We were able to conclude within about half a day (I exaggerate, 2 hours tops…) of being in Israel that we were really glad to have ignored the UK press and any raised eyebrows. As much as I said to people ‘it’s safer than Paris/Brussels/London’, at the back of my mind I did wonder but thankfully only fleetingly…. I knew from our friends we were visiting just how much they love their home, and my research had me giddy with excitement but I hadn’t realised just how incredible (and safe) we would find it. It was a true case of unexpected pleasure and adventure – every expectation exceeded!
I never expected to visit Israel – many don’t, especially those that watch the aforementioned news… Thankfully on the crew of the yacht I sailed on last year I made two great Israeli friends and when they said ‘come visit’, I said yes! We didn’t think twice and decided on May which is one of the best weather months!
I didn’t expect to feel safe in Israel, but I felt safer there than I do going to work in London and I saw less guns in 6 days than I see on policemen at Waterloo station in one rush hour… There are of course areas not to go (the Palestinian territories) and there are places that are more tense than others – for example Jerusalem which is a bit of a melting pot. But away from these there was no tension, just incredible pride and every culture getting on with life.
Who knew Tel Aviv would have a vibe like South Beach or Cape Town or Sydney? That I didn’t expect. The city buzzes, and so it should as it is set along a gorgeous white sandy beach, imagine finishing work and being able to stroll down to the beach to lie, swim, SUP, surf, have a sundowner (west facing… sunsets every day) – that’s a perfect work-life balance if you ask me. On the day we arrived we were on the beach at 7am and it was similarly busy with people pre-work!
I did not expect to be converted to a foodie in a 6 day trip, but I was, I even took food pictures! The worst meals, as always, were the British Airways first class offerings to and from… Everything we ate in Israel was divine – tasty, varied, astoundingly fresh and often dairy-free by default too! There is most definitely a coffee and food culture in Tel Aviv and the two restaurants we visited in Akko and Jerusalem in particular were fantastic. Read more here – it’s finger-licking good.
Clearly I didn’t expect to understand Hebrew, as I only have a command of about 8 words that I diligently learnt from my friends last summer. But I didn’t realise that actually it is one of those languages that I wouldn’t understand a jot of!! It is very different not knowing what is going on around you – did you know though that Israel is the only country in the world to speak the same language as 3000 years ago? All signs though are in hebrew, english and arabic.
I expected to see lots of historical sites, but didn’t expect the sheer volume on offer. We saw so much that by the middle of most days we would all just refer to it as ‘old stuff’ because there is just too much to take in. We had some lovely trips – to Jaffa old town, to Akko, to Rosh Hanikra and to Jerusalem. There was plenty of ‘old stuff’ and it is steeped in a fascinating if not turbulent history.
I didn’t expect to actually float in the Dead Sea, but physics works. 33% salt content and even after all the food and drink consumed by then, I still floated! It is very surreal – first you drive past a sea level sign halfway down a mountain and your ears keep popping for 1400ft… Then in the water you lose control – it’s like wearing one of those enormous orange life-jackets, you go where the water takes you! My skin is lovely and soft now though! We also got to float along the coast in a yacht which wasn’t expected either and was of course very enjoyable – there was even ‘old stuff’ to see as we sailed by!
When I started planning our trip I didn’t expect to find a bucket list hotel, but I did! The Norman was fabulous, reassuringly expensive but superb – justified as a work promotion treat! The roof terrace infinity pool did not disappoint and the breakfast was a dream!
What I did expect though was to have a damn good time with friends and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. It is fantastic to have friends in different places and be able to visit and enjoy their culture and learn about their country and meet their families and friends. Mr P and I were looked after like royalty and it was a great break. I am a big fan of a holiday being for us but also being with friends – big grins throughout, then sad faces when we got dropped off at the airport!
L’hitraot – until next time Israel. We loved you and thankfully there is still a staggering amount more for us to see. Maybe in early October… For now though, I am working out how to look after our friends next time they are in the UK, the bar has been raised – toda!
Plenty more to follow about our day trips and hotels, but for now, this post is written part of the #travellinkup with Emma, Angie, Jessi and Carolann. This month we are all writing about unexpected places (inspired month for this theme ladies!). It could be a surprise, last minute trip, somewhere you thought would be better, a place that you surprisingly loved or… Just pop your post up over the first week of the month (the 1st – 7th June 2016), add it to the link up widget found on the lovely ladies websites and check out some of the other cool bloggers that are involved in that months travellink up; tweet a few of the posts out to your followers that you think they will love and make a few comments here and there.
It looked like an incredible, perspective-changing trip! I’ve never been to Israel, but would love to visit.
