractions are there

Are you planning a vacation today in the southern resort city of Israel? If so, it is highly recommended to delve for a moment also into the question of the attractions that are there. It is true that the hotel can be an attraction in itself, but when talking about attractions in Eilat, we are talking about a multitude of options that the city itself offers. Have you always dreamed of swimming with dolphins? Eilat is the right place for that! Want to dive and discover life in the water up close? Of course, in this sense too, Eilat is the perfect destination. If it is important for you to enjoy every moment of your vacation and feel that you are using the time properly – it would be worthwhile to plan things in advance. Check which attractions are more suitable for you (Diving? Swimming? Shopping? Sailing? Antiquities in the neighboring Timana? Underwater observatory? A visit to a botanical garden? Ice Skating), and accordingly you can plan a perfect vacation. Eilat is a lovely place where the weather is wonderful almost all year round. Therefore, if you like the heat, it’s clear why you should hurry up and drive or fly all the way to Eilat.

* The article is the result of a collaboration with the Hotels Israel website

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%

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 !!!

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%

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!

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%

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!

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%

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:

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%

Israel’s 70th Birthday

hilalevy — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 06:30:32 +0000

A trip to the north of the country

In honor of Israel’s 70th Independence Day, I decided to add a new category

“travel in Israel”

to my blog and go out and travel more in the Land of Israel!

The truth is that I have long thought that in the country we are not traveling

enough

Nor do you know you properly.

70th birthday to the country is a good enough reason to tour the country!

So I promised and kept going, and it was actually easy. Because after

Passover we did almost nothing,

The conscience bothered me so I went to the Nofi Gonen villageresort

website (click on the name of the hotel),

I saw there was an operation for Independence Day and within minutes I set a

fact for the family !!

This time we are going on a trip up north!

A year ago, I was in this resort as part of my job,

And I knew then that I would return there sometime with the family.

As I was preparing for the trip, I had some thoughts on the benefits of

traveling in Israel,

So why travel around the country?

Apart from the obvious reasons (we have a great and beautiful country!

Know your country! Etc.), there are several other good reasons:

* When packing is not a problem of overweight, the suitcases should

not be considered at all or think twice about what we will give up because

there is no room in the case.

* There is usually no need to find out and pay for a car rental, go on a tour

of the familiar and suitable family vehicle for our vehicle

* You can drink plain water and no need to stick to the mineral water.

* No language problem.

* No problem finding kosher restaurants and all types of food.

* Israeli breakfasts and rich as they can serve in the country!

And more (do you have anything to add? Write to me in the comments)

We live in the south, and at first I intended to stop on our way north in the

“Valley of the Springs,” but since it was Independence Day

And there was expected load on site and load on the roads, I decided

we would leave Izzy from home without pressure and without getting

stuck in the roads or queues for hours.

Also, the kids slept late at night (more so early in the morning) on

Independence Day.

So we got up fun, loaded everything into the car and left around 12 from

home north.

we are ready:

On the way north of course there are many stop options,

we stopped for ice cream,

And further, further north, we stopped by the Jordan River,

where there are ATV rides

And an option to settle down with a waterfront tent

We ate “Druze pita” and had fun in the river water

From there we proceeded to Kibbutz Gonen to receive our room

The room is simple and clean, it has a small fridge, coffee / tea set,

small table and two chairs.

* It is important to know that the village has different types of rooms and rooms,

at different levels and prices accordingly.

And another important thing: bring something mosquito-repellent to your body

and maybe even a power supply in the room,

Because whoever feels may be stung by mosquitoes.

There is a dining room, pool and cute living area

And peacocks and cats walking freely in the kibbutz

In the evening we went out to celebrate my big daughter’s 17th birthday

While she will be 17 on Sunday, the festivities began today (Thursday)

We went to Kiryat Shmona (about 15 minutes drive) and ate in a coffee shop,

delicious food including a dessert with distillation and birthday songs

From there we went back to sleep at Kibbutz Gonen tired and satisfied.

The next day we had a very nice breakfast, the kids were happy with the meal and that

is what is important to me

There was a selection of cheeses, omelettes, breads, pastries, hot drinks,

juices, fruits and more.

After breakfast we drove (a few minutes drive) to the Tel Dan Nature Reserve.

Matmon subscribers enter the reservation for free, a family with 3 children without

a subscription will pay about NIS 100.

Dan River flows from Tel Dan and later reunites with Hermon River and Nahal-Snir,

which together form the Jordan River.

The length of the Dan River is 20 kilometers.

