Israel was one of our favorite places. Being in spaces that have been sacred for thousands of years feels special. We arrived in Tel Aviv and promptly accidentally left 3 of our kids on the public train platform on the way to Yardenit to have our youngest baptized. The train was packed and the kids made it out the train doors in time but we didn’t. They were great and just stayed on the platform until we could get off and take the train back to where they were. We spent most of our time in Jerusalem, and went to the old city every day we were there. We walked the stations of the cross (the Via Dolorosa), saw some of the most sacred sites in all 3 Abrahamic religions, and touched objects and stones worn smooth by religious pilgrims over the years. We also took a public bus to Bethlehem one day, which had Christmas lights twinkling on the main square. Good in Bethlehem, which is in the Palestinian Territories, is amazing and about a third of the cost in Jerusalem.
We went to the Dead Sea one day and had fun floating and looking across the sea to Jordan. Highly recommend it. Bring your own towels if you go.
The food in Israel is really expensive, as is lodging. You can get anything there and it’s probably going to be delicious but cost far more than you expect. We ate at the Jewish Market several times and had amazing fruit, pastries, and halva. I tried not to faint every time I paid for food. We also cooked in our Airbnb and even groceries were expensive. Getting around via public transit is easy within Jerusalem and between cities, but going out to Yardenit requires a few taxis.
Highlights:
- I finally learned what the Wailing Wall is and why it’s important. Only took 42 years!
- Talking to the religious pilgrims about their journeys
- Watching the World Cup on the iPhone of a local while waiting for the bus
- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- The Church of the Nativity
Food: 10
Budget: 2
History and culture: 10
Vibe: 9