By Sasha Star Some people cross crocodile-infested waters… Others partake in violent protests where rocks are thrown and tyres are burnt… Wonder Woman sprinted across a war zone with bullets firing on either side. I braved Jerusalem’s famed shuk (market) Machane Yehuda… on a Friday. There is a special energy that envelopes the market Erev […]
From the lowest spot in the world to the high point of your holiday in Israel, the Dead Sea offers an oasis of beauty, relaxation, tranquility and excitement. The drive down to the Dead Sea, whether from Jerusalem or Arad, never fails to fascinate as you pass one sign after another marking the rapid descent. […]
Tel Aviv’s original train station, known as ‘HaTachana’, is a place for shopping, eating, drinking beer – lots of it – and mixing with locals and tourists. It is no more a place to catch a train but to catch a ride to a “destination” of fun. South Africans know all about trains. It […]
It is often said that you must scratch the surface to discover true beauty. This is only half true about Eilat, for in this cherished part of Israel, its beauty is both above and below its magical multifarious surface – eternally alluring – inviting mesmerising discovery. Beneath the flowing shades of green and blue of […]
Established during the ninetieth century by German Templers, the German Colony – in Hebrew, HaMoshava HaGermanit or simply HaMoshava – is an illuminating gem in the nation’s capital. Replete with picturesque old refurbished homes nestled in leafy lanes, old historical buildings, and a main street lined with trendy shops, restaurants and cafés, it is well […]
A paradise for birds, Israel’s fields, cliffs, rivers, ravines, gorges and desert plains welcome more foreign visitors than Ben Gurion Airport. It is little wonder that the country is also a paradise for those who want to check out these ‘birds’. Clearly birds have a splendid time in Israel if one goes by the number […]
While it does not project the grandeur of Paris’ ‘Avenue des Champs-Elysees’, or offer the pulsating “jol” experience of Cape Town’s ‘Long Street’, Bialik Street personifies the cultural journey of Tel Aviv – a journey where visitors require not tough shoes but exploring minds. Bialik street can take five ministers to casually stroll or five […]
In the center of Israel, amidst historical heritage sites and the national forest of Ben Shemen, lies the green and rural Modi’in region, home to the ancient Maccabees and present day Israelis who are ready to welcome you. The Maccabees were the leaders of a Jewish rebel army that took control of Judea and founded the Hasmonean dynasty, […]
South Africa has no shortage of spectacular wine routes. Wine farms across its mountainous and hilly landscapes – particularly in the verdant Western Cape – are producing superb varieties that even I can buy at my local liquor outlets, a continent away, in Kfar Saba, north of Tel Aviv. However, if South Africa has over […]
A bad day surfing is better than a good day working – who can argue with that? The Israeli coastline may not conjure the majestic swells found off South Africa’s Cape St. Francis, Jeffreys Bay, Durban’s North Beach or my old haunts, Camps Bay, Long Beach (Kommetjie, Cape Town) and Llandudno. Nevertheless, when the wind […]
Summer in Israel is a scorcher and so is the parade of hot bodies down the beach promenade. Getting your body ‘beach-perfect-ready’ is a national pastime for many Israelis hoping to look their optimum-summer-toned-best and draw an appreciative smile – or maybe a phone number! Okay, so while flirting is a fancied-favoured summer hobby it […]
By David Lewis It all started by two dudes from Durbs and a bloke from Zim – The Cyclenix Mountain Biking Group We classify our riding level as intermediate but the accent is always on fun and good company. Our riding companions are our friends; not our competitors! The Path Ahead It was November […]
*By Tour Guide Henry Lochoff In the picturesque region around the sea of Galilee where Jesus began his ministry 2000 years ago, there is a smorgasbord of activities from swimming in the Sea of Galilee and kayaking in the Jordan River, to visiting places of Christian interest. There is Capernaum on the northern […]
By Beryl Ratzer* Appearing in the Book of Revelation, Megiddo is the setting for a future battle between the forces of good and evil. For archaeologists, it is perhaps the most important site in Israel dating from biblical times. For visitors to Israel from South Africa, particularly first-time visitors, Megiddo is usually on the “must see” list. […]
By Berl Ratzer* Masada is one of the many UNESCO World Heritage sites in Israel and the most visited National Park and historical site. Many millennia of erosion have separated it from the rest of the ridge overlooking the Dead Sea leaving it to stand alone, majestic and imposing. Masada is not a tel (In archaeology […]