Israel -

Makhtesh Ramon – is this the end of the world?

Gosia — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 15:26:59 +0000

After leaving sunny Ejlat, we headed north on road number 40 which runs towards Makhtesh Ramon. The landscape was becoming increasingly mountainous and barren. In fact, we were in the Negev Desert, which covers almost half of Israel’s territory. On the way, there’re few cars, but on the other hand we could see a lot of warning signs forbidding going off the main route, as the road we were driving was as a matter of fact in the centre of a huge military range. Never would I have thought that traveling through a monotonous desert landscape could be so thrilling. Awareness of the nearby range, the absence of any civilization let alone gas stations appeals to the imagination. On the other hand, the landscape that surrounded us forced frequent technical stops… of course to take photos ? After a few stops, a huge rock wall appeared on the horizon, which seemed to have no end. It’s called Makhtesh Ramon. Makhtesh is a unique rock formation, which looks like a crater, but its creation has nothing to do with volcanic activity, nor the meteorite impact. Makhtesh was created hundreds of millions of years ago when the ocean was located in the Negev Desert area. The slow withdrawal of the ocean formed a valley that further deepened as a result of weather conditions and water erosion. Makhtesh Ramon scale surprises. It’s 1640 ft deep, about 31 miles long and less than 7miles wide. It’s the largest ‘crater’ of this kind in the world. The Ramon Nature Reserve is located on its site, where you can see not only numerous interesting rock formations, but also capricorns. When you’re in the area, it’s worth visiting Mitzpe Ramon Visitors Center, where you can see an interactive show that explains the history of the makhtesh creation, as well as its name. Admission costs 28 ILS (24 ILS student ticket) or it’s free of charge with Israel Pass. Makhtesh was named after Israeli fighter pilot and astronaut Ilan Ramon, who in February 2003 died in the Columbia space shuttle crash. Apart from the museum, the tragic fate of the astronauts taking part in the Columbia mission was commemorated by giving their names to the the seven hills surrounding the makhtesh. Makhtesh can be visited on foot, horse or off-road car. Admission to the reserve is free and at the Mitzpe Ramon Visitors Center reception you can get maps with detailed trails. We decided to take a short walk along the cliff. Amazing views of makhtesh can be seen right next to Visitors Center and from the viewing platform – Camel Mount, which looks like a sitting camel. Makhtesh Ramon scale makes a great impression, especially at sunset when its colours become sharp. The walls of the crater look as if colourful layers were applied to them. Standing there I felt as though I were in the middle of nowhere… literally at the end of the world.

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Ein Avdat – in the shadow of explosions and an artificial sun

