Having spent the last week in Israel I am mostly over the shock of being in the first world again. People mind the traffic lights (mostly), the tap water is safe to drink (I think), and you can walk without having to dodge rickshaws or jump open sewers. That said, I still can't make my phone work and I can no longer afford... anything. Of all Tel Aviv's significant and meaningful sights I managed to visit none having spent most of my time asleep, freezing (27C is very chilly when you are accustom to 40C) or at the beach. Fortunately, I escape to Rome from Ben-Gurion so I can have a second 'go' at the city.
Haifa is home base for now. Other than a day trip to Caesarea, I've spent most of my time actually in the city itself - between the Baha'i gardens, contemporary art museums, and Memorial/Independence Day activities it's been a pretty busy few days. Tomorrow I trip out to Acre for the day (if I can work out transport - I'm still working on Shabbat's effect on buses, sheruts, trains, etc) then off to Nazareth on Sunday. (I'm out of 5 shekel coins so I'll have to get back to you later - To sum up: alive and well - just a tad confused - so situation normal).
Having spent the last week in Israel I am mostly over the shock of being in the first world again. People mind the traffic lights (mostly), the tap water is safe to drink (I think), and you can walk without having to dodge rickshaws or jump open sewers. That said, I still can't make my phone work and I can no longer afford... anything. Of all Tel Aviv's significant and meaningful sights I managed to visit none having spent most of my time asleep, freezing (27C is very chilly when you are accustom to 40C) or at the beach. Fortunately, I escape to Rome from Ben-Gurion so I can have a second 'go' at the city.
Haifa is home base for now. Other than a day trip to Caesarea, I've spent most of my time actually in the city itself - between the Baha'i gardens, contemporary art museums, and Memorial/Independence Day activities it's been a pretty busy few days. Tomorrow I trip out to Acre for the day (if I can work out transport - I'm still working on Shabbat's effect on buses, sheruts, trains, etc) then off to Nazareth on Sunday. (I'm out of 5 shekel coins so I'll have to get back to you later - To sum up: alive and well - just a tad confused - so situation normal).
