Israel’s two biggest cities, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, received accolades [...]]]> Some 1.6 million people visited Israel between January and July, according to figures released by the Tourism Ministry  – an increase of 39 % over the same period in 2009, and 10% more than in 2008, the country’s previous record year.

Israel’s two biggest cities, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, received accolades earlier this month as they topped tourism magazine Travel and Leisure’s list of 10 best cities in Africa and the Middle East.
The ranking compiled by Travel and Leisure readers placed Jerusalem as the best city and put Tel Aviv in third place, with only the coastal South African city of Cape Town in between them.
Jerusalem, scoring 87.55, and Tel Aviv, scoring 83.38, beat out Marrakesh, Cairo, Petra, Dubai, Alexandria, Nairobi and Amman as the top cities in the region.

Read more about the makers and making of this movie at: www.afikimproductions.com

In the final four stage, who would you want to win the world cup?

Who was your favorite team before the games started?

Photograph by [...]]]> Survey held recently, brings up some interesting results, based on the answers of 500 adult Israelis.

In the final four stage, who would you want to win the world cup?

• Holand 27.7%
• Germany 25%
• Spain 23%
• Uruguay 7%
• none of the above 17%

Who was your favorite team before the games started?

• Argentina 34%
• Brazil 23%
• England  8%
• Italy 5%
• none of the above 20%

Photograph by Agência Brasil

In 2009 artists from Israel and abroad took part in the festival and used light in order to create statues, installations, performances and artwork. During the week, the festival brought 200,000 visitors to the Old City and succeeded in introducing a new trend in Jerusalem nightlife. The festival was targeted towards [...]]]>

Near the David Tower

In 2009 artists from Israel and abroad took part in the festival and used light in order to create statues, installations, performances and artwork. During the week, the festival brought 200,000 visitors to the Old City and succeeded in introducing a new trend in Jerusalem nightlife. The festival was targeted towards a wide range of the population. The festival included both displays of museum artwork and activities suitable to all audiences.

The second Festival of Light 2010 will take place from June 9th- June 16th, in the Old City of Jerusalem. Entrance to all shows is free.

As you can see I have been there, on the second day. I started the festival in Yafo gate (Jaffa) which is the closest to the David tower. There are 5  illuminated lines (red, yellow, green, orange, blue) that show you where to walk, so you don’t have to look or search. You can see them from up far too.  Some of the trails are suitable for handicap, but not all.

There are about 28 stops along the way with different light shows:

• video art that is projected on to the walls of the city or on other structures
• active art shows projected on the wall (9:00 in the video clip below)
• different light structures
• illuminated plastic art
• and more

Information and leaflets are available throughout the festival trail.

More details in the Festival Web Site

(Click on the video to see it [...]]]> There are 3 nurseries in Kfar-Azar village. They are located 100 meters from the Aluf-Sade interchange on Derech-Sheba Street (If you’re ever there, drop by) .

So, on Shavuot holiday (Feast of Weeks) I went to the nursery to find myself a new plant.
Here is how it was

(Click on the video to see it via Youtube in a higher resolution.)

The site has two trails, the main first, leads to [...]]]> Apollonia is located in Herzliya city, on a cliff overlooking a lovely Mediterranean sea shore.

During the summer, on Friday evenings, music ensembles are being held in the crusader fortress. This fortress was built in 1241 but was partly destroyed a couple of decades later.

The site has two trails, the main first, leads to the fortress and is a one level trail (no steps to climb), good for almost anyone. It’s about 250 meters to get there. The other trail is the Sea trail and is the same length but has many levels and quite a few steps. It takes about an hour to cover the site, but if you got there, you might as well stay a bit more and enjoy the nice Mediterranean breeze.

History:

This area was settled some 2500 years ago by the Phoenicians and they have named the village Arshuf after Reshef, god of war and storm. It was later (1-4 centuries BCE) renamed to Apollonia after the god Apollo. In the Roman era the place had developed into a city with a Samaritan and maybe Jewish community too.

In the Byzantine era (5-6 centuries CE) the city had thrived . It was about 70 acres big , had wine & olive presses, a developed glass industry and an advanced watering system based on reservoir structures.

The Muslim conquered the city during the 7-11 CE and the city was named Arsuf . It was then fortified with a wall to protect it from the Byzantine attacks from the sea.

The city was conquered by the crusaders in the year 1101 after a few failed attempts. The crusaders strengthened the walls and built a few moats .The Muslims occupied the city again in 1187 CE for 4 years. The Crusaders victory in 1191 established their hold on the place for the next century, until it was conquered again by the Sultan Baibars and the Mamluks ( a Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who had converted to Islam). The Mamluks ruled the city for a few years and then  deserted it. It was never resettled again.