Gosia — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 20:38:54 +0000

Having driven almost 1242 miles around Israel, our trip was over. We’re going from Makhtesh Ramon to the north towards Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv from where we were supposed to fly off to Poland in the evening. The plan included a short trip to Avdat National Park, which was on the way. Sipping my morning coffee and planning the route I didn’t expect that I would remember this trip to this very day. It might seem that Makhtesh Ramon I wrote about earlier is the only attraction of the Negev Desert. Meanwhile, it’s worth seeing Ein Avdat National Park located nearby the road no 40. The name Ein in Hebrew and Arabic means the source, while Avdat comes from the name of the nearby city. It is therefore impossible to hide that Ein Avdat is full of water. Located in the river valley it’s one of the most surprising places in Israel. Here you can see interesting rock formations, lush vegetation for Israeli sever conditions and a waterfall. Surely this place wouldn’t make such an impression if it weren’t for one small detail, Ein Avdat is actually located in the centre of the Negev Desert, Israel. Due to the water and lush vegetation here, the park is the place of residence of many animals, including popular capricorns. The path leads along the high cliffs. You can see the characteristic formations that result from the erosive water activity. Interestingly, Ein Avdat doesn’t seem to be just a work of nature. Walking along the canyon you can see numerous stairs and caves craved in the rocks. It is a remnant of the Byzantine era when the place was inhabited by monks. You can visit the park in two ways: a longer and shorter route. The shorter route starts in the lower parking lot, leads to the largest waterfall and back. It counts about 3 km, and it takes about 1,5 hour. The second route starts at the same location, but further leads to the top of the canyon. Behind the last waterfall it goes up steep. Due to the sharp, narrow approach, this is a one-way path, and it takes about 3 hours to complete the entire route. Admission ticket costs 28 shekels (14 shekels – children, 24 shekels – students) or it’s free after buying Israel Pass. After crossing the whole trail and a short stop, we decided to go back to the parking lot. I didn’t expect that I would remember this route until today with chills on my back. I was aware of the threats in Israel, I bought very expensive insurance, which also included war activities. Unfortunate coincidence during our stay in November 2019 from Gaza Strip, Palestinian Jihad resumed rocket attack on Israel. Most of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, but several fell into Israel. Including one which bombarded highway area near which we were supposed to be passing that day. As a result, Israel retaliated with an air attack. We were “lucky” that it coincided with our visit to Ein Avdat, which was only about 80 km (49 miles) from Gaza Strip. The way back to the parking lot was supposed to be our last chance to see the beauty of Israel, we wanted to enjoy this last moment in this country surrounded by such wonderful landscapes. Meanwhile, suddenly we heard a series of explosions, which were further intensified by deaf echo created by the high walls of the canyon. Without knowing the exact location of military actions, worst thoughts come to mind and tension further increases when realising being actually ′′ trapped′′ between large rock blocks. After the outbreak stopped, there was silence, we’re relieved. Unfortunately, our peace didn’t last long, because after a moment we heard an even bigger bang. We saw flying right over our heads several Israeli fighters, and then the next explosions. We speeded up the pace to get in the parking lot asap. Trust me I didn’t expect the way back could take so little time. Soon after returning to the car, the situation calmed down, and we were aware that we had to continue the route to the airport, which was supposed to go even closer to Gaza Strip. With our heart in our mouth, we were able to reach our destination, but to this day this situation gives me chills. Fortunately, our route to the airport went without further such attractions. We didn’t expect to see one more surprise. Not far from Ein Avdat, we saw a huge tower that blinded us by the glow of sunlight reflecting from it. It was Ashalim Solar Tower. The tower reaches 250 meters and is one of the tallest structures of this type in the world. At its base, on an area of 300 hectares (740 acres), there are mirrors, directing sunlight to the top of the tower. The boiler at the top generates a temperature reaching 600 degrees Celsius (1112 Fahrenheit). This is how the steam is produced, which is then directed towards the base of the tower, where the electricity is generated, it’s sufficient to power 120 000houses. I will honestly admit that for the first time in my life I saw such a structure, the whole thing is amazing, it literally looks like a giant bulb. Ashalim is one of those attractions which you won’t find in guidebooks. It’s worth taking a look here when you’re in Ein Avdat area ?

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Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanira – western Israel

