Touring Israel

In 2013, I visited Israel and Palestine, enjoying every second of it.

Most people start their visit in Tel Aviv, like I did, because it's close to the airport. I recommend ending your visit in Tel Aviv. I wished I could have lain on the beautiful Mediterranean beach to cap off a trip. And though I'm not a beach person, I enjoyed a bath in the Mediterranean because the water was so warm, quite a contrast from Lake Michigan in my home town. While in Tel Aviv, a visit to the Museum of the Jewish People -- previously name The Diaspora Museum -- is worthwhile. The museum is on the campus of Tel Aviv University. (Note: Have your passport with stamp ready to show to the guard. When I walked up, the guard actually unholstered his sidearm.) Take the city bus from central Tel Aviv to the museum/campus. That in itself was an experience. I started talking with a professor of Yiddish on the bus. The man spoke Yiddish, Hebrew, French, German and Spanish, but not English. We communicated in Spanish. Also, central Tel Aviv is s paradise of restaurants.

The best thing I did was visit Ein Gedi, a town on the Dead Sea. A swim in the Dead Sea was surreal, because it supports everybody due to the high salt content. Make sure to buy flipflops at the store or bring them with you because the sharp rocky shore will slice your feet. Try to avoid splashing water in your eyes or shaving before: The salty water will burn. However, the resort runs a sweet water line into the Dead Sea for that purpose. A visit to the Masada is a must -- Roman, Jewish and Christian history all in one. And the vistas from the top are to die for. Finally, the Ein Gedi preserve -- which has an actual oasis, in which you can shower -- is unforgettable.

Jerusalem: Where do I begin? I could have spent a week roaming the Old City alone. Don't let the pushy salespeople get on your nerves; in fact, have fun with them. The Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Yad Vashem, the Museum of Israel, modern West Jerusalem with its surprising urban vibe, ancient East Jerusalem -- it and Rome are the eternal cities. Visit the Tourist Information office right next to the Jaffa Gate entrance. The lady staffing it when I visited was American born.

If you want to visit Bethlehem on the West Bank, you can actually catch a Jerusalem city bus, and it will take you there for $2. And you'll go through East Jerusalem. If you want to see Hebron in the West Bank to see the Tomb of Abraham, it's an interesting experience. It's called the Tomb of the Patriarchs because it houses Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob as well as Abraham. It's divided to serve both Jewish and Muslim worshipers.

The Egged bus service that goes everywhere in Israel is reliable.

In July of 2022, I went to Israel as a Roman Catholic solo traveler for six nights. I spent five nights at The Post Hostel Jerusalem hotel and another night at the Dave Gordon Hotel Tel Aviv. I loved both places.
Train travel is cheaper from the airport to Jerusalem ($20) than taking a taxi ($90). However, I highly suggest you set up tours from your hotel (or home) and not visit places by taxi. Do not let your “taxi” driver talk you into anything i.e., a tour they’ll provide, even if your hotelier recommended that driver.
The reason I say this is because I encountered three honest taxi drivers and that’s it. There are a lot of scams that will rattle you. Not only did this happen to me, it also happened to friends of mine.
The Mount of Olives is the worst place to do a self-guided tour. You cannot walk to this area because you’ll probably get hit by a car. It is uphill with narrow roads, no sidewalks and Mario Andretti want-to-be drivers race along its winding road. You would be the only pedestrian walking.
In 2022, Uber operated in Israel that no longer does. As of now, Gett followed by its competitor, Yango have taken over. Following is what happened at the Mount of Olives when I used the Uber app at the Church of all Nations…
Uber posted a license plate number that didn’t match the driver’s car. The driver called out my name, so I asked why the license plate number didn’t match. He assured me all was fine and that he was driving a different car that day. I got in the car making sure I could open the back door without it being locked. Several people gathered around the driver’s door when and an argument broke out. I kept hearing the name Bethlehem as the small crowd bickered in Arabic. I kept telling my driver to please go but was ignored. Finally, the driver pulled away, and it looked like we were going to Bethlehem as he approached a road that appeared to lead to Bethlehem. Fortunately, there was a traffic light stop so I jumped out of the car and jaywalked to the sidewalk.
My friends had a similar experience who unfortunately were taken to an ATM machine in Bethlehem that cost them $700 to get back to their hotel. Arranging an American tour from home is better than trying to wing it alone.
I reported the incident to my hotelier in Jerusalem. He was surprised and said he would arrange a driver named Jamal for me to visit various places on my itinerary. I liked Jamal a lot. He suggested I let him take me to the Judaean Mountains that I loved that also included a trip to Bethlehem. Jamal said it would cost $700 that I agreed to.
I was concerned about going into the West Bank knowing it was possible I could miss my flight back home. Jamal assured me that wouldn’t happen since his family had resided in Jerusalem before 1967.
Jamal drove from Jerusalem to Bethlehem where a guide who spoke perfect English led the way. To end the tour, I needed to tip. We then went to a home where I had to buy something before leaving. There was nothing I wanted to buy but Jamal wasn’t moving. The cheap wall hangings were utterly expensive and were not priced in American dollars. I finally settled on a $350 plaque that still hangs on my wall today, but there was no way out until I bought something. Every piece of merchandise was exorbitantly priced.
We finally made our way to the rugged Judaean Mountains that let your mental walls float away. Seeing how the nomads lived in this setting was shocking. That was the best part of the whole trip.
I did like Jamal, but I wish he had been honest about what to expect. The Palestinian people rely on one another for income, and I felt taken advantage of.
Tel Aviv wasn’t as beautiful, but I loved walking south from Gordon Beach to the end of its 14-mile coastline. I believe a tour to and from Israel may be your best bet, but if you don’t want to spend the extra dollars, this is what you need to be prepared for.