A mere sixty-odd inquiries as to where I am headed and who packed my bag and I have made it from Israel to Italy. (I don't begrudge the Israelis their airport security - all the startlingly young folks that searched and questioned me were very polite and you don't have to take your shoes off and run them through the x-ray machine). Three days in Rome was just enough visit the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Trevi fountain, and innumerable "Palazzos" (Palazzi?). Not to mention restaurants. I don't feel the need to visit again, but if I ended up there a few days, I wouldn't mind.
Caught an "Alto Velocito" train to Florence, home to me (until my flight to Barcelona) and to more Renaissance art and architecture than you could wave a 6€ panini at. Certainly less bustling than Rome, Florence (at least the areas I've visited in the last ten hours) seems to be a very pleasant and livable city. And (mercifully) the churches don't start the bell ringing until 9am.
I'll post some photos when I find a less secure computer. Cheers!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Time Flies
Wow... so my time in Israel is nearly up. And so soon after I figure out "sign in" in Hebrew.
My trips to the Dead Sea went well - but next time I'm bringing
safety goggles. You think that water stings on a razor nick try getting splashed in the eyes. It's a very strange sensation to not be able to keep your legs under the water. And your skin does feel just fabulous after a dip. Even after the damage of eight months of poor diet, sleep deprivation and pollution exposure. Maybe I should have stopped at the Ahava factory outlet afterall. Or at least grabbed a chunk of that Dead Sea mud.
From Haifa, I spent a night in Nazareth (home of the most excellent felafel in Israel) then based myself in Tiberias
to visit Tabgha, Capernaum, and the rest of the Galilee area. The sea itself (at Tiberias) is a bit disappointing- more of a trash filled lake with a (pay to access) gravel shoreline - come to Tiberias for the bus connections to the Mount of Beatitudes. I descended on Jerusalem with every other tourist on the planet - good practice (I guess) for Rome. I hadn't realized how much of the old city would be souvenir shops. Still, it was a thrill to get off the bus and look up at the city walls. Day tripped to Bethlehem on the other side of the "Security Barrier." The checkpoint, while very psychologically intimidating, was no problem. Of course, I'm American - it's not meant to be a problem for me. Straight down to Eilat then on 
to Dahab (Sinai, Egypt) for some lounging and snorkelling. Then back up to Tel Aviv with stops in Mitzpe Ramon and Ein Gedi. When hiking is not longer enough, try hiking through the desert. I'm so over walking. Especially if it's over rocks while lugging around a gallon of water. With fit Germans. You must have to climb everywhere in that country.
to visit Tabgha, Capernaum, and the rest of the Galilee area. The sea itself (at Tiberias) is a bit disappointing- more of a trash filled lake with a (pay to access) gravel shoreline - come to Tiberias for the bus connections to the Mount of Beatitudes. I descended on Jerusalem with every other tourist on the planet - good practice (I guess) for Rome. I hadn't realized how much of the old city would be souvenir shops. Still, it was a thrill to get off the bus and look up at the city walls. Day tripped to Bethlehem on the other side of the "Security Barrier." The checkpoint, while very psychologically intimidating, was no problem. Of course, I'm American - it's not meant to be a problem for me. Straight down to Eilat then on 
to Dahab (Sinai, Egypt) for some lounging and snorkelling. Then back up to Tel Aviv with stops in Mitzpe Ramon and Ein Gedi. When hiking is not longer enough, try hiking through the desert. I'm so over walking. Especially if it's over rocks while lugging around a gallon of water. With fit Germans. You must have to climb everywhere in that country.My trips to the Dead Sea went well - but next time I'm bringing
safety goggles. You think that water stings on a razor nick try getting splashed in the eyes. It's a very strange sensation to not be able to keep your legs under the water. And your skin does feel just fabulous after a dip. Even after the damage of eight months of poor diet, sleep deprivation and pollution exposure. Maybe I should have stopped at the Ahava factory outlet afterall. Or at least grabbed a chunk of that Dead Sea mud.Today, I'm back in Tel Aviv where I fully intend to do something besides sit at the beach. I'm counting sitting at an internet cafe as "something" so hurray for me. If I manage a museum tomorrow I'll be all set.
And thanks again to the gentleman from England for the lift back to Jerusalem - enjoy your travels.
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