The place is stunning! The route is very easy to walk, the whole route leisurely and with

a break takes about an hour.

You can even see the bear Fu’s tree there

Or heaven …

At the end of the route there is a pool that can be dipped.

In short a lovely track and very suitable for families!

Don’t forget to bring you a towel, sunscreen and changing clothes.

From there we went to eat at Fish on the Dan, a restaurant that my kids know and

love very much,

Because of the uniqueness of the place, eat by the creek, and usually there are

chickens and cats that can be seen

In addition to the restaurant there is a fish shop and fish ponds, which the kids

enjoy there too.

The main drawback of the place (apart from the distance in our case) is the price.

The portions are relatively expensive.

You can search for coupons on the “CouponOff” website for example and lower

the costs slightly.

After we ate and sat down, we returned to the hotel room for lunch

And on Saturday night, we had dinner (including kiddush properly) at family

members who live in Moshav Dishon.

It is a good idea to take an ATV excursion with the charming Ofer!

Monday night at Nof Gonen, Saturday morning having a leisurely breakfast,

Ask about the time of vacancy and allow us to vacate the room at any time.

So we went for a bit to enjoy the beautiful big pool and the living area,

We packed comfortably, checked out and drove away (about an hour

and a quarter drive) to Rosh Hanikra!

Stunning place in its beauty! A wild and beautiful seaside, who has not

been there yet -must come.

The last time we were there was in 2010..8 years ago.

What are you doing there? (Buy tickets with some discount, I used a credit

card benefit)

Start with an amazing observation

Get off the cable car and there you march in a magical landscape

watch a short video about the place, strolling among the woodpeckers,

there are those who

get a bit wet by the stormy waves hitting the woodpeckers

You can rent a bicycle or golf car and take a walk on the promenade next to

the site

You can see the bridge and the railroad that paved from Egypt to

Europe through Israel and Lebanon.

When you get back on the cable car, you can eat something in the on-site

restaurant and visit the Israel-Lebanon border

From there we drove south, back home.

Everyone enjoyed themselves, small and big. It was a relaxing, fun, formative trip,

tailored to all ages

And most of all – close to home!

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%

How do you say sand in Arabic?

hilalevy — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 07:02:56 +0000

This time I invite you to a fairy tale,

A legend that begins many, many years ago.

Somewhere in the early eighth century the first millennium was founded,

So called because it was built on sand dunes.

It is the only city founded by the Arabs during their reign in Israel.

This is Ramel in Arabic. Hence her name in Hebrew – Ramla!

Although Ramla was founded as a Muslim city, Christians soon recognized it

as “Ramah,” the home of Samuel the Prophet,

And in the early “Ramatim”, Joseph’s house I picked up, who took Jesus down

from the cross.

The Jews also believed that Ramla was the early Ramatim and even named

one of the Shmuel the Prophet who was from Ramatim.

Ramla was in a good place on the ancient road between Jaffa and the city of

Jerusalem.

Such as the illustrious Commander Napoleon (one of the most important

French rulers), Richard Lev Harry (King of England) and more

Today, Ramla is a diverse city whose population (81,000 inhabitants) includes

Jews from 93 different countries,

24% of its residents are Arabs (a third of whom are Christians).

How do you put years of glorious history into one day?

Take 20 creative and talented bloggers and lead them with close guidance

Among the major and representative city sites, through all senses,

And they’ll do everything else … I’ve already said they’re talented

So I joined a group of bloggers invited by Galit Kedar and Ramla Municipality

And I came to Ramla, getting to know her up close, ready for surprises.

Our tour begins at the Grand Mosque

Many years ago the Crusaders in Ramla built a large and decorated cathedral.

But a century later, when the Mamluks conquered the city, they turned the

cathedral into a mosque.

And this is actually the largest complete Crusader building in the country,

which serves as a Muslim mosque that is still active today.

In the museum near the Grand Mosque we saw an ancient collection of gold

coins and also an exhibition by artist Amira Boecek.

The coins are a fascinating relic from the city’s early days,

Ramla was one of the only cities in Israel that received permission from

the authorities to make coins,

And coins were minted there from its founding to the earthquake that

struck the city in 1068.

The coins, which can be seen in the museum, came from around the

Muslim world, from Algeria, Iran and Armenia.

The currency cache is a testament to the city’s important place in the local

and state economy.

We visited the ancient home of a Christian Arabian artist named Nihad Debit,

Lenihad a fascinating life story.

