Few places on this planet stir up as much passion as Israel does. Aside from political allegiances, Israel is a deeply beautiful country with an intricate, often confounding heritage and an abundance of layers to uncover.
Granted, this was a press trip and I only barely scratched the surface of Israel’s complex ramifications. But as expedited as it was, this trip left me wanting more, as Israel is simply not a place you can tick off your bucket list in a matter of a few days.
But we’ve all got to start somewhere, haven’t we?
- A note on territories. I am not an expert in borders nor do I pretend to be; I ask you to be mindful of that before you throw rocks at me. As far as I know, every destination below is, as of publication date, officially part of the state of Israel.
Jerusalem
A thrice saint city, Jerusalem is rich in contrasts and nuances; it ought to be discovered at a leisurely pace in order to take it all in, through the succession of mazes and the overload of information. As the holy land of three major monotheistic religions — did you know, for instance, that a Muslim family holds the keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the most sacred landmarks in Christianity? — Jerusalem holds an invaluable ensemble of relics and experiences, both sensorial and spiritual.
A few mandatory stops: the Western Wall, a guided visit of Mahane Yehuda Market with Dado, Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Mount of Olives, Mount Sion, the light and sound show over at Tower of David, walking through the souks, Dome of the Rock, and of course, a traditional Israeli lunch while taking in the view of Jerusalem from Panoramic Golden City‘s rooftop terrace.
Dead Sea
It would be unthinkable to make it all the way to Israel and skip a floating dip in the Dead Sea! Located a whopping 429 metres below sea level, this salted lake (not technically a sea) is, in fact, the lowest place on the planet. High concentration of salts and minerals make the Dead Sea’s water highly medicinal, with proven properties for the nervous and glandular systems.
It should be noted that I visited the Dead Sea in March and the seabed was very dry, meaning there barely was any mud and that the salt banks were almost dangerously sharp; so much so that I had a few superficial cuts on my feet. I only went in to take a few photos and promptly left. It was totally worth the collateral damage, though.
Tel Aviv
Although Jerusalem obviously cannot be missed for a multitude of reasons, I was mostly looking forward to visiting parts of Israel that are not quite as intrinsically linked to religion. Tel Aviv was the first stop in that regard and it couldn’t have been more eye-opening. With its legendary nightlife, its hip coffee scene and its Mediterranean vibes, it almost felt that I had teleported to Barcelona at times.
The fundamentally epicurean Tel Aviv, with its unmistakably Mediterranean feel, has a buzzing energy from 2pm to 2 am and often acts as poster city for modern Israel. And I’ve got to admit that the result is really quite seductive. the history of old town Jaffa, one of the most ancient ports of the eastern Mediterranean coast, is absolutely fascinating and perfectly embodies the mix of cultures Israel is so notorious for. Occidental and Oriental cultures have been gathering and interacting with each other for over three millennia around these parts. Other things that shouldn’t be missed:
I wasn’t able to stay in Tel Aviv too long but I got to admire the old town Jaffa, one of the most ancient ports of the eastern Mediterranean coast, which is absolutely fascinating and perfectly embodies the mix of cultures Israel is so notorious for. Occidental and Oriental cultures have been gathering and interacting with each other for over three millennia around these parts.
Other things that I did: Sarona market and the Bauhaus architectural ensemble, one of Tel Aviv’s artistic claims to fame. The former manufactures along the seaboard turned into hip boutique hotels and trendy restaurants, including chic rooftop drinks at the legendary Carlton Hotel. A nightlife-themed guided tour of Tel Aviv with stops at the Sputnik Bar or the surprising Allenby night market.