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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Mar 01, 2023 10:00 PM Dead Sea & Masada
When I was in Israel years ago I was swimming in the over-salted Dead Sea, but I did not have enough time to visit Masada. Today in the morning I went to the central bus station in Jeru. On the info window they printed for me great weekly timetable for the green bus 486 going there. But they do not sell paper tickets! You have to buy electronic card for 5 NIS cash only and then load on the card 32 NIS for round trip ticket. Could be cash or credit card. We departed at 9 am heading to Allenby Bridge, but turning right before it. The road goes along the Dead Sea. The only attraction on the way in the deserted landscape is En Gedi oasis with palms and lush vegetation. Then nice mountains on the right side and turquoise, hazy Dead Sea on the left. We reached Masada after 1,5 hour drive.
What is Masada? It is fortres in the ruin, located on the 300-m high lonely mountain. Just after Christ Israeli rebels were defendin Masada attacked by Roman legions. They lose, but for Jews Masada remains heroic place. And it is on the UNESCO World Helitage List. You can use cableway to get up (77 NIS round trip or 44 one-way) If you want to climb the comfortable path in the heat (approx. 50 min each way) you still have to pay 33. Strange! Great views from the top and good explanation of the ruins - allow at least one hour on the upper level! Absolutely worth to see!
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Feb 28, 2023 10:00 PM Climbing Mount Olives
Sunny day in Jerusalem. I started my walk under the walls of the old town heading first to Zion Gate. There are interesting places to visit near Zion Gate: room of the Last Supper and King David Tomb. The tomb is especially interesting because Hassids are praying there in their traditional dressing. Then I wal walking to Dung Gate and onward - to Valley of Kidron to see enormous necropolis with the outstanding tomb of Abshalom. On the other side of the valley there is Mount Olives with famous Gethsemane chirch at the bottom. If you are fit you can climb steep street to the great viewpoint offering the best panoramic view of Jerusalem. On the top of Mt Olives there is Pater Noster church but it was closed till 2 pm. The view was great... The descent less impressive... :). It is also possible to ride a bis to the top... Uff, hot, but interesting day!
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Feb 27, 2023 10:00 PM Wandering 0ld Jerusalem
This is the city of 3 religions, one of the most interesting cities of the world regarding the history. It was sunny morning when I war walking to the Jaffa Gate dominated by the Tower of David - the most impressive part of the Jerusalem city walls. Once inside narrow and atmospheric David street took me to the Western Wall - holliest place for Jews. They are coming here to pray at the wall of their destroyad temple. On the other side of the wall is famous Dome of the Rock Muslim temple. Foreigners are alloved to visit this guarded area only from 12.30 to 13.30. It is worth to wait to get there on the wooden bridge from Western Wall area. Golden dome on the blue walls of the temple are very impressive... Only Muslim can go inside - to pray. Then I was following Via Dolorosa yo the Catholic Church of the Holy Sepulchre... Very spiritual day!
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Feb 26, 2023 10:00 PM By train to Jerusalem...
It took me an hour walk to reach Hahagana train station - closest to Yaffa. I crossed many small, busy streets enjoying the everyday views of Tel Aviv. The station was also small, but at the entrance security screened all luggages. A ticket for 40- minutes journey to Jerusalem costs 24 NIS. No senior discounts for the foreigners! They respect only their own seniors... The only station on the route was Ben Gurion airport! Then I saw through the window hills dotted by many white stones and darkness of tunnels. Jerusalem station is deep underground and you need to use lift to get to the daylight.
I went out and I sew the different city than 32 years ago: they destroyed stoney houses with iron balconies and built modern high buildings... Uuuu... And the works are still on!
Just opposite Navon train station you will find Central Bus station packed with shops. I was walking another half an hour along Yafo and King George streets to get to my Jeru Capsule Hotel. It has nice lobby with free tea & coffee, but that's all. Tomorrow I will stroll old Jerusalem...
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Feb 25, 2023 10:00 PM Tel Aviv beach walk
They charge here 5,5 NIS for the ride on city buses, no discounts! Bit it is much nicer to take a long walk along the beaches and shady boulevards. I started in the full sun at 9.30 am going from Jaffa beach all over the way to the marina and onward to TLV port, passing big, elegant hotels. Especially the stretch after Hilton is nice - there is a path on the cliff giving you wede panorama of the beaches: the gay beach and orthodox beach, where ladies sunbath separated from the men. On the way back I was walking shaddy Dizengoff Boulevard full of shops, street cafes and cars. Turning under yhe skyscrapers in the crnter to George V soon I found myself at the entrance to Carmel Market - the main bazaar of Tel Aviv. In fact it is one long street full of stalls - colorful and interesting. Finally I was Able to change money: they are giving 3,62 NIS for one dollar...