Information:

• see on Google maps (labeled “B”)
• Tel.: +972-9-9550929
• 20 nis entrance fee per person, including parking
• for Friday evening music ensembles – about 70 nis per person, including parking and entrance to the site
• suitable for families and any walker
• the trail to the fortress is suitable for a handicap
• there are picnic tables, shades and water

Between Tel Aviv & Haifa (road #2 or the paralel old #4):

• Apollonia ancient city national park
• Alexander river National park & Beit Yanai beach
• Ein Hod artists village on the mount Carmel

Alexander river is named after Alexander Jannaeus (also known as Alexander Jannai/Yannai; Hebrew: אלכסנדר ינאי), king of Judea. It is one of the few coastline  rivers, where water flows all year long. There is a large population of large sea turtles, and also beavers, birds and fish. The area is green all year [...]]]>

Alexander river wildlife

Alexander river is named after Alexander Jannaeus (also known as Alexander Jannai/Yannai; Hebrew: אלכסנדר ינאי), king of Judea. It is one of the few coastline  rivers, where water flows all year long. There is a large population of large sea turtles, and also beavers, birds and fish.
The area is green all year long, and the river area is a recommended to see all along the year.

At the north shore of the river there is a eucalyptus forest with camping grounds.

the Bet Yanai (a village named after Alexander Jannaeus) beach, where the Alexander Stream meets the Mediterranean, is a nice sandy beach with picnic tables, life guard (in season), first-aid facilities, showers, restaurant and overnight camping options.

The beach and park are located about 5 km north of Netania city.

Information:

• Visiting the Alexander river national park is free.
• entering the beach is free unless you enter with a car. There is free and paid parking
• Yanai beach office : +972-9-8664238 , +972-9-8666230
• see on Google maps (labeled “B”)
  

Avdat (Hebrew: עבדת‎), also known as Ovdat or Obodat is an ancient city in [...]]]>

The Nabateans accumulated great wealth from their trade in what was then costly perfumes and spices from East Africa and Arabia which they transported by camel caravans to the southern Mediterranean coast, with Gaza serving as the main depot and port.

Avdat (Hebrew: עבדת‎), also known as Ovdat or Obodat is an ancient city in the Negev (south Israel), very near Mizpe-Ramon city and Sde-Boker kibbutz (about 10 minutes by car). It is situated on top of a hill, and was the most important historic city on the Incense Route after Petra between the 7th century BCE and the 1st century BCE. It was inhabited by Nabateans, Romans and Byzantines.

Avdat  was a seasonal camping ground for Nabatean caravans traveling along the early Petra – Gaza road (Darb es-Sultan) in the 3rd – late 2nd century BCE. Avdat was named for Nabatean King Obodas I,  who was revered as a deity and, according to tradition, was buried there.

Avdat was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in June 2005.

It was also a filming location for the film “Jesus Christ Superstar”.

Avdat was founded in the 1st century BCE and named after the Nabatean King Obodas

Visitors center

National park Yarkon is the name of this park, and in it you can find the remains of the biblical city Afek and the ancient city of  Antipatris from the Roman and Byzantine era. The later was destroyed in an earth quake in the year 363 [...]]]>

The Antipatris fortress built in 1571 by the Ottomans

National park Yarkon is the name of this park, and in it you can find the remains of the biblical city Afek and the ancient city of  Antipatris from the Roman and Byzantine era. The later was destroyed in an earth quake in the year 363 AC.

In the years of 1571-1574, a fortress was built by the Ottomans, on the remains of these cities.

The place is situated on what used to be a major route throughout history, a gate connecting Egypt to Mesopotamia, evidence by the many villages that were built in the area at this time or another. Earliest findings in this area, go back to 3300-4500 BC.

See video on the bottom of this page.

What to see:

• the Fortress in Tel Afek
• the Yarkon lake and spring
• the British water factory
• the British pill-box and rail bridge
• water lily ponds
• El-mir Ottoman old mill
• concrete house – the first concrete made house in Israel

Information:

• Entrance fee – 25 nis each person
• telephone: +972-3-9030760
• hours of operation:
  Apr-Sep- park closes on 17:00
  Oct-Mar- park closes on 16:00

How to get there:

See a Google map (it’s  “A” on the map)

A dry Silybum marianum

The Yarkon river

Heliotropium (Heliotropium bacciferum)

The Park near by