Travelling Starfish

It’s 2:00am on a Thursday evening – well, I guess technically Friday AM.  As most of Tel Aviv is partying, I’m doing what all travellers do – packing .  I’m also doing what most freelancers/consultants do when about to take some time off, working like a maniac.

My roommates are out partying but I can’t go as I need to rise in 2-3 hours time to get ready and head to the airport.  The thing about running your own business is that’s its so tough to get away. Gone are the days where the clock hits 5:00pm and I was out the door with no worries in sight for another 2 weeks.  I do try but it’s not easy.

My view!

Alas, since I’ve been working hard the past few months, I’ve decided to get away for a few days just so I have the chance to kick back before life gets more busy AND I also managed to snag an incredible deal.

I looked at going down to Eilat but the hotels were quite pricey so I researched nearby hot-spots Aqaba in Jordan and Taba in Egypt. Taba intrigued me instantly as there were a lot of all-inclusive’s on offer and at great prices.  I’ve also never been to Egypt so I thought it would be nice to tick that off my list.

I booked my flight directly with El Al for a steal at 198 shekels return (about US$55) – a total bargain!  Then for the accommodation, I looked at both Hotels Combined and Expedia for a deal.  It wasn’t essential to have an all inclusive but if a five star offered this, I thought it would be a nice addition.

The result? I found an incredible deal with Hotels Combined through its partner Hotels4U.com at the Sonesta Beach Resort.

The price? An incredible 130 pounds all inclusive with a king bed, sea view, all meals & snacks, drinks and entertainment. I couldn’t believe it!  I was so pleased, so I booked it straight away.

I snuggle up for a 2 hour sleep and before I know it, it’s 5:00 am! I get up and am out of the house by 5:30. I take the bus and train to the airport and then the shuttle to Terminal 1.  A bit of a schlep but I can’t complain…well, until it’s 6:45 and I’m still waiting for this terminal to open.  El Al says to check in an hour and a half before departure but 1 hour is plenty for this domestic flight – trust me.  Finally, the terminal opens, I check in my bag and grab a cappuccino – of course!

Driving through Eilat - near the Taba border

9:15 – I arrive in Eilat with a slight delay. It’s totally fine (or so I think) as the Egged bus to the border I’m supposed to pick up, isn’t until 10:00.

9:45 – I’m still waiting for my bag and am unsure where bus 15 to the Taba border actually picks up.  I start to get a bit panicked and there is no help around. I just breathe:).

9:55 – finally my bag arrives and I get moving.

So you can avoid the confusion, here’s a tip – to pick up bus 15 to the border, go to the stop across from the airport NOT the one on the airport side. By taking that bus I saved a bit of cash as it only costs 7.50 shekels compared to about 30.00 in a taxi.

11:00 – after all the interesting border formalities (which I will cover in a separate post) I meet my driver to Sonesta.

Another tip – for those entering through the land border, I advise calling your hotel in advance and arranging a driver. I felt a lot safer and I was able to pay in USD, which I found easier than Egyptian Pounds. The cost to and from the border to Sonesta (just under an hour drive and about 20 minutes further than Taba Heights) was US$35 per way.

The room

12:00 – I check in, go up to my room and I’m in heaven. Time to check out the resort, grab a bite to eat & have a glass of wine.  Wine (lol) not?  I’m on holiday!

4:00 pm – after a bit of a wander, I feel like I’ve made a good choice.  I’ll talk more about the resort in my next post but the staff are friendly & it is a perfect destination for me for the next few days. After all the rushing around and minimal sleep, I decide to take a well deserved nap!

6:00 pm – I wake from my slumber refreshed and ready to go.  Next stop is the shower, then dinner and then a bit of fun at the Ramses Disco!

12:00 midnight – well the meal was fabulous – sea bass and calamari (yummm…) and the atmosphere lovely.  It’s off-season but there are just enough people around to make it a good time.  I’m at the disco now having a few drinks and chatting with some of the staff here.  A bit of dancing is definitely in order.

1:30 am – I get back to the hotel room and am content with the past 24 hours.  More importantly, I’m excited for the days ahead.

Me on the balcony in Taba

Stay tuned over the coming days to hear more about my fantastic time in Taba, Egypt!

