(no subject)
Here we go! A brief rundown of my trip to Israel with too many pictures (for my lovely Cassie <3)
So the trip started out a bit rough. As in our flight (the only one of the day on that airline) was cancelled by the time I got to the airpot, so our awesome travel agent scrambled to get us on another flight. We ended up splitting up the group, since there was over 40 of us. The first group flew through Vienna and actually got into Tel Aviv earlier than expected. I was in the second group, who had a lovely 9 1/2 hour layover in Frankfurt. >.> We killed some time by wandering around outside and eating in a small mall attached to the airport. I had Currywurst which was... kind of bizarre lol. But anyway, eventually we made it to Israel at 3:30am, got to our hotel in Tiberius at 6:30am, and had to be leaving for a hike around 9am. To say we were tired was an understatement.
We spent the first four days exploring the north. It was winter, and so much greener than I expected. With all the hills and mountains it reminded me of where I grew up in upstate NY. The nice thing about being on our group as well was that we got access to some places that could be hard to go. Apparently that's how it was with our hike through the Gilabun, which was surrounded by active minefields. We also went to Tzfat, which was just amazing. It's got all this beautiful arcitecture, and we got to meet with a Kabbalah artist who is absolutely the trippiest person I've ever met. XD
Hiking
More hiking XD
Tzfat
Mmmmm... fresh squeezed juice. <3
Danger of death!
The view from our hotel of the Sea of Galilee
After that we packed up headed to a Kibbutz on the Lebanese border. Unfortunately it was foggy so we couldn't see the view (the one rainy day in Israel, right?). We could hear the sounds of the midmorning prayers from across the border though, which combined with the fog was pretty eerie. It was definitely an experience to be able to talk to people who lived so close to hostility and potential death. Just a few years before they had been under constant fire.
We also picked up the Israeli soldiers who we would be traveling with for the next few days, and then went off road jeeping in the rain and mud. XD We were so in need of a shower afterwards.
Later that night we arrived at our hotel in Tel Aviv, and after dropping off our luggage and changing went out clubbing. I'm not really much of a partier, but the place was playing the most hilariously awesome music. Think Baby Got Back type stuff. I felt like I was at a bar mitzvah or wedding. XD Then the next day we went to Independance Hall, Rabin Square, and a market near the fabric district (yay!).
Me and Eliraz, our trip organizer. She was just the most adorable thing, and probably had more energy than all 40 of us combined. XD
Jeeping
Smoked my first one of these this trip as well. :x
Sadly we only got a day and a night in Tel Aviv. Then onward to Jerusalum! Our schedule got mixed up a bit, and we ended up visiting the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem instead of Mt. Hertzel. I was seriously prepared to start crying like I did at the one in Washington DC, but I managed not to this time.
After only a night at our hotel we bussed south to the Negev desert to stay the night in a Bedouin camp. It was... an experience. XD Actually the only really bad part was the fact that deserts are freaking freezing at night. Well, I knew that but even sleeping in a sweater and my heavy jacket was still too cold. I only got an hour or two. Then we got up just after sunrise and went camel riding. I had been told that it was really uncomfortable, but actually I found it fine. Definitely a fun experience, and the view was amazing (no pics though, for fear of dropping my camera during the bumpy ride ^^;;).
After leaving the tents we drove to Masada, which was awesome. We hiked up the plateau where there were ruins of an ancient city. The Jews living there were under seige from the Romans, and instead of being captured decided to commit mass suicide. Kind of eerie.
Ruins of the Roman camp
After touring the city we went waaay down to En Gedi, which was a beautiful oasis, and the Dead Sea. I definitely have a pic of me floating around in it (before the burning salt drove me out XD) but I can't upload it. :( So have a pic of the pretty moon instead.
We drove back to Jerusalum and, after crashing for the night, toured the old city.
Me and Chen, one of our soldiers. She reminded me sooo much of my best friend from high school.
Western Wall
Mt Herzl cemetary
Ben Yehuda St
Aaand then we went home. On the worst airline ever. Don't with the Ukranian airline ever, guys. :<
Sooo that's an extremely brief rundown of my trip.