The image from the Goramla site

Nihad attended the Thelma Yellin School of the Arts, continued his

bachelor’s and master’s degrees, lived for several years in Sofia, Bulgaria, and

moved to Greece,

Greece spent 6 years in prison for bringing drugs into the country. Among his

well-known works you will find special olive trees made of metal.

A similar olive tree is also found at the entrance to his home

And some small olive trees inside his house (a building that existed before

1927)

From there we proceeded to the old Franciscan church (with the clock tower)

Photo by Galit Kidder

And to the Franciscan monastery that has existed since 1396.

In the 15th century, the church complex housed a hostel where Napoleon

Bonaparte (somewhere in 1799) was on his way to the Holy City of Jerusalem

(which, incidentally, he did not arrive).

According to legend, with Morning, when Napoleon was awakened by the

mousin’s call at the nearby mosque,

He shot to death from the window of his hostel room directly in the muezzin.

Conclusion: Do not try to wake a French army officer from his sleep!

In the 19th century the abbey was rebuilt and most of the old lodge

disappeared,

But the window of Napoleon’s room can still be seen from outside.

We also visited the White Mosque complex

Huge cisterns, whose remains can be seen today, were excavated under the

central and large mosque

They were excavated to provide drinking water to the city’s first residents.

View from above of the remains of the White Mosque and the cisterns

The complex surrounding the ancient mosque also includes a standing tower

and is called the “square tower” and “the white tower”

If you want to see from the top of the tower Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Shoham, Lod

Hamlet Nesher factory and more

You will have to climb 111 steps inside the tower to the vantage point at the

top.

From there, we proceeded to the 400-square-foot magical rainbow pool,

There we did an experiential and surprising cruise

But before you reach the rainbow pool you can see a water fountain that is

more than 900 years old!

The ancient fountain was found in the remnants of a wealthy estate from the

end of the 10th century and the first half of the 11th century AD,

And brought from there to the Rainbow Pool area.

The rainbow pool was built to serve as a reservoir in 789

And it exists to this day and is full of beautiful water and fish brought there not

too long ago.

And now, it’s time to eat! What to do ?

A tasting tour in the Ramla market

Ramla’s large and colorful market is known for the quality of fruits, vegetables,

fish and foods sold there,

And of course thanks to the low prices and the great restaurants that surround

it.

If you are not doing a tasting tour I recommend you eat at least one of the

things we have tasted, for example:

A very tasty Tunisian sandwich

And at another stall, not far away, you will find “borekas” that you haven’t

tasted yet

Pickles and cheeses in different flavors

And for dessert, halva and dried fruits

After eating all this goodness, full and satisfied we arrived at –

The main synagogue of the Karaite community in Israel

There we heard a very interesting stories about the Karaite community,

What makes it different from us, what sets it apart, are they committed to

fixing mezuzahs on the doorframe,

Are they obliged to wear a skullcap, what their synagogue looks like and

why, what does a woman want a divorce, how to celebrate Bar Mitzvah and

more …

The Karaite Synagogue and the Karaite Rabbinical Council are open to visitors

in advance.

This is where our tour ended, I really enjoyed the city, the company, the

atmosphere and the flavors

I expect Ramla to be an important and sought-after tourist destination,

Because of its historical richness, because of its importance to all religions

And because of the city’s future investment in tourism infrastructure that

preserves its glorious past,

While investing in the city’s future – education, and fostering the next

generation.

In short – what can be done in Ramla?

You can sail in a boat in a pool of water sunk between houses and

underground,

Wander through special and beautiful churches, mosques and synagogues.

You can climb a 700-year-old tower from which you can see the city towers of

Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan,

Eating at a vegetarian Indian restaurant is especially recommended and

named “Maharaja”.

You can take a stroll in the large, indoor market in the city center,

And taste especially delicious foods on a colorful tasting tour that inspires all

senses.

You can meet unique and famous artists in the Old City,

See the collection of ancient gold coins in the museum.

You can visit the largest British military cemetery in the country and see Harry

Potter’s grave there!

Sir Harry Potter of the Worcestershire Department,

A British soldier who was killed while serving in Hebron in 1939 and is only 19

years old.

* List of other sites to see in Ramla here

* Most of the sites in the city are within walking distance of the Ramla train

station, so we recommend that you visit them on foot!