As they say, it’s all about timing. I came back to Israel direct from Canada in need of some sun.

Southern Israel in December

Well, my dreams are starting to improve but not as much as I thought they would. When I first got here on the 31st it was obviously warmer than Toronto so an improvement but it was definitely not sun tanning weather.

What’s the difference in temperature from here versus a colder climate like Toronto? It feels a lot warmer inside a house in Toronto than one in Israel.  The reason? Houses are built for it in Canada.  If you hibernate, like I do, than you have nothing to worry about in a place like Canada.  In Israel, where their main issue is extreme heat, they don’t need the insulation like Canadians do.

The negative of visiting a place like Israel at this time of year is that you aren’t guaranteed the weather.  If you are looking for a dip in the sea, than it’s best to try somewhere else but if you are looking to tour around this glorious country than I think winter is a great time to come. for a visit  It’s cheaper, less crowded and you can do activities that wouldn’t be suitable in the extreme heat they get here in the summertime.

If you are looking for some fun in the sun, you have a better chance of catching it by heading down south where the temperatures are typically much warmer.  If you make your way down to Eilat, you can even sneak a trip into Egypt or Jordan as they both border Israel at this point of entry.  I’ve already been to Jordan to have a day away in Petra, so I’ve just booked a couple of days in Egypt.  I’m headed down to Taba which borders Eilat – I am so excited…I really need to kick back and I can’t think of a better way!

46 degress in June - time to stay away!

This time of year is also a great time to go to the Dead Sea.  Unlike when I visited in June with 46 degree temperatures, you can enjoy a much milder climate and maybe even do a bit of hiking in the Ein Gedi or up Massada. Hmmm – that’s not a bad idea actually. If only I had more time. Time & money are always the issues in life – especially in the life of a serial traveller.

Israel has tons of surprises in such a small country and so weather really shouldn’t get in the way of a journey here.  All of the surprises and adventure are what I love about Israel.  The winter can offer a lot to visitors who have varying interests – from getting back to history/religion, physical activity or general sightseeing.  It is a lot more comfortable to be outdoors and it really allows for an easier trip all around.  The only gap is if you want that dip in the sea.  Then, just hop on a plane (I got a round trip flight with El Al for 200 shekels return – about US$75 – from Tel Aviv to Eilat) and hit the Red Sea in Eilat.

So what are the “normal” temperatures in Israel right now? Today (Jan 12, 2011) it is –

• 20 degrees C – Tel Aviv
• 23 degrees C – Eilat
• 22 degrees C – Ein Bokek (Dead Sea)
• 19 degrees C – Jerusalem
• 19 degrees C – Haifa

As we all know mother nature these days can offer up some surprises but this is what its like this year.

Colder Jerusalem

So as you can see, the temperatures are not boiling but very comfortable all around.  I spent most of my time in Toronto complaining about how cold it was, so I’ve decided to stop complaining about the cold temperatures here.

Like one of my roommates said a couple of days ago, “when you live here you only get so many days with a cool breeze so you may as well enjoy it”.  I  couldn’t agree more.  Just pass me my hot water bottle and I’m good.

Bye for now, Miriam

After a long 12 hour flight, I made it back to Israel. I’ve decided to come back here to escape the cold and have a bit of Tel Aviv fun for the New Year.

As I think I’ve mentioned, most holidays are very unique in Israel. Since Israel is a Jewish state, its laws around holidays are governed around the Jewish calendar.

People don’t get XMAS Day or Easter off like in most parts of the world.  Instead, they get Rosh Hashanah and Passover off.  I think it’s quite cool but it does still take some getting used to.  The same goes for New Years.  Even though Israel follows the regular calendar, New Year’s Eve really isn’t a big deal here.  This past year, the 31st fell on a Friday, so everyone is already off because of the weekend.  I’m thinking that n Tel Aviv there will definitely be some action.

Old cinema equipment

So what is it like in Tel Aviv on Sylvester? As I said in an earlier post, most Israeli’s refer to New Year’s Eve as Sylvester, named after a Christian Saint whose special day is on the 31st of December.

So, I get off the plane and am ready to party – I tell a lie, I’m actually exhausted.  I get back to the flat, say hello to everyone and grab a cat nap.  When I rise, it’s dark and I start making my plans. It looks like it’s dinner and some drinks for us.