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Most definitely Jaime – just incredible, I guessed it was going to be amazing, but it was so much better! Hope you get to go too! I am just annoyed haven’t sorted diaries to go back in the autumn yet!
Stunning photographs and Isreal looks like a very interesting place to visit. Your images and documentation of your journey seem very positive indeed.
Thanks for sharing!
Laura xo
http://www.shehearts.net
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Thanks Laura – incredibly so, everything positive – such a lot going for it and for tourists too! Ax
I’m so so glad that you loved it!! Israeli people are just fantastic and fun loving aren’t they? Because the religious background people always ask me if Tel Aviv is a serious place, and I’m like no way! It’s a party town!
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Party loving and fun loving – oh yes! Even in Jerusalem in the Machneyuda restaurant which was epic in the fun and food stakes
Floating in the Dead Sea most be amazing! It looks lots of fun 🙂 Hope to try that some time!
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It really is bizarre – weird but amazing. How is 33% salt enough to hold me up?
Wow! You had so many unexpected experiences in a place where I really wouldn’t know what to expect! It looks like this trip exposed you to so many beautiful things that you never would have gotten to see otherwise. And even though I know that you’re supposed to float in the Dead Sea, I wouldn’t expect to either!
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I’m so glad we have friends there as it opened up a country to me that I wouldn’t have known where to start or that even existed. No more going to Middle East – Israel wins out now!
I really enjoyed this post! So interesting to read about a place that so often isn’t listed as a place you should go. It all looks and sounds amazing and so varied, and I can imagine that the Israeli food was great, as you said! 🙂
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It deserves to be top of all lists!! The food causes problems in the UK but I found an Israeli falafel lunch bar two mins walk from my office…
I’d love to visit Israel someday, I think you get such a different perspective on things when you visit friends, not to mention you get a much clearer picture on how everyday life is, and not how the media always portrays things!
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I love that I have friends that could share this with us – we really were lucky and to dispel the myths from the news is pretty pleasing too!
Really a different perspective on Israel. It showed me that it’s much more than just historical sites! #travellinkup
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Thanks Tanja – so much to see and enjoy, a superb place to either explore or just kick back and relax in!
Wow! And I didn’t expect to read this post and be won over, but you did it! 😉 everything looks amazing, and I love that Israel converted you into a food snapper!!
Polly xx
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Happy to have added to your bucket list! I’m only going to take photos when absolutely necessary though… oh dear!
Ax
How interesting! I have family and friends in Israel and knew a lot about the beaches and scenery and food (of course). I’m glad that you had a great time with good people.
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Oh I hope you go and visit them soon and get the special care and tour too!
Don’t you just love travelling to a destination where you know locals? It is the best way to experience all the sights, sounds and tastes of a place!
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We all need friends in amazing places, and then we need to visit them often! We also have great friends in Vienna that I love seeing like a local
I’d heard from Israelis just how nice it is in Tel Aviv and you’ve certainly proved them right!
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I may have to go back soon just to double check, research of course!
I loved Israel. We went to the same places as you and had an amazing time. Would go back in a heart beat.
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We rarely go back somewhere for a 2nd time, but I think Israel is breaking that mould! Everything I love about the US, Europe, South Africa and the Middle East rolled into one without the bits I detest!
Love the “old stuff” that made me laugh. So nice that it’s a much nicer place than television would have you believe! 🙂
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we may or may not have referred to it differently than ‘stuff’ at the time, there was just so much! The media should be reprimanded for what they say…
You know how much I’ve been looking forward to your trip – possibly as much as you! I’m so glad it overshot expectations!
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I am now looking forward to your trip! Totally overshot expectations
I really want to visit now! It’s not somewhere that I’ve ever really fancied going to but you may just have convinced me…
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Get on the plane!! It’s incredible, lovely to go somewhere and then come back and encourage people that its somewhere to bucket list!
Love this post! Preconceptions can be useful but it’s awesome when they are so vastly superseded by the real experience. Thanks for linking up!
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I just wish the media reporting wasn’t so far away from the truth as it must be keeping people away
I am sold! What a superb post, and it really reveals the reality of a wonderful country, that of course gets ignored by many. Those guys look like fun, and I love the idea that the people in Tel Aviv hit the beach before work.
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Beach before work – I would love that… Southampton doesn’t quite offer it! Wonderful country – in a way nice people ignore it as it is still ‘real’ and untainted. They guys are great – amazing guides and friends, we called them ‘Br’IL’ tours because of their surnames beginning Br!! It was brill!
I’m so glad you had an amazing first visit! We just spent six weeks in Israel (my fifth time…) and there was still so much to discover.
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I will have a read, I agree there is so much to see! We scratched the surface with local friends as guides!