Trip to Israel with my son - Ger Tel Aviv

Yes 7 days in Israel in heat that you could easily die in. Thank God for air conditioning!
We left Ireland and got a cheap flight via Zurich with Swiss Air. However the wait in Zurich was nearly 8 hours far too long. Zurich is expensive as well. We went down town by train-23 francs wow! Looked for a cheap meal could not find one-all day prices are the same and dearer than the ones in Cork at night-ended up eating a sort of falafel with a coke-still expensive at 12 francs, I thought. We have a beer and this cost as well.

Well we headed to Tel Aviv and landed at 3am lovely time-they are 2 hours ahead of Ireland. We got a taxi to the centre cost 100shekels-about $20. Out little old hotel was called the Home Apartments. Just a short distance from the beach and all the goodies. Well we were shown into a little tiny room with a small double bed. You could not swing a mouse in it. I complained immediately and we were moved to a much larger room with 2 single beds and a nice kitchen and separate shower room-with a balcony. For $55 not bad I thought and free internet access in the foyer.

Next day we discovered we were just by the beach and it is a beautiful beach-wow! The water is tepid as well n one of these freeze your ass Irish sea stuff here. You could stay in all day and have a great time-except poor Ger was stung by a large jelly fish. Not too bad - a little antihistimine cream worked well.

The Israeli army were doing a parachute jump on the beach while we passed by. The beach has a good supply of toilets and restaurants as you walk as well. We walked the beach all the way to Old Jaffa and found some beautiful art galleries and craft shops. The area is all narrow streets and cobbled stones and quite stunning. Some artist have set up shop there. Ger managed to buy a one off design necklace for Emer that is really different. Of course he did this on the last day in a rush.....

Did I mention the heat-yes heat 35+ at least. Wear a hat and put on your cream and bring plenty water or you will perish very quickly. We found the people very friendly in the Galleries and no pressure to buy, which was nice and some offered us water to drink as well.

Eating is expensive here as is the beer and coffee.

That evening we went looking for art galleries in Tel Aviv. Our hotel was downtown near Ben Yehuda and near Dizzebgoff and was conveniently placed for sure. We found some lovely galleries and enjoyed looking but as for buying the same prices exist everywhere for art-expensive prices- and here was no exception.

However Ger managed to retrieve some Hebrew documents from a rubbish bin- they were old and from some Hebrew College. We did attempt to rip off some posters from billboards but failed out of fear.

Getting hungry we saw a local traditional kosher restaurant and settled in for a nice looking meal. Big salad starters followed by kosher meat-chicken. It was okay only.

We slept like babies that night and woke to the found of the early morning traffic and the infernal beeping that goes on permanently. The AC was so good - did I mention the heat- mmm I think I did- outside our window a wall of heat existed- not as bad as the dead sea for sure but still roasting hot.

We jumped well I got up Ger is a bit sluggish in the mornings- and we eventually got to the beach and did the swim thing-Ger got stung but not too bad. It was beautiful in the water-warm and wavy. mmmmmm

Wef course covered up with 35+ protection we are white people- seriously white- and we need protection or we burn up.

Later we found a flea antiquities market and bought some stuff. I got a Dylan poster and a Dylan bootleg and Ger bought a bottle opener-antique of course. It was fun.

Then we packed up- got a taxi to the central bus station-which is a long way from downtown. You can BUS 4 for 5 shekels however we took the taxi.

The bus station is huge a shopping mall and 7 floors high. Security is high as well with lots of searching going on to get in. Weettled for a minibus ride to Jerusalem- just a mere 30 shekels- remember we had paid a 100 shekels to come from the airport-15mins- now a all the way to Jerusalem for 30-its not fair is it. Taxi men think the can screw the world. You jump in to your Nesher bus and wait until it is full-about 9 and then off we went. It was a great journey and the views as we arrived into Jerusalem were spectacular, to say the least. Going UP to Jerusalem is worth it.

Well that was Tel Aviv the downtown is like any full of shops and stuff the beach is a classic beauty and old Jaffa is a cool tourist stop. We did not do the usual tourist stuff and I am sure there is plenty to see. On our last day we returned here and found the Port area which is being restored. It was cool we found a jazz club here but it ws closed. We thought of hanging til late but instead had a Burger King burger-I don't recommend it -it was as okay. We sat outside and drank a beer and watched the world go by.