Photo Diaries from Israel

I’ve been to some pretty amazing places, but when asked I would have to say Israel has been my favorite! My dad was going for business, and I really wanted to go, so we made it a father-daughter trip! Tel Aviv is the first place I’ve visited outside of the U.S. that I felt I could actually stay and live. The people are kind, the food is vegetarian friendly {hello Mediterranean diet}, and there’s a piece of history around every corner. If you are a history lover like myself, you have to travel to this beautiful country! I have listed my “must-sees” below~ enjoy!

JAFFA

This is the oldest port in the world by the way. Although, you’ll see many “oldest” things here, it is functional and is still used. There are quaint little shops around here where you can find antiquities and meet artists. Ilana, one of the most famous artists in Israel, was actually someone we got to chat with while visiting her museum. She gave us a brief history on the building that houses her amazing collection of curated artifacts. She has B.C. pieces next to her own modern art and the space is fantastic. Her museum is housed in an 18th century Turkish building and overlooks the Jaffa port on the Mediterranean. You’ll get some of the best views of the sea, Tel Aviv, and Jaffa from her rooftop terrace.

JERUSALEM

Before you walk through Jerusalem’s gates (it’s surrounded by its original walls), you have to know which sites you want to see. It is a bit of a maze, so if you don’t have a guide you WILL get lost. My dad and I wanted to visit Golgatha and the Western Wall, so we chose a tour that included that. You can’t see all of Jerusalem in a day, but the Church of the Holy Sepulchre enshrines Calvary, and the Tomb of Jesus. I still can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to walk the streets of Jerusalem and see so many people on pilgrimages. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about what a religious holiday would feel like, but I’m unabashedly proud to say I follow Jesus and being in the last place he ever was on this Earth was a bit unreal.

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CAPHERNAUM

Serene, peaceful, and beautiful. That is how I would describe Caphernaum. This tiny city is like walking through the Roman forum in Italy. The foundations of many of the original houses still stand. This is where Jesus lived with Peter after he left the town of Nazareth and became a fisherman. Peter’s house is still there by the way! Unlike most of the Holy sites, there isn’t a town built around the city, so it is a bit like stepping back in time. What used to be a bustling little town is now just ruins lying on the banks of the Sea of Galilea, and you really won’t want to leave!

THE DEAD SEA

It is hard to choose a favorite place on this trip, but the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life was float in the Dead Sea. This is a little oasis in the middle of nowhere. After traveling through the white limestone desert of the West Bank, you arrive here. People still don’t even know the purpose of this Sea, or even how it got there. If you can’t swim, this is the only body of water that does not require swim know-how!It would beat any spa any day, AND you get to look over at the beautiful mountains of Jordan. I can’t even say anymore about it, it is that cool. If you can only do one thing while in Israel, do this!

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TEL AVIV

My aunt gave me my first travel journal just before my first international trip when I was younger, and it is something I cannot recommend enough taking with you on vacations. Write down the restaurants you love, the hotels you stay in, and the interesting details of the sites you see. We stayed in Tel Aviv and took day trips everyday to different cities. It is safer this way, and we got to chill on the beach the days we didn’t want to go out of the city. For the best seafood, fresh out of the Mediterranean, go to Benny’s on the Tel Aviv boardwalk~ we ate here two or three times it was so good. For a more upscale dinner, visit Shila’s~ we ate here just after we landed in Israel, and the plates were beautiful.

I feel like I just wrote a novel, but I still left out many things we got to do, and the antiquities we came back with! It is definitely a beautiful country with endless things to see.

Bon Voyage,

Samantha