We head to a friends for what turns out to be an incredible meal of wine, food and fun.

After that, we cruise through Florentin and it looks like they are getting ready for a big street party (very popular in Israel). It’s raining (perfect, I know) so we elect to head into town and find a bar to grab a drink. There are so many areas in Tel Aviv to choose from but my friend has to work at 11pm (I know…even on New Years) so we go close to her work on Dizengoff.

Sophie working

We grab a glass of wine and toast the New Year…and what a year it’s been. I end up staying with my friend at her work, Hotel Cinema. It’s actually quite a cool place with memorabilia all over the lobby from its heyday.

The Cinema Hotel in Tel Aviv is situated a short walk from the Tel Aviv beach, in an original Bauhaus style building – the Esther Cinema, one of the first movie theaters in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israel.  You see, the hotel was actually the Esther Cinema, one of the first movie theaters in the heart of Tel Aviv.  It has a unique design and even highlights the original projectors and movie posters, preserving the legacy of the building.

New Year's at The Cinema

Now, it is a contemporary hotel but it’s chosen to maintain a bit of its history through maintaining the movie feel. Hey they even give guests fresh popcorn…now that’s service!

On a New Year’s note, not much is going on if I’m honest – in the hotel and outside in Dizengoff Square. It is very quiet and definitely no Times Square, Sydney Harbour or Big Ben. But I’ll take this relaxed pace this year.

My friend and I do the countdown together and give one another a big hug. Last year we celebrated together too while in the kibbutz. We had just met at the time and our friendship has grown so much since then.

After the countdown we notice some sparks fly outside the hotel and realize someone is igniting fireworks on their own.  Outside of being afraid – very afraid actually – I realize that we are DEFINETLY NOT (as a metaphor) in Times Square anymore:).

You know what? I kind of like it…

Happy 2011 everyone, Miriam

For the second edition of “24 hours” I thought I’d follow my life through a bit of an adventure – the art of travelling from Tel Aviv to Geneva.

One may ask “why Geneva?” – well easyJet just started flights from Geneva to Tel Aviv and I got myself a real deal.  I’m flying through Geneva, spending one night there and then back to the UK (but the mainland this time). It’s going to be quite the adventure – so let’s go!

So what is it like to have “24 hours going from Tel Aviv to Geneva”? You’ll soon find out…

6 am (yes 6am!!) – alarm goes off.  Today is a big day – I have loads of work to do plus I’m travelling.  I also need to go to the post office to exchange some money.  I wake up to the normal sounds – construction and funny ice cream truck songs – I kid you not!  Something I’ve never mentioned about Israel is the funny tunes – they have funny ring tones and funny music from ice cream trucks and other services from my youth.  It is honestly something so cute about this country – a bit funny at first but cute all in the same.

I make my standard breakfast of porridge and coffee and I’m set up for the day.

Jaffa, Israel

10 am – after a few hours worth of work, I decide to go and hit the post office.  I don’t want to leave it too late as I don’t want to be rushing later on.  I walk to the local Jaffa post office where I prepare to change some sheks for some pounds.  The current rate is 5.89 so if I wanted 100 pounds (which won’t get me very far) I need to give them 589 shekels – ouch, I know. I hate exchanging money because you never win in my opinion.  Commission free my butt!

After some fantastic Israeli customer service and pounds in hand, I walk out of the air conditioned post office into yes – you got it – a heatwave.  It is October 21st but still a heatwave.  Crazy but true.  I guess I shouldn’t be complaining considering I’m headed for colder temperatures where I’m sure I’ll be complaining about that then.

While I’m on my way back to the flat, I figure I will grab some Israeli food and grab myself this yummy Arabian style calzone.  To be honest, I’ve had this concoction a few times since I’ve been staying here but I don’t know its name (tell me if you do!). Basically its yummy bread dough filled with pizza fillings – yummy cheese and tomato sauce.  Delicious! Lunch is sorted now.

12 noon – I eat my yummy take away pizza pocket and start organizing my stuff.  I hate packing.  I always (always) overpack and I always worry about the baggage weight.  Since I’m flying with easyJet I know this could be trouble.  I’ve booked for 23kg so hopefully I am ok and packed properly.