* You can do the tour with a guide you order here

Or independently with the help of a free special app (with GPS and voice guide),

Which will take you through the various city sites, details and download the

app here

Link to Ramla website

Thanks:

Galit Kedar who produced the tour for us

To the talented guide Ron Peled

Orna Samaria, who organized, accompanied and guided us on the tasting tour

of the market

City Spokesman Ronnie Barzilai

And last but not least: for bloggers who participated in the tour

Link to a post about Ramla:

Tal Bright’s post

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%

Indulgence and art in Elma – Zichron Yaacov

hilalevy — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 19:21:11 +0000

introduction:

Sometimes instead of a small leap abroad, we choose to spend

one night in a luxurious hotel in our country.

For me, celebrating my husband’s birthday is a chance to spend in a luxury hotel in Israel,

Thing that I can’t afford with the kids or during the precious summer months.

My husband was born in the winter .. and this is an opportunity to find a reasonable price

for a luxurious hotel! So I was looking for a hotel like that,

But I need to offer something more besides Lina.

To do this, I went to different hotel sites and checked what they were offering in the

“Deals” category.

To lower the cost of pleasure, I am looking for special hotel deals on unsolicited dates,

There are usually lucrative deals for on Saturday nights.

This is not suitable for Shabbat keepers, but there may be similar offers for

mid-week arrivals.

I found what I wanted in the Elma Hotel in Zichron Yaacov.

A luxury hotel that offers both accommodation and performance.

About the hotel I selected:

The Elma Hotel is located in the northern part of Zichron Yaacov, in a

special building with an interesting history,

The building is an architectural piece in itself and can be seen from the

coast road, The building looks like a wave merging with the landscape.

The person responsible for this architectural work is Jacob Rechter,

He was awarded the Israel Prize for Architecture for the building that he

preserved and renewed.

The whole place is the realization of Mrs. Lily Elstein’s vision of an art collector,

Who took it upon herself to breathe life into the structure and founded

Elma instead,

a unique hotel that is home to art and music.

The hotel has permanent and permanent exhibitions of works of art

created by Israeli artists

and different performances that take place in two different and special

halls that provide phenomenal acoustics.

I recommend going to a venue for a show, tour or of course to stay

for a night or more and experience a culture and pleasure experience.

Here’s How I celebrate a birthday in Israel:

So I booked one night at the Elma Hotel in Zichron Yaacov from Saturday

to Sunday.

The deal included dinner and breakfast + a 25-minute massage for each of us,

I asked to convert this into a 50-minute massage for my husband,

and I got a positive answer, with no problem..

The reception on Saturday is from 6 pm but can be reached earlier.

We arrived at 4 pm and the room was ready and even upgraded to a suite!

what fun!

The suites are in a new area outside the hotel’s main building

and that is a disadvantage to consider when choosing a room,

We had to walk in the breeze and cold from our room to the main building

(if we wanted to get to a dining room, pool, etc.).

I guess in the summer it’s won’t be a problem because the weather there

will be pleasant.

But in any case, there is an option to ask to go to a club car (golf car)

and a nice guy will drive you.

I must note the excellent service we received from all the hotel staff

without exception!

Service with a smile, patience, and goodwill, simply outstanding.

Before arriving at the hotel and getting the suite, we first walked down

the pedestrian street of Zichron-Ya’akov ,

A magical place with a special local charm and atmosphere,

we were lucky to have a nice weather and we could hike there

among the preserved ancient galleries, shops and buildings

After walking down the street we had a delicious ice cream in ‘Aldo’

We peeked at the special little wine cellar,

We wanted to sit down to drink something light or warm but you can only

drink wine there.

What else can you do in Zichron Yaacov?

A walk between flowers and beautiful vegetation at the generous Ramat Hanadiv

a very important and interesting museum of Beit Aharonson.

Tour and meal at one of the wineries in Zichron Yaacov of your choice

(Carmel / Tishbi / Amphora ..)

A visit to the wine cellar on the street

Various local art galleries (most of them on the street)

The gunner’s house

A meal in a Chinese restaurant

View of the sea from the Elma Hotel,

and more

Return to our entertainment at the Elma Hotel:

We got our suite, the Bell Boy took us and our suitcase up to it,

In the room a bottle of wine awaited us with tasty chocolates…

We rested a bit in the room until evening

And around 7:30 we bought tickets to Efrat Ghosh’s show

(half price for hotel guests),

We went into a dining room that looked like a cozy restaurant

rather than a “dining room”, We had a very good dinner

From there we went down to the “Cube” hall for the performance of singer

Efrat Ghosh.

The show was in sitting, we got up to at the end to dance a little with the singer

who was hanging out with us,

It was a lot of fun, a good time for the end of the birthday.

