Israel 2013, Week II

 Ha Tachana

Moises, Asher and I (Elie stayed with Babi and Zeide) went to HaTachana (the old train station bordering Jaffa and Tel Aviv) to have lunch.  This train station use to connect Turkey to Egypt during the Ottoman Empire up until 1948, when Great Britain terminated the Ottoman rule.  Nowadays, it is a monument with great little boutiques, restaurants, cafes and a place to just stroll around.  We went to a great tapas and wine bar called Vicky Cristina.  It's outdoors under the oldest tree in Tel Aviv.  After lunch, Moises sat down to do some work at a coffee shop while Asher and I goofed around on the trains, took pictures and then decided to go back to Vicky Cristina to have some flourless chocolate cake that I had my eyes on at lunch ;-)

 

Run like the Wind Asher!!!

Asher telling me he loves me: "I", as he points to himself.

"Love", as he draws a heart in the air.

"You, you, you!" pointing to me.  (A little something he learned from Papi (Moi) :-)

Flourless chocolate cake

Jerusalem

Moises and I spent a couple of nights in Jerusalem sans kidlets.  The boys stayed with Babi and Zeide.  It was so nice to have a couple days of peace and quiet!!!

On the rooftop of our favorite hotel in Jerusalem, Mamilla.  You can click here to check it out.

At the Israel Museum

Mahane Yehuda

I am perfectly content wandering through the market all day and just get lost!  I love exploring all the different spices, flavors of halva and other goods they have.  I always buy a few different spices or blends to take home with me to the states. 

Spices

Any kind of halva you can imagine!

Spice Blends

Beautiful rows of dried fruit and nuts.

 Mahane Yehuda Restaurant

We went to this quirky little restaurant on the outskirts of Mahane Yehuda that had amazing food and upbeat atmosphere.

The kitchen

The check arrived in this adorable vintage clutch.

Day Trip to Hebron (West Bank)

Moises and I hired a tour guide to take us to Rachel's tomb (located in Bethlehem) and then the tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah (all located in Hebron).  Bethlehem and Hebron are in the West Bank so you really need to go with someone who knows the protocol.  The main roads are under Israeli control even in areas populated mostly by Palestinian Arabs.  There are check points run by Israeli soldiers at the territorial borders where they allow vehicles with appropriate plates and people with work permits to enter Israeli territory.  The Israeli government forbids Israelis to enter Bethlehem to avoid the liability to protect or rescue them if anything should happen.  Because Rachel's tomb is in Bethlehem, the road that takes you there has 30-foot cement walls on either side and security towers with Israeli soldiers stationed inside. 

Outside the tomb of Rachel

They have built a solid structure around the tomb to ensure safety.  You can go here to see pictures of how it has changed over the years.

The roads along the way to Hebron had high chain link fences to prevent Palestinians from throwing stones at the cars.

The tomb of the Patriarchs.  Until 1929 Jews were forbidden from entering the site, and were not allowed past the seventh step leading up to the tombs.  Today the building is divided into two sections, Muslim and Jewish.  Only Jews are allowed into the tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Jacob and Leah while only Muslims are allowed in the tombs of Isaac and Rebecca.  However, the Jews are allowed full access during the 10 Jewish Holy Days throughout the year, and viceversa for the Muslims.

Abraham

Sarah

Jacob

Leah

TIPH (Temporary International Presence in the city of Hebron) monitors the situation in Hebron and reports on breaches of the agreements on Hebron between the Israeli and the Palestinian side, as well as international humanitarian law and international recognized human rights standards.