Haifa, Israel - ENTRY!!
Trip Start
Apr 01, 2007
1
39
51
Trip End
Ongoing
Haifa,
Israel
Friday, August 24, 2007
Long story short, Tel Aviv was 'meh'. It was friggin hot (as Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) is) and I was mega-sweaty due to the heat and humidity. It was nice, but not too exciting. After a couple days there, eating Falafel and Shawarma for my sole means of sustanance (sp), I moved on with a local Sherut (air conditioned mini-bus) to Jerusalem.
In point form:
1. I feel VERY SAFE here. There are so many armed soldiers wandering around with semi-auto guns, and security with metal detectors everywhere - I feel safer here than MANY other places
Me and Asi in Haifa at his Apartment
.2. Nothing has happened here for a while in regards to violence, hence, I think both sides are 'reloading'.
3. Cuisine isn't stellar here, but for the food and spcies they do have, they are pretty aromatic and nice. I have eaten much Falafel and Shawarma - that's for sure.
4. Some things are REALLY cheap. As you will see on my photos that I will post soon, I picked up a whole kilo of decent pastries for 15 Shekel (approximately $3.80 US). Dinner was $2.80US once I left the tourist area. Lesson learned - get away from WASPs to save money and gain culture.
5. Hot in Jerulsalem, too.
6. In a fantastic and surreal experience, after talking to some youths in a Jewish bookstore, they brought me (through my own interests) to a Yeshiva (sp?) where Jewish people study their religious works. I was sat down with an amazingly entertaining Hasidic Rabbi named Yitzach, sidelocks, beard, hat and all
A pic from the top of the Baha'i Gardens
. Pale white skin, with a red beard - oversized hands and a fun demeanor about him. I was looking forward to this. We had a huge conversation about how the Jewish people think and about their religion, or better yet, way of life. He was an extremely intelligent and analytical person, and by how we debated and talked - told me that he was surprised I was not Jewish and that I think like a Jew. When I actually talked to him about his faith, I was quite surprised how non-conflictual it was and how non-aggressive it actually is. I learned a helluva lot from him. Now, I am not planning on converting anytime soon, but I would like to read the Torah to see what all the fuss is about with this faith. These people are amazing to talk to, and how they talk, mannerisms, etc - it's strange to say, but Hollywood isn't that far off from simulating their mannerisms and speech patterns. Just like everyone, there are Jewish people that are dislikable, like MANY Arabs as well. But, for the people that are cool, they are REALLY cool.7. I walked the Stations of the Cross, from Jesus' condemnation, to the flagellation to Golgotha, the site of crucifixion. This lead me to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Touched the slab where Jesus was laid and many other key sites. Definitely moving.
Reflection time(tm) would be long today, but I gotta go, so I will leave it at this and update with pics later! All is good and definitely a country worth visiting for it's history!