Gosia — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:20:38 +0000

Tel Aviv was the first point of our exploration of western Israel. After a visit to historic Jerusalem, the capital of Israel surprised us with modern architecture. Due to the small amount of time, we decided to see this town from the coastal perspective, more specifically from the old Jaffa port area. This place looked amazingly, especially at sunset. On the other hand, from the boulevard, located right next to the port, we could admire the view of the vast beach and the strict centre of Tel Aviv. However, Tel Aviv surprised me the most by its large number of interesting murals. Tel Aviv is well worth visiting because it gives another perspective of Israel in comparison to traditional Jerusalem. On the way to the north, you can visit Caesarea – one of the most important archaeological sites in Israel. The city was founded in 20 BC by Herod, the king of Judea, who named it after Caesar Octavian August. The city was the headquarters of Roman prefects including Pontius Pilate and the place of imprisonment of St. Paul’s. Gladiator fights were held here. Caesarea’s flourishing period ended with its conquest by Muslims in 640. The city regained its former glory when the Crusaders conquered it in 1101, however in 1256 was ruined by the Arabs. Currently, the most important monuments include a restored Roman theatre capable of accommodating 4000 spectators, the ruins of the hippodrome where chariot races took place and the citadel. The remains of the sea port, built by Herod are underwater and available for sightseeing only for divers. Our next destination was Haifa and more specifically the Bahái Temple. It is the most important centre of Bahaism – the youngest religion, started in Iran in the 19th century. The Bahá’i gardens are situated on the slopes of Mount Caramel, which offers an amazing view of the city and the bay. They are also called the Hanging Gardens, and their symmetrical appearance represents the harmony that the followers of this religion pursue. Bahaism is a monotheistic religion aimed at creating a new world order. This religion demands equality of all people, universal peace, obligatory education, uniform language (Esperanto) and currency worldwide. 19 elaborated gardens symbolize Baba and his 18 students. Gardens are connected by stairs, terraces and cascades. From the highest point you can admire a fabulous view of the city’s panorama and the bay. On the other hand, the middle part includes the Bába Mausoleum which can be recognized by the characteristic golden dome. It’s the most sacred place of the Bahaits, because here are the remains of the founder of the religion – Bába. He was shot at the end of 19th century in Tabriz, located in Iran. For many years, Bahaism’s followers hid his remains when finally transfered them secretly to Israel in 1909. Baba Sanctuary is a pilgrimage place for the world Bahait community that’s why visitors are asked to dress modestly (cover arms and knees). Just over 13 miles from Haifa you can visit the historic port city of Acre. It played an important commercial role for centuries, because of its strategic location. Acre is an amazing mix of cultures: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. However, the most visible are Arab influences. The city literally looks like time has stopped here. Its architecture is very varied, here you can see historic caravanserais, mosques, synagogues, and churches. The city’s biggest bloom took place in the time of Crusaders, then it even served as the capital of the Jerusalem Kingdom for some time. Acre was then the main port of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The remains of the crusaders are currently located mainly in the underground. The old town is surrounded by a massive defensive wall from the Ottoman era. From the perspective of the walls, you can admire views of the port, citadel and the El Jazzara mosque, which can be recognized by the characteristic green dome. The port remembers the 6th century BC and is a symbol of the city. Acre is not a popular tourist destination. On the streets you can mostly meet locals, what makes this city even more interesting. This place looks like typical Arab cities with narrow streets and countless stalls. Acre’s vibe can be best felt during a visit to the famous bazaar al-Abajd (White Bazaar). Here you can try some excellent local products: halvah, nougat-filled pralines, or homemade kibbeh (minced lamb and bulgur grits). Acre is located only 17 km from the Lebanon border, where another amazing attraction of Israel – Rosh Hanikra’s grotto is located. Turquoise colour of water combined with white, high cliffs and underground caves are impressive. Nevertheless, the history of this place is also very interesting, I wrote about here.

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Northern Israel – Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Tzafad

Gosia — Tue, 18 May 2021 20:02:25 +0000

Northern Israel is the main destination for many pilgrims coming to the Holy Land. Beyond Jerusalem here are the main points of the Christian religion, known from the New Testament. We started our trip with Nazareth, where Archangel Gabriel told Mary that she would have a son, whom she was to name Jesus. The main purpose of the trips here, is Basilica of the Annuciation – a place where according to the beliefs the annunciation took place. Basilica is one of the most important temples for Christians, right after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Basilica is huge and significantly different from the temples mentioned above. It’s built in a modern style and its interior resembles more of a fortress than a church. At its main point, there’s the Grotto of the Annunciation. Right next to the Basilica, is the Church of St. Joseph’s. According to the Christian tradition, St. Joseph’s workshop was supposed to be here. While being in Nazareth it’s worth going to a nearby souk – a market that offers local products and souvenirs. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see it because we visited Nazareth in the late evening hours. About 8 km (5 miles) north of Nazareth there’s another important pilgrimage point – Cana of Galilee. Here Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine at a wedding feast. A little further east, on the scenic Galilee Lake you can visit Mount of the Beatitiudes. Visitors head to the main point of the mountain – to the Church of Beatitiudes, the place of Jesus’ sermon. It can be recognised by the distinctive dome. The church is surrounded by a beautiful garden with viewing terraces from which you can enjoy a great view of Lake Galilee. Near the Church of Beatitudes you can visit the Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, where Jesus miraculously multiplied two fish and five loaves of bread to feed the crowds. While being in the area it’s also worth visiting Safed (Tzafat). Safed is located at the height of 3000 feet and is also the highest located city in Israel. It’s the main centre of Kabbalah – Jewish mysticism and one of the four most sacred cities in Judaism (including Jerusalem, Tiberias and Hebron). The Kabbalah, unlike Rabbinic Judaism, is based on reading sacred books between the lines, and the letters and accent of each word has a numerical value that gives additional meaning to words. Indeed, visiting Safed you can feel a specific spiritual atmosphere, different from the other places in Israel. The city is famous for many artists whose works can be seen at a local, elegant market. The dominant colour of the city is blue, which in an interesting way contrasts with white architecture. Additionally, the streets are decorated by numerous sculptures and artistic installations. While walking along the maze of narrow streets, we virtually didn’t see any tourists. Thanks to this, we could observe the life of the residents of this city. Tourist guides advise against visiting Tzafat on Shabbat, which runs from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Then many streets are closed to traffic and a car ride is rather risky then, as local residents throw stones at moving vehicles. Like this post? Check out another one!

