Israel

[JohnDB]

OK. I have a possible opportunity coming up in July next year to spend a few days in Israel. I know so many stories of the Old Testament that I want to see. Maybe some of the New as well. Masada doesn't interest me at all.

Caleb's valley does. Sarah's tomb and Mt Carmel and many others. Walking the Jericho road to Jerusalem.

Anybody know the "W"'s of anything about doing this stuff yourself?

 

[Kidron]

OK. I have a possible opportunity coming up in July next year to spend a few days in Israel. I know so many stories of the Old Testament that I want to see. Maybe some of the New as well. Masada doesn't interest me at all.

Caleb's valley does. Sarah's tomb and Mt Carmel and many others. Walking the Jericho road to Jerusalem.

Anybody know the "W"'s of anything about doing this stuff yourself?

Book a online "Christian" tour of Israel in the Spring or Fall.
Also, most of the larger ministries, go to Israel once a year, and you could hook up with them.
Find all this online, by going to a web site.
So, anyway...
Fly there, stay 2 weeks, and you'll have time to see it all.
Even 1 week and you can probably see everything you want to see.
2 weeks would be the best option, but 1 week is still a lot of sightseeing.
Wear comfy walking shoes, bring a good camera.
If you decide to do it, be sure to book your flight so that the Atlantic flight...from NYC <> Tel Aviv, is overnight.
This way you can sleep during the long shuttle and when you wake up, you are in Israel in the afternoon as the sun sets.
You'll like this, as sunsets in Israel, are stunning..
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-

 

[JohnDB]

Book a online "Christian" tour of Israel in the Spring or Fall.
Also, most of the larger ministries, go to Israel once a year, and you could hook up with them.
Find all this online, by going to a web site.
So, anyway...
Fly there, stay 2 weeks, and you'll have time to see it all.
Even 1 week and you can probably see everything you want to see.
2 weeks would be the best option, but 1 week is still a lot of sightseeing.
Wear comfy walking shoes, bring a good camera.
If you decide to do it, be sure to book your flight so that the Atlantic flight...from NYC <> Tel Aviv, is overnight.
This way you can sleep during the long shuttle and when you wake up, you are in Israel in the afternoon as the sun sets.
You'll like this, as sunsets in Israel, are stunning..
-
-

Probably won't have that kinda time or money. We will be coming from Austria/Slovakia after a mission trip so the timing is going to be off for a group tour. We were just going to hop a flight there from Austria to there and will be able only to afford a few days. (It's expensive)

So what are some of the best places? Just looking for the biggest bang in three days or so. I've never been but its like a dream/fantasy come true even if I don't see everything.

 

[Mike S]

OK. I have a possible opportunity coming up in July next year to spend a few days in Israel. I know so many stories of the Old Testament that I want to see. Maybe some of the New as well. Masada doesn't interest me at all.

Caleb's valley does. Sarah's tomb and Mt Carmel and many others. Walking the Jericho road to Jerusalem.

Anybody know the "W"'s of anything about doing this stuff yourself?

My wife and I like to stay in a B&B or hostel in the Old City. It's not luxurious, but it is inexpensive. We use a sherut, which is a shared taxi, from Ben Gurion airport to Jerusalem, and the use buses to get around Jerusalem and a lot of tourist places. When we stay in other areas - for instance Haifa - we like to rent a car and drive around the Galilee.

Good luck, you'll love it.

 

[JohnDB]

My wife and I like to stay in a B&B or hostel in the Old City. It's not luxurious, but it is inexpensive. We use a sherut, which is a shared taxi, from Ben Gurion airport to Jerusalem, and the use buses to get around Jerusalem and a lot of tourist places. When we stay in other areas - for instance Haifa - we like to rent a car and drive around the Galilee.

Good luck, you'll love it.

We are likely going to be as lost as last year's Easter eggs when we get there.

I'm sure that the tourism industry will help us find whatever. They probably aren't going to hide the Jordan river or many things I want to see. The Jericho road though might be tough. Dunno

 

[Mike S]

You'll do fine, most people are going to be friendly and helpful. If we stay in Jerusalem we like to stay at the Lutheran Guest House in the Old City. Easy walking distance to lots of things you'll want to see there; the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane (what's left of it) and all the interesting Arab souqs, etc. If you want to see Mt. Carmel you'll probably want to stay in Haifa.