Tel Aviv, Israel

1:30 pm – I’m off to the airport and decide to take the cheaper route as I have enough time.   I grab the bus (6 shekels) and the train (14 shekels).  Who can really beat that?  In comparison a taxi to the airport is 150 shekels so I’ve saved a wack of cash.  It takes me awhile but I get there in the end.  Also taking the bus takes me through some amazing Tel Aviv sites – Ben Guiron Street (my favourite street in TLV), Rabin Square and past Allenby/Ben Yehuda.  All a treat before I leave.

3:30 pm – Check in time.  Since I am going to a cold climate, I change in the airport – also its a way for me to maximize my packing.  I go to check in, lift my bag and the weight is a whopping 28kg – 5 over!! For anyone who’s flown with easyJet you will know that could mean big money.  I look at the guy checking me in and he gives me a wink and I’m on my way, boarding card in hand with no extra charges.  I CANNOT believe it.  easyJet in Israel ain’t so bad after all.

6:00 pm - our flight departs on-time and we are on our way to Geneva.  I don’t know much about Geneva but I can tell that I’m in-store for using my French a bit.  All of the flight crew speak French and I realize that Geneva predominantly speaks French since it borders France.  I have never been to this part of Europe so I am getting excited.

11:00 pm – four hours (yes, 4 hours) later and we land in Geneva.  I can feel that its chilly outside!!! Thank goodness I had a fairly decent jacket, scarf and hat with me.  I go through immigration, grab my bag and off I go.  Tip – Geneva airport provides free transport from the airport to the city centre by rail.  In the baggage arrivals hall, pick up a free ticket from a machine there and you’re sorted.  It is a 10-minute journey into the city.

Bonjour Geneve!

12:00 am -  I check into my hostel – City Hostel Geneva.  I’ve decided to stay here as I am literally going to be sleeping for under 6 hours (since I want to see a bit of the city tomorrow).  It also has rave reviews.  The price is right at 32 Swiss Francs (around US$30).  The reception is open until 12:30am so luckily I make it in time.  Included in this price is also a transport card that is valid for the stay in Geneva.  These transport deals really make this city amazing I think.  I grab my keys and head up to my room – a girl needs her beauty sleep.

12:30am – I open the door to my room and see that both of the people I’m sharing with are actually asleep.  I hate waking people up so this is where I realize why I don’t like hostel life anymore.  The first thought that goes through my mind – “I’m too old for this”.  I go in and creep around and try to tip toe to put the linens on the bed.  I get ready in the shared toilets on the floor and luckily all of this doesn’t wake the 2 girls up.  Well, at least I don”t think it does.  The hostel is very clean and modern – bed is comfy too – so I realize even though I had to deal with disturbing my neighbours it was still a good choice in the end.  My head hits the pillow and I instantly fall asleep.

4:30 am – yes 4:30am.  I wake up to a strange alarm noise.  Yes, its my roommate.  She wakes up and makes all sorts of noise – nice to know that the tip toeing I did a few hours earlier is now being returned.  I try to get back to bed but it’s not working.

Argh..the joys of travelling.

5:45 am – after of over an hour of tossing and turning, I get up and start to get ready.  I need to leave the city centre at 9:30am so I want to walk around and see what Geneva is all about so I know if it’s a place I’ll return to again.  By 6:30am, I’m out the door and off to explore.

Can you believe I did all of that in 1 day?  I can – well I definitely can because I’m exhausted.

See how my Swiss adventure turns out when I tell you all about Geneva in my next blog post…stay tuned!

Now that Travelling Starfish is over 6 months old, I’m trying to pull together some regular monthly blog posts.  One idea I’ve had from the beginning was to sketch out a 24-hour period and log it in my blog.

The first of these “24 hours in…” blogs will start in the place that I’ve recently dug my heels and continue every month following me around the world.

As I’ve mentioned in a number of my posts, Tel Aviv is a vibrant and exciting city – one that has so much to do throughout the entire week.  In this city, you don’t have to wait for the weekend to go out and party, you can experience the culture and excitement almost any day.

So what is it like to have “24 hours in Tel Aviv”? You’ll soon find out…

Yafo

7 am – alarm goes off – BOO .  Another day, another dollar I guess.  I wake up to the exciting sounds of the construction outside in Jaffa.