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Feb 24, 2023 10:00 PM A walk to Old Jaffa
Tel Aviv has very short history. 100 years ago - they said - on the site of today's TLV there were only coastal dunes. But close to this place on the coast there was Jaffa port. I was walking today to old Jaffa to refresh memories. Along the coast they built nice promenade headind to the easy bisible on the horizon the tower of St Petrus church and monastery. The little fishing and yacht port is picturesque and from the port you can take a stone steps up to the hill to see the historic buildings and to enjoy the panoramic view of the city beaches with skyscrapers in the background. There is a flea market close to the clock tower but today - during Sabbath - it was closed. I ealked back to my Pod Hotel enjoying palm trees and flowers... Nice day but "never more on Saturday to Israel".
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Feb 23, 2023 10:00 PM Avoid Saturday going to Israel!
The 3,5 hour flight Cracow to Tel Aviv was OK. The plane docked at the bridge. We went out to the building and experienced big disappointment. No info, bad organized service. In the corridor to the immigration control there are units to scan your biometric passport, analyzing your data and issuing credit card - like landing permit valid 3 months. Nobody explain this, no help. But I got mine anyway! 100 m onward are normal imm. boths. And 200m-long line of waiting people. I was thinking that this is line for those who do not have biometric pass... No, no, no - go to the line anyway. Because you will be investigated there and you will receive little brown paper - this will be you ticket to the electronic gate to the freedom. MY pass had too many stamps - they asked me a lot of questions, but finally I got brown paper... Then customs were not interested to open my backpack.
5.30 pm - I wanted to go down to the railway station to go to the city. Bad surprise! Sabbath started already: no trains, no public buses, no choice, no help! You are on the mercy of bad taxi drivers. They ask as much as 250 shekel to Tel Aviv Center. Sheet! Is this civilized country? There are other people than Jews also here! Fortunately I met two ladies from California suffering from the same situation. We shared the taxi paying 20 USD each. I found my WOM Beach hotel. It is not capsule hotel. It is something new - pod hotel with micro- rooms with upper or lower beds. Let's have a rest! Remember: they start Sabbath already around 4 pm on Friday and close everything!
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Feb 22, 2023 10:00 PM With Tomek in Cracow
My flight to Israel is peparting from Krakow - historic city in the south of Poland. This was a good opportunity to meet my old friend and outstanding traveller Tomek and his wife Ola. We spend the evening exchanging travel stories, talking about travel plans and enjoying each other... Thank you Tomek for your warm hospitality? Ryanair wanted me to be in the airport 3 hours before the flight departure time, but this was nonsense, because they announced the number of the gate only 2 hours ahead. No special control for Israel-heading passengers! I was waiting in front of gate 13 hoping that if will not be fatal flight.
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Feb 21, 2023 10:00 PM I travel to the warmer countries...
February 2023 in Gda?sk is gray and sad, so it's no wonder that I packed my backpack and set off on another tour. Originally, it was supposed to start with a boat trip departing from Istanbul. But the shipping company canceled the cruise and I had to improvise something in this place :) I decided to fly a low-cost airline to Israel, where I was last in 1990 - 32 years ago dad. It will be nice to reminisce and visit old places! I also want to see something I haven't seen before - Masada. Then, via Cyprus, I will fly to Georgia, but only to cross the border to Turkey and cross the unknown Black Sea coast of this country. After returning from this Turkish side trip to Georgia, a cheap airline will take me to the Arab Emirates, where I will board an inexpensive ship that will take me to Europe via the ports of Oman and the Suez Canal. If on my route I will have free access to the internet saved carefully "hot" news from the route you will find, as always, in my travel log
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Jan 15, 2023 10:00 PM Sweet home & Wojtkówka
No any snow in Poland! Winters bacame very strange - you have to fly to Norway to feel the real frost :)
I have a lot to do at home after few week's absence. A lot of letters to be responsed and at least short travel report. I have to prepare also my next voyage (second part of February)
I visited my Wojtkówka - everything is OK there - cats are keeping mouses away... Let's work!
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