I don't know whether or not you even feel confident to do it all on your own, but if you do, my wife and I can give you some hints.

 

[Kidron]

Probably won't have that kinda time or money. We will be coming from Austria/Slovakia after a mission trip so the timing is going to be off for a group tour. We were just going to hop a flight there from Austria to there and will be able only to afford a few days. (It's expensive)

So what are some of the best places? Just looking for the biggest bang in three days or so. I've never been but its like a dream/fantasy come true even if I don't see everything.

Dead Sea, Red Sea, Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives<> Garden of Geth....
use taxi's , city buses, rent a car, if possible.
malls are everywhere and there are plenty of hotels as long as its not a Jewish Holiday.

 

[Mike S]

Another thing to consider, John, is that there is conflict in Israel right now, especially the Temple Mount. It's been several years since I've been in Israel so I don't know the safe and unsafe areas, maybe Kidron has better advice on that. Also, you might feel safer in a tour group. Just some random comments.

 

[Kidron]

Another thing to consider, John, is that there is conflict in Israel right now, especially the Temple Mount. It's been several years since I've been in Israel so I don't know the safe and unsafe areas, maybe Kidron has better advice on that. Also, you might feel safer in a tour group. Just some random comments.

Typically, you see the arab violence played out against Israel in the hot summer months, but rarely in the cold months.
So, as the summer there is over, yet its still warm, the trickle of violence is still quite possible.
Usually, you see this play out as rockets, and rarely as terrorism inside Israel itself as anyone that tries it is going to get shot in the head first, and they ask questions later.
Soon enough, the crackdown on this random violence will be finalized, and it'll disappear from the news.
So, till then....im thinking that the closer you get to Jerusalem itself, the more you find the most fanatical, and that is likely where you'll see the arab crazies with meat cleavers attacking 90 year old unarmed Rabbi's, etc.
Brave, aren't they?
Almost as brave as shooters in USA schools killing unarmed kids and teachers.
Thats the thing about terrorists...."only cowards need apply".
The other unusual thing about all this "conflict" is that you never hear of an American in Israel being killed., and there are quite a few there.
The reason seems to be, is that there is an unwritten unspoken law that says......"tho shalt kill no tourist" in Israel as this would end the visitors and both the Arabs and Israeli's make a lot of money from tourists.
Arabs are not angry at Americans..... especially now that our fine President has shown such continuing contempt for Israel while helping Iran to build nukes, and they instead are only angry at the Jews who have built nice cities and established a real (democratic) country/state.

 

[jasonc]

Darn it.eretz Yisrael calls

 

[JohnDB]

Dang, they torched Joseph's tomb. That was something I would like to see too.

The Israelites carried his bones out of Egypt and in the wilderness for forty years before burying them.

*sigh*

 

[reba]

Israel is safer then some USA cities

 

[JohnDB]

Resurrecting this thread as its getting close to time. Plane tickets have been purchased and so now it's time to make hotel reservations. Maybe bed & breakfast.

 

[jasonc]

Israel is safer then some USA cities

Or as violent

 

[JohnDB]

We will be safe. We look like tourists...dress like tourists...we are tourists.

Now if we were Jewish it would be another story.

 

[Mike S]

Israel is safer then some USA cities

When my wife first visited Israel years ago she spent time with distant relatives in Jerusalem. Before she left the states, her friends here where encouraging her not to go because it was too dangerous in Israel, in their thinking. When she was ready to return home, her friends and relatives in Israel encouraged her not to leave because it is too dangerous in New York, in their thinking.

 

[Malachi]

Israel is safer then some USA cities

They don't fool around with politically correctness and cultural suicide.

 

[Malachi]

We will be safe. We look like tourists...dress like tourists...we are tourists

As long as you do not give the impression of Arab or Muslim tourists, you should be OK.:shades

 

[JohnDB]

As long as you do not give the impression of Arab or Muslim tourists, you should be OK.:shades

The Mexicans call me "el blankito"...

I think I'll be just fine. Blonde, grey hair and blue eyes with a " small" nose.

 

[JohnDB]

We are planning on staging a video of me getting Jerusalem Fever...
Not sure if some will get the joke though.:clown