Israel 2010, Part 2
© 2010 David Talbot
The Holy Land
AKIVA, Israel (Jan. 29, 2010) — For many people of faith around the world, the image of Israel is a reflection of their religious experience. And it is true; the country is of unique significance to the three major religions of the world.
Jews, Christians, and Muslims all feel a special relationship to the biblical land of Canaan. However, to the first-time traveler, the country could be a disappointment or a confirmation, or both, of the expectations one may have of the land of Israel.
While Israel is a very modern country, and suffers similar social problems, as do all countries around the world, it also is a very ancient land with ancient cultural roots that persist even today. Here in this mystical land, religious tradition and secular non-observance co-exist, mostly peacefully throughout.
A goal of this series of reports is to describe how the cultural differences can work to make your trip to Israel more than just another vacation.
Is it safe to visit Israel?
The short answer is: Yes it is safe to come to Israel. In fact, in almost every city and town, crime is less of a problem than in most U.S. cities. However, most people who wonder about safety are actually thinking about terrorist activities, not common criminals. The answer is the same: It is safe. Last year more than 2 million tourists chose Israel as their travel destination. December 2009 saw 225,000 passengers come through ultramodern Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), an all-time record. There were two terrorist-related incidents in 2009, neither of which involved visitors.
Travel Tips
Purchase a travel guide at your local book retailer. We use “Frommers Israel.” Doing a little research and planning for sites of interest is critical here, because there is so much to see.
Bring a little cash (dollars) for an emergency. More important, bring an ATM/debit card. They all work here and it’s safer than carrying a lot of money. U.S. credit cards are accepted everywhere. The Discover card is unknown, but MasterCard, VISA, Diners, and American Express are all OK.
Learn a few words and phrases in Hebrew. Important: Eyfo Ha Sherutim (Where are the toilets?) In order for Israeli kids to attend university, they must be fluent in English. As a result, almost everybody here speaks at least a little English. All streets, most shops, and malls, have English language signs. Here’s an example:
Most U.S. cell phones will work here. Calls to the States are expensive, but text messages are not, on most calling plans. There are Internet cafes everywhere and they’re not expensive, so unless you need it for some reason, leave your laptop home.
*****
CAESAREA, Israel — If you take a tour in Israel (more about tours in a later report), this is usually the first stop. Located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Tel Aviv, is one of the most beautiful cities in Israel. But that’s not why the tours start here.
Caesarea is, according to Frommers, “the spectacular city of Herod the Great, 37 BCE- 4 CE.” You can find many excellent reference books on the history of this community. However, here’s what you’ll see at the site: The Roman Theater, Hippodrome, Crusader City, Roman Aqueduct, and more. It is an awesome site, important to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, all of whom met their fate, at one time or another, here.
Next time: More travel tips, Akko, and Haifa.
Until then, Shalom from Israel!
David Talbot
David’s email is: talbotnotes@gmail.com
David's Facebook is: www.facebook.com/talbotnotes