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Mea Shearim – far away from reality, Girl off the trail!

Gosia — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 12:33:36 +0000

So far I’ve visited a few less tourist places, like self-proclaimed countries: Nagorno-Karabakh or the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. However, if anyone ever asked me about a place where I felt uncomfortable and insecure, just one comes to my mind – Mea Shearim. Mea Shearim is one of the districts in Jerusalem, literally a stronghold of ultra-orthodox Jews. It was founded at the end of the 19th century and time has stopped here ever since. It was Friday morning, Mea Shearim was our last point in Jerusalem. We had to hurry to visit it before Shabbat that starts in the afternoon. We didn’t want it to be our last point to visit in Israel. Then the district is cut off from the world, it is forbidden to use any electrical and mechanical devices, including cars. Those who decide to drive a car for sure will have it damaged with stones. The ban on the use of vehicles also regards ambulance or fire brigade. Approaching the district, the streets became increasingly deserted. We finally reached the entrance gate. It can be recognised by the board informing about the Mea Shearim dress code. We’re doing a quick quality check: dark baggy skirts, long sleeve blouses fastened to the neck, full shoes and head scarfs, maybe even there’s a chance to blend in? Maybe we can avoid being shouted at, which is highly probable according to the information on the Internet. We are going through a narrow passage, we have no illusions, there’s no chance to blend in the crowd because there’s no crowd. However, this is good news because every single passer-by makes us feel clearly that we are not welcome here. How? They treat us like air, every time seeing us from far away they go to the other side of the road, when there’s no way they speed up as if they don’t want to have anything to do with us. It’s impossible to hide that we’re intruders here, representing this spoiled, disgusting outside world. Only men can be seen on the main street. All dressed in characteristic long coats and hats from which side curls called “payots” stick out. They do shopping before Shabbat time, mainly in small shops. Outside there’re full boxes of traditional challah, which is consumed during the Sabbath. This whole scene looks like it was taken straight from the late 19th century. From time to time you can see women wearing shapeless dark outfits and headscarves covering wigs. Women shave their heads just after the wedding, because according to tradition, it is the hair that makes them attractive. Children are dressed very modest. They are taught to avoid contact with strangers. At the sight of a camera, they hide their faces. You’d think they had a lot of fun, but in fact their faces are very serious then. How does life look like in Mea Shearim? Some time ago, I used to wonder if it was possible to cut off from globalization and consumerism. Then it seemed impossible, but after seeing Mea Shearim, I completely changed my mind. Mea Shearim reality is kind of reversed. Men don’t work in this community. They spend all day studying Torah and praying. Women take care of the house and children, they have to earn money for living, as well. However, most often they get unemployment doles and donations. However, it’s against their beliefs. The people of Mea Shearim do not recognize the state of Israel. According to them, banishment from the Holy Land was a punishment for sins, and the state of Israel will not be reborn until the Messiah’s arrival. Consequently, until the Messiah arrives, they recognize the authority of the Islamic states which used to rule on the area where Israel was established. The delegation from Mea Shearim took part in Jaser Arafat’s funeral ceremony, the conference in Beirut organized in 2005 by Hezbollah. While the biggest scandal was their participation in the conference denying the Holocaust, organised by Iranian President – Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Residents are exempt from taxes and military service, which is taken very seriously in Israel. They are cut off from the outside world. TV, radio and newspapers are forbidden in Mea Shearim. Some people have mobile phones, but supposedly with limited internet access. The main source of information are posters on the walls of houses. Kids learn at local schools. Their education covers mainly religious issues, knowledge of subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry or Geography is not passed. Actually, there is no escape from this place. Lack of basic education hold them back from working outside in the future.All this leads to abject poverty. Dirty streets, ruined houses and hanging electric cables are common here. However, despite poverty, there is no social pathology here, everyone is perfectly clean and streets are safe. During our visit, we didn’t encounter any problems, although I won’t hide that it was close to confrontation. As we were walking close to the school, the students started screaming. I didn’t see them trying to throw anything at us, but we didn’t want to risk and we just backed out. Therefore, when visiting Mea Shearim, you should remember to respect local customs and use a camera or cell phone discreetly. Interested in Israel, check out other posts!

