We stayed 6 months in the "Holy Land". Six months during which we visited almost everything.
Six months to fully appreciate this country everybody wants for his own.
We left Israel with sorrow, and I get back there several times after that, with always the same pleasure.
We just enjoyed our stay!
Tel-Aviv makes me feel like in Casablanca, with its sea-front and its building style; same suburbs,
same white 3 storeys block-appartments, same trees in the streets...
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... and beaches from the morning to the evening.
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Jaffa harbour is lovely at sunset. Excellent restaurants on the quai. Old Jaffa got a little shouk where
you can find everything, from jewelry to pottery. The view to the city is splendid. My favorite
restaurant stands there.
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To visit the country by oneself is a must, far from touristic tour-operators and pre-planned activities.
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Sunset on the beach. I wasn't alone to capture this uniq moment of the hot evening.
Nobody takes anything for granted around here.
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Young israeli girls that everyday wars do not afraid.
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We stayed in Haifa, on the beach. A dreamed workplace which last several months.
View of the city at night from Carmel Mount.
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I guess to get some cool air and a great view, Haifa city seems to be hanged on the Carmel
Mount slopes.
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Downtown (Hertzl street) can be crowded on friday morning (until 2PM) and empty on saturday
(Shabbat); more over when the heat becomes terrible.
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Carmel Mount, 10 minutes drive from downtown, olive-tree forest is ideal for picnic. Oiled olives
and goat cheeze can be eaten with pancake bread.
And of course, Shawarmas and Falafels!
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Nothing much to do in Haifa (except to eat) or to see (except beaches).
But, who will complain? Here are some spots from the hotel.
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Anyhow, wind and light underwater sand slopes offer nice surfing conditions. It's not Hawaii but
good enough for a day break.
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Tiberiad is the city we liked the most in North-Est of Israel (Galilea). On the shores of the Sea of Galilea
(also known as Tiberiad lake, because the water is not salted), the city is like a holiday resort.
Lots of kibboutz and historical sites.
Just beautiful.
The lake (sea) can be crossed by boat.
Just one hour is enough to circle it by car.
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At sunset, sight view of the city from the Ein-Gev kibboutz where we used to eat our best St-Peter fish.
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The area is full of biblical references. Here, Beatitude Mount where Jesus multiplied breads and fishes.
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Friday, on Shabbat eve; flowers field.
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Acro is a little fishing town, few kilometers north of Haifa.
Described as the oldest harbour of the country, it remains a must-see spot of the area.
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We get to Acro almost every friday morning to buy our fresh fish.
Succulent sea-food restaurants can be found on the quais.
Oriental athmosphere.
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Nazareth and Bethleem are the two cities we liked the less. Hustles, agressivity, pollution, dirtiness (...)
On our way to Nazareth, we crossed the Jezrel valley, toward Afula town. The view of the
Tabor Mount was tremendous. Perfect cupola!
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Annunciation basilic (background) with, on the foreground, muslims praying at the very place
where a Mosque was planned to be built, in spite of loud worldwide protestions.
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From Jerusalem, going to Bethleem is not easy. No road sign to help the tourist. From the Zion Mount,
the road that gets there looks like a suburban residential street, with buses and taxis.
After a while, rocks and wild fields are visible again. Erodium with its volcano shape can
be seen in the distance. A little further, the road is blocked by heavy concret blocks.
Israeli police let us go. We are in occupied territory, Palestinian area.
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The Nativity Church is the only point of interest of Bethleem (according to us).
Inside the Church, even the very spot did not produced the same self-communion like in other
holy places of Jerusalem. We did not stayed long.
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