I guess maybe soon I should make a post with pictures from Katsucon this past weekend...
So the trip started out a bit rough. As in our flight (the only one of the day on that airline) was cancelled by the time I got to the airpot, so our awesome travel agent scrambled to get us on another flight. We ended up splitting up the group, since there was over 40 of us. The first group flew through Vienna and actually got into Tel Aviv earlier than expected. I was in the second group, who had a lovely 9 1/2 hour layover in Frankfurt. >.> We killed some time by wandering around outside and eating in a small mall attached to the airport. I had Currywurst which was... kind of bizarre lol. But anyway, eventually we made it to Israel at 3:30am, got to our hotel in Tiberius at 6:30am, and had to be leaving for a hike around 9am. To say we were tired was an understatement.
We spent the first four days exploring the north. It was winter, and so much greener than I expected. With all the hills and mountains it reminded me of where I grew up in upstate NY. The nice thing about being on our group as well was that we got access to some places that could be hard to go. Apparently that's how it was with our hike through the Gilabun, which was surrounded by active minefields. We also went to Tzfat, which was just amazing. It's got all this beautiful arcitecture, and we got to meet with a Kabbalah artist who is absolutely the trippiest person I've ever met. XD
Hiking
More hiking XD
Tzfat
Mmmmm... fresh squeezed juice. <3
Danger of death!
The view from our hotel of the Sea of Galilee
After that we packed up headed to a Kibbutz on the Lebanese border. Unfortunately it was foggy so we couldn't see the view (the one rainy day in Israel, right?). We could hear the sounds of the midmorning prayers from across the border though, which combined with the fog was pretty eerie. It was definitely an experience to be able to talk to people who lived so close to hostility and potential death. Just a few years before they had been under constant fire.
We also picked up the Israeli soldiers who we would be traveling with for the next few days, and then went off road jeeping in the rain and mud. XD We were so in need of a shower afterwards.
Later that night we arrived at our hotel in Tel Aviv, and after dropping off our luggage and changing went out clubbing. I'm not really much of a partier, but the place was playing the most hilariously awesome music. Think Baby Got Back type stuff. I felt like I was at a bar mitzvah or wedding. XD Then the next day we went to Independance Hall, Rabin Square, and a market near the fabric district (yay!).
Me and Eliraz, our trip organizer. She was just the most adorable thing, and probably had more energy than all 40 of us combined. XD
Jeeping
Smoked my first one of these this trip as well. :x
Sadly we only got a day and a night in Tel Aviv. Then onward to Jerusalum! Our schedule got mixed up a bit, and we ended up visiting the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem instead of Mt. Hertzel. I was seriously prepared to start crying like I did at the one in Washington DC, but I managed not to this time.
After only a night at our hotel we bussed south to the Negev desert to stay the night in a Bedouin camp. It was... an experience. XD Actually the only really bad part was the fact that deserts are freaking freezing at night. Well, I knew that but even sleeping in a sweater and my heavy jacket was still too cold. I only got an hour or two. Then we got up just after sunrise and went camel riding. I had been told that it was really uncomfortable, but actually I found it fine. Definitely a fun experience, and the view was amazing (no pics though, for fear of dropping my camera during the bumpy ride ^^;;).
After leaving the tents we drove to Masada, which was awesome. We hiked up the plateau where there were ruins of an ancient city. The Jews living there were under seige from the Romans, and instead of being captured decided to commit mass suicide. Kind of eerie.
Ruins of the Roman camp
After touring the city we went waaay down to En Gedi, which was a beautiful oasis, and the Dead Sea. I definitely have a pic of me floating around in it (before the burning salt drove me out XD) but I can't upload it. :( So have a pic of the pretty moon instead.
We drove back to Jerusalum and, after crashing for the night, toured the old city.
Me and Chen, one of our soldiers. She reminded me sooo much of my best friend from high school.
Western Wall
Mt Herzl cemetary
Ben Yehuda St
Aaand then we went home. On the worst airline ever. Don't with the Ukranian airline ever, guys. :<
Sooo that's an extremely brief rundown of my trip.
I guess maybe soon I should make a post with pictures from Katsucon this past weekend...