By Lisette Tarragano, Realtor
Nothing like a family wedding to ship you 5,000+ miles away to the ancient lands of Israel. My husband and I used it as a chance to whisk ourselves away for three weeks of adventure and reconnecting with family and friends we haven’t seen in years.
After enjoying our cousin’s awesome wedding and the unseasonably warm days along the Mediterranean coast we continued our love story with Tel Aviv, the White City. A world-class dining destination and incidentally the vegan capital of the world—a bonus to the PHG team!
Neve Tzedek
Musts on our list while in Tel Aviv: the beach, the always-entertaining people watching that goes on at the promenade, and the boisterous, friendly, never-ending party nights. You can’t miss the fresh and fanciful markets, filled with colors, smells, and lots of hawking and hollering!
We saw artists who live and work among the ancient sea wall, the gentrified Neve Tzedek neighborhood, and the winding alleys of the ancient Jaffa (pronounced Yafo) Port—think story of Jonah.
After a few days we were on the road, headed Southeast where the Dead Sea slashes a pristine and pale blue swath through the rocky landscape of the Judean Desert. Blotted along the desert, farms of date palm trees.
Once we made it to the Dead Sea we were afloat, literally. We floated like corks and absorbed the blissful calm provided by the bromide-filled air. Along the beach we marveled at the salt clumps and columns.
We then traveled south along the Dead Sea and wondered at Mount Sodom, where a pillar of salt is named “Lot’s Wife”.
Wandering past the Negev and Arava deserts, towards Timna Archeological Park, the the rock formations and ancient copper mines surrounded us. Yep, that’s me headed way up high, to forage for hieroglyphic expressions. Which I found!!!!
We then drove further south to Eilat at the Gulf of Aqaba, best way since Moses parted the Red Sea—which is very deep, blue, and cold! My husband had never been and I promised! It’s also an efficient way to visit Wadi Rum and Petra in the neighboring country of Jordan.
After crossing the border from Israel to Jordan we jeeped through the sandy dunes of the Lawrence of Arabia and I climbed some more. Then to the lost and found ancient sandstone city of Petra that once belonged to the Nabatean people.
Lawrence of Arabia
We made our way back across the border to drive the last but hardly least, leg of our journey; to the renowned and most fought after city in the world: Jerusalem. Through the Judean Desert to the Judean Hills we exhaustively were met with one of the biggest challenges of traveling in Jerusalem: A TRAFFIC JAM! While in Jerusalem we met with our friends and toured the ancient walls, cavernous tunnels and modern art. There’s even an ode to Philadelphia…
Our stay, our meanderings and our dizzying wonderment of so many different head coverings displayed the varied religions living side by side. It enhanced our senses as we walked through the old city, the new city, the world famous Machane Yehuda market and Jerusalem’s International YMCA.
We are so lucky to have many friends and family in this part of the world. It is a true joy to travel and discover such wonder. We can’t wait to see where the next family wedding beckons us.
Jerusalem International YMCA