Three weeks in Israel

I did an awesome trip around Israel with ILH. I had three whole weeks in this stunning country, but although it seems a long time, time flew by way too quickly.

Where I went and what I did? I’ll tell you:

Tel Aviv

I spent the first three days in Tel Aviv. Unfortunately it was raining all the time. But do you know what? That means that I have to come back soon 😉 I can’t even imagine how cool it must be to enjoy the beautiful view out of my window in the Beachfront Hostel when the sun is shining.

BEACHFRONT

The Beachfront rooftop (on a sunny day…)

Jisr Az-Zarqa

Without having seen more of Tel Aviv than my room in the hostel, I went up north. ILH sent me to a small Arabic village called Jisr Az-Zarqa (or just Jisr how the people there tenderly call their home town) which is actually the last one at the Israeli sea side. The reason is simple and sad: Jisr’s collaboration with the Jewish settlements of the early 1900’s made them stand out among the Arab villages in Israel: On one hand, they are the only Arab village on the Israeli shores of the Mediterranean. On the other hand they were excluded by nearby Arab communities, and did not integrated into the Israeli ones.

At the mosque in Jisr

At the mosque in Jisr

Nowadays a change might be starting to stir with the new collaboration in Juha’s Guesthouse and touristic activities of the whole village. It’s a social project which is supposed to lead to the reintegration of the people into society. I was impressed by their work and the enthusiasm of Jisr’s people.

Caesarea

The nearby ancient city of Caesarea

Clil

Clil is a village with about 500 people, which is perfect to relax, meditate or to get creative. I stayed two nights in the Clil Guesthouse. If you want to be by yourself for a certain time it’s the place you should choose! In addition you can do wonderful hiking trips to other villages, kibbuzim or even to an ancient fortress. My own hiking trip unfortunately was a complete flop. You can read here what happened.

Clil

The view of the Galilee hills and coastline from the Clil Guesthouse

Odem

After two more or less relaxing days I made my way to the Golan Heights and the Golan Heights Hostel. It’s incredibly beautiful there, although it’s sad at the same time and almost disturbing: Not only seeing on the way to the Hostel many bombed houses , that are a result of the Arab-Israeli conflict of battling over the Golan Heights. But no, it was worse: I could hear the bombs and missiles from Syria. I am still speechless and don’t know what to write about it. It was unbelievable for me that the sounds meant that there were people dying while I had a hot shower and a breakfast with pancakes an hour before, standing on the “safe side” of the fence.

Golan Heights

The Hermon Mount on top of the Golan Heights

Nazareth

Nazareth is a city with an enchanting Old Town. And my hostel, the Fauzi Azar Inn, was right in the middle of it. With its markets and merchants reminding me of the stories of One Thousand and One Nights I almost felt as if I had gone back in time. If there hadn’t been the cars and cell phones… The people of Nazareth were always ready to help even when I didn’t ask for it, which was remarkable. I had so many good talks there… In English, obviously! Almost everybody knows English there. Although a “Shukran” (thank you in Arabic – a lovely volunteer in Jisr taught me this word) is making everybody smile.

View over Nazareth

View over Nazareth

Jerusalem

Wow! I had such a good time in the Holy City and especially in The Jerusalem Hostel. Jerusalem is an exceptional place… Different things are crashing into each other and you literally feel the tension in the air.

Panoramic view Jerusalem

Panoramic view Jerusalem

The atmosphere, this hovering between ancient and modern times, the beauty of the Old City had a strong impact on me. But I have to admit that it was as well the only place in Israel where I didn’t feel one hundred percent safe as a girl travelling alone. At the market in the Old City I got asked after every second step if I wanted a coffee, a tea or a juice. A simple “thank you” and a smile was taken as an offense because I was rejecting their courtesy and hospitality. I definitely don’t think that this is true and I couldn’t enjoy myself there. Which is more then sad, I think. Nevertheless in my opinion the city is worth staying there for more than three days and next time – yes, I will come back for sure – I will stay some months to really understand the culture and to immerse myself not only in the touristy places.

Narrow streets in Jerusalem

The narrow alleys in Jerusalem

 

 Arad

After the big city I went to a small town again. Arad is perfectly located to go to the Dead Sea or to the desert, where you can do amazing hikes and other adventure tours. The Desert Bird hostel was the name of my home for two days. It’s a beautiful place with a really nice outside area. I loved every second there.

Me with the Beduins

The owner of another newly opened hostel – the Dead Sea Adventure Hostel – organizes different kinds of trips. I had to try them out! We went to a Bedouins’ place where we saw the most gorgeous sunset and had dinner with them. We made the pitta by ourselves. I will never forget this amazing day.

On the following day we went to an abseiling trip in a salt cave in Mount Sodom – yes, that’s the one of Sodom and Gomorrha. Wow! That was crazy!

Me with the Beduins' kids

I am so happy that I did it although I was so terribly afraid. That really kicked me out of my comfort zone. Buuuuut, I am pretty sure that it was a once in a lifetime experience. We went 80 meters down and we were just hanging on a rope. Better not think about it…

Abseiling

Abseiling with the Dead Sea Adventure Hostel

 

Neot Hakikar

I unfortunately spent only one night in Shkedi’s Camplodge, but it was probably the most comfortable night in Israel. I loved the silence of the small village Neot Hakikar, the tranquility of the camplodge, the self-made pizza we baked over a real fireplace. I saw a colorful and simply breathtaking sunset in the desert. That’s why unfortunately I arrived after sunset to the lodge. I left quite early in the morning of the following day. So again: I need to come back!

Sunset at the Beduins' place

Desert sunset

 

Mitzpe Ramon

I spent my last two days in Israel at the Green Backpackers hostel, in the smallest city of the country. It’s not only in the middle of the Negev Desert but as well directly at the edge of the Ramon Crater. The special thing about that? The crater didn’t evolve by volcanic activity or a meteor strike like others did. This one evolved naturally by erosion. There are only seven craters like this one in the whole world and they are all in Israel or in the Sinai Peninsula. Interesting!

The whole area is teeming with desert attractions – I did a Jeep tour through the crater and did some riding: first on a horse then on a camel! The Mitzpe Ramon Alpaca Farm hosted me for a ride as well, which made me cross the desert in about any way imaginable… Another great experience I will never forget.

Panoramic view Mitzpe Ramon

Panoramic view Mitzpe Ramon

You see? It was never boring in Israel! I experienced so many awesome things, saw beautiful landscapes and met amazing people, who I will hopefully see again one day soon.

 

Barbara-mit-ihrem-MacBookBarbara Riedel is a half-german half-Italian “Digital Nomad”: Working independently, she doesn’t need anything else than her laptop & internet, preferably – at the beach. “It’s making me more creative to hear, listen and smell the sea while I’m working”. Passionate for travel, her blog “Barbaralicious“, alongside her two published books – made her just the kind of a rising new blogger & writer ILH loved to host… While in Israel, she stayed connected using a data & cellular package provided by Deal-Sim (available at ILH Hostels).