Some interesting Israeli Facts

  Jerusalem, Israel
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Traffic laws: So, just as most places, there are speed limits, traffic lights, stop signs, yield signs, do not enter, no parking & 1-way signs.  They are pretty clearly marked & even not speaking the language, you can understand them.  One very important fact to remember...wait, make that 2 important facts to remember:  First, ignore ALL traffic laws.  After all, do as the natives do, yah?  If it's a  1-way street, don't worry, just drive backwards, how else would you get down the street?  No parking, Hah!  Well then, just park on the sidewalk, or across a drive way or just leave your car in the middle of the street.  As I said, why not?  Speed limits, traffic signals, stop signs...merely vague suggestions.  You don't feel like going the speed limit, bevakasha, go as fast as you'd like.  Stop, don't stop.  "whatever."  Taxi drivers especially enjoy these delightful freedoms.  Oh, and this brings me to the second fact you should remember... ALWAYS ASSUME that everyone will ignore all these rules, so please, at least wear your seat belts & for gods sake, look both ways before crossing even if you have a green light.

Taxi's: Taxi's here, keep me from feeling homesick for life in Norristown.  Just like it can cost anywhere from $3-$8 to go from the transportation center to LH, it can cost anywhere from 18 shekels to 25 shekels to go from our apartment to our Ulpan (where I'm taking Hebrew classes.)  You have to request the use the meter, otherwise, they tell you you are getting a "big deal just like in America!"  When you try to tell them you have paid the same amount every day, so why are they asking so much more, after the argue that there is more traffic, or something, then they give in & tell you what a deal you are getting.  Please...give me a break! 

Safety tips I have been taught:
                          -Only eat in restaurants that have a guard at the entrance.  This has been greatly recommended since the bombing at Cafe Hillel in 2003.   Suicide bombers look for crowded areas that are unguarded.  Most restaurants & cafes & stores as well as many, many other places have guards that check your bags & you walk through a security thing or they have one of those wands.
                           - Groups of soldiers are targets, so if you are waiting for a bus & the one that comes is packed with soldiers (who are required to carry their rifles with them at all times), or something just doesn't feel right...wait for the next one or walk.  Evette's school will actually reimburse the difference between taxi & bus fare to encourage us to take taxi's as opposed to buses.
                                 -Don't carry a large backpack on your back if going into small stores unless you are quite certain of your turning radius as most stores are quite small & they don't appreciate it if you know stuff over or worse, whack a person or small child. 
                                -Carry a map if you move to a strange place, especially if the language is not you first language.  If you make a wrong turn & just keep walking because you are afraid to ask & you think you can figure it out, you could end up in a scary neighborhood.
 
         

Hebrew word of the week
lehitraot=until we meet again