Israel

Visited: March 2012, February 2022

Duration of visit: 11 days

Capital city: Jerusalem

Population: 9.4 million (2022)

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

• Strong security at Tel Aviv airport that almost denied me the entry in 2012.
• Generally relaxed atmosphere and sandy beach with bars just a few meters away from the sea in Tel Aviv.
• Extreme kindness or unkindness by locals.
• Jaffa Old Town, old city, beautiful beach, Jewish museum in Tel Aviv.
• Prohibitive prices all around.
• The holy city of Jerusalem, where cultures, religious, past and future have created a fantastic old town.
• Driving along Dead Sea, where swimming in heavily salty water brings fun and rejuvenation.
• Red Canyon and Timna Valley Park – beautiful work of nature left amazing canyons, pillars, cliffs and rock formations.

I had the opportunity to visit Israel on two occasions: in 2012 as a short business trip and in 2022, when I properly travelled around the country for 9 days, visiting South and North Israel.

Israel is a fascinating country to visit.

The biblical Holy land of Israel is regarded by Jews, Christians and Muslims; and after 8-days visit also by me. A mix of cultural, religious, natural and logistical experience was memorable. The only disappointment was gastronomy: basic, expensive, lacking inspiration.

Israelis are rugged, seemingly unfriendly and inhospitable. Many times, it turned out that this is just their way of expressing themselves, but in reality, I have met very friendly and accommodating or very unfriendly and completely indifferent people. Both extremes in a question of minutes.

I don’t understand why I wasn’t attracted by Israel earlier in my backpacking career. Maybe I was not ready for extreme cultural experience or the glory of the country as the most expensive in the world, constant clashes with Palestine or boisterous behavior of Israeli backpackers put me off to visit their country.

It is necessary to have financial stability and funds available in order to appreciate the visit to Israel, but excellent public transport, cheap airplane tickets from Europe and proper planning during shabbat can make it more accessible.