And the next day the fun continued.

We got up in the morning with a natural wake, went to have breakfast

We ended up sitting next to a burning fireplace with coffee and cakes

We could sit like that all day but we had a tour to do.

At 10:00, a tour of the hotel starts from the lobby, the guided tour takes

place throughout the hotel and during which you receive an explanation

about the beginning of the place, fulfilling the vision of Lily Elstein,

the owner of the place, the uniqueness of the building,

the works of art fill every space in the hotel, the activities that take place

there and the love of art and music.

It was fascinating and enriching.

From there we continued to the spa, where we were waiting for a

pre-booked massage, we also enjoyed the indoor pool,

A cup of tea and marble biscuits and hamam

In addition to the indoor pool, the hotel has a large outdoor pool for

the summer months

and a well-equipped gym

When we finished enjoying the spa we left the hotel towards the house.

On the way, we passed the open mall in Zichron-Yaakov to do some

shopping and from there – home!

It was a short pastime but ‘self-battery’ Charge and good time for relationships-

like that in the middle of routine and life!

I strongly recommend trying this treat right here in Israel and now and then

Enjoy what Israeli culture and local recreation have to offer us.

Enjoy!

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%

Snow in the Hermon

hilalevy — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 09:58:15 +0000

The snow season opened on the Hermon site after a wintry and windy weekend

This past weekend, which was particularly rainy and wintry, covered the Hermon site with a full white coat,

On the lower level, the snow was stacked at a height of about 35 cm and on the upper level the snow came Approximately 50 cm high. After leveling traffic routes from the snow, the site was opened to visitors on Saturday.

Thousands of visitors visited the site enjoying a Chanukah and fun first snow experience.

Another weekend is also expected, which may open the site to surfers.

2020, welcomes the Hermon site painted in white and began operating the new trolley That was inaugurated this month,

For the benefit of many visitors. Last weekend will be remembered as one of the significant rain events The state knew, as did the Hermon site that received the first snowfall this winter,

A beautiful and respectable dish that allowed the site to be opened to visitors.

The skiers need a little more patience.

It may be this coming weekend that another system will complete the task.

During the winter extensive work was done on the site, the big and central project is indeed the construction of the new cable car,

Lasting about 9 months. The cable car places the Hermon site at the top of the list of cable cars in Israel, with a cable car of 42 cars,

In each of the 8 visitors, the cable car is accessible to the disabled and allows it to reach the upper level with wheelchairs.

The speed of the journey is about 5 minutes compared to 15 minutes in the old cable car, for one hour about 2400 people will rise

Compared to 700 on the previous cable car. This is an advanced product that will meet the needs of the site and shorten queues.

In addition, work has been invested in the construction of Snow Park for professional skiers, a complex for surfers built on the mountain itself

And not in the snow as it was first built last year. Soon, you will be able to sell tickets online,

This will make it easier for many visitors and cashiers on the site.

The Hermon site is an active resort all year round, the only ski and snow resort in Israel, a major tourist anchor in the north that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

The site covers 2,432 acres, 1,600 – 2,040 meters above sea level. In the winter months,

Focusing on snowy days, the site’s activities concentrate on total recreation in the snow alongside a professional ski resort, surfing trails,

Skiing, snowboarding, and an Israeli surf school.

Many visitors from around the country come to experience a day in the Israeli snow, watching, playing, having fun,

Travel the cable car to the upper level, the length of the cable car is 1250 m and runs throughout the year,

Immigration is permitted at any age.

At the top level of the site, you can enjoy the snow sled pit.

On the lower level are the Extreme (all year) slides, a 1km track,

On it the sled moves and reaches speeds of up to 45 km / h, the skier controls a sled with a handbrake.

The track is built on elevators, descents and surprising turns in the wild Hermon scenery.

(From 3 and up to 1.45 cm height accompanied by an adult).

You can go sledding on your own, or in pairs and it is an experience full of excitement and enthusiasm.

In addition, visitors will enjoy the Sky Rider, air-hung chairs, a kind of gentle roller coaster

And when the mountain is snowing beneath, it is a spectacular experience.

Already head north to the site as they cross the streams and climb towards the site,

Enter an alpine atmosphere of freedom and clean air with a dazzling 360-degree view in one of the most beautiful places in Israel.

Who is right for the whole family.

Hours: 08:00 – 16:00 (Entrance to cars until 15:00) Entry and facilities are paid.

For more details: 1599-550-560

The post %% POSTLINK %% appeared first on %% BLOGLINK %%