As I’ve said before, Jaffa is one of Israel’s oldest areas.  These days, though, it’s out with the old and in with the new.  Jaffa is an area where new apartments are going up and old buildings are coming down.  I love staying in Jaffa as it’s got a very unique and eclectic culture but all the construction doesn’t make it the nicest places to wake up to in the morning.

10 am – after a cup of coffee, porridge and a glass of watery orange juice, I am working full force through my emails and workload.  As a freelancer, I luckily can work in my PJ’s which is an added bonus.  In my bedroom (or office during the day) I’ve got the shades completely down as the heat is still extreme here in Israel.

After returning from the UK, I expected the temperatures to die down somewhat – WRONG!  We’re being told that its going to reach 33 degrees C over the weekend.  I realize after staying here that I need a mild and temperate climate to be happy.  I can’t handle the cold & now I realize that I definitely can’t handle the heat!

12 noon – I get a call from a friend of mine for a lunch request.  Being the freelancer and good friend that I am, I realize that I can’t say no.  Also she’s mentioning going to one of my favourite restaurants here, Yotvata.  Yotvata is actually a kibbutz (quite close to the one I stayed at).  It’s based in Southern Israel and is known as one of the wealthiest kibbutzim in the country.  It’s wealth comes from the massive dairy operations it has and their reputation for producing high-quality dairy products.  Their chocolate milk is divine I’m told.  In Tel Aviv, there is a restaurant just on the other side of the road from the sea, owned and operated by Yotvata.  I’ve got an hour and a half to finish off some work before a little break and some yummy food!

Jaffa Clock Tower

1:30 pm – I’m out of the flat and walking to meet my friend at the infamous Jaffa Clock Tower.  In Jaffa, this is a central reference for most.  Not only is it a beautiful site in Jaffa, it provides a focal point for those that visit and live here.  Luckily, my friend is there (I’m the one who’s a tad late…as usual) and we are off.

We make our way to the restaurant on the boardwalk and it is actually a lovely day.  Even though the sun is blaring there is a very nice breeze coming off of the sea.  This makes me realize that we are in Sept as the leaves may not be turning like they do in Canada but there is definitely change in the air.  We have the normal girly talk and the time flies before we get to our destination.

2:30 pm – Yotvata – this is a dairy restaurant as it caters to those that are kosher.  The options are endless – there have salads, Israeli breakfast, bagel toasts (which are yummy by the way), pasta and pizza.  I immediately decide on some nice mushroom lasagna and a cappuccino & my friend gets a personal pizza.  The food is excellent and service fairly helpful.  We eat our meal in peace – chatting the whole way through.  Gotta love those girly lunches.

4:00 pm - yes 4PM!!!  I guess our little chit chat was a bit longer than I thought.  I have some more work to finish up so we get the cheque and start heading back.  Thankfully it’s a bit of a walk to wake me up from my carb overload and also to get some fresh air on my face.

6:00 pm – back to the flat and ready to work – well kind of!  I push myself to get a few bits & pieces done and I think that’s it for the day.

Gorgeous view

9:00 pm – all of a sudden a burst of energy hits me so I decide to go for a walk and get out and about.  I go back to the boardwalk and start heading back to where I was earlier in the day.  The weather is lovely and there is something vibrant and exciting in the air.

Many people I know would think that it would be unsafe or strange to go out at 9pm in Tel Aviv or in Israel for that matter.  To be honest, the best thing about Israel is that you feel safe.  Crime isn’t much of a problem here as many other cities and because people stay out late, there are always people around which at least makes you feel more at ease.  This is just my opinion though.

I stumble back to an old favourite of mine, Mike’s Place (which I mentioned in a previous post) and go in so I can have a small drink and watch the live music band that’s playing.

12 midnight – a few hours and a couple drinks later, I hail a cab and head back to the flat in Jaffa.  I’m actually extremely tired and need a good nights sleep.

1:00 am – my head hits the pillow and as I drift into sleep I think…”what a random day…I didn’t expect to go out but I’m glad I did”.

Unexpected?  That’s what Tel Aviv is all about…a lot can happen in 24 hours here!