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Israel, Eilat – escape from winter, a perfect plan for the weekend! Part II

Gosia — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 07:12:34 +0000

As I wrote in the previous post, tickets to Eilat are currently at very bargain prices. However, Israel is a rather expensive country, the cost of food and accommodation, are much higher than in Poland. So what can you visit here for free? Where to eat and how much does a weekend trip actually cost? The Red Canyon Who said that the most interesting attractions must be expensive? If you want to see something amazing and completely for free, be sure to go to the Red Canyon. It is about a 20-minute drive by car from Eilat (road no 12). The road leads right at the very border with Egypt, along a huge wire fence. However, the biggest attraction of this route are the picturesque landscapes. You can also access the Red Canyon by public transport. There is a bus no 392, heading towards Be’er Sheva. There’s no bus stop in the Red Canyon area, so tickets should be bought to Har Uziya junction and when approaching the canyon, signal the driver desire to leave. You can find the current schedule and price list here. From the main road you should walk around 1,5 km to the trail leading to the canyon. The canyon is actually the dry bed of the Nahal Shani river. It looks like the famous Antelope Canyon in the United States. The resemblance is not coincidental, because both were created in the same way. Vulnerable rocks built from sandstone, are carved by water which flows through the canyon during the so-called flash floods. The Red Canyon can be visited in two ways: a big and a small loop. A large loop leads along blue trail and is supposedly a bit harder, due to the steep approaches. A small loop, also known as the family trail, is relatively simple and it’s about 5 km long. It’s marked by green trail which goes along the bottom of the canyon. The path to the gorge becomes more and more narrow with every meter, and the walls of the canyon are higher and more interestingly shaped. This place delights with the amount of amazing, intensive colours. In the end, the width of the road allows, at most, to put one foot. Further part leads through various types of ladders, buckles without which the passage of the main section of the canyon would be impossible. After crossing the bottom of the canyon, the route continues along the black trail. This trail leads on the top of the canyon, which allows you to capture this place from a completely different perspective. The black trail is later connected with the green trail, leading to the parking lot. When going to the canyon, it is worth to wear mountain shoes. Unfortunately I had only sandals, because my hand luggage had limited size. Sunrise – the early bird… I’ll admit that the perspective of getting up at 5 am on Sunday to see the sunrise over Eilat, didn’t sound good at all. However, with only a weekend at our disposal, we wanted to make the most of this time. The selection of a spot for observations fell on Yoash Mountain, located on route 12 leading to the Red Canyon. The sun was slowly raising behind the mountains on the Jordanian side, giving the unbelievably intensive colour of the sky and the Gulf of Aqaba. An additional attraction was an ibex family, who decided to make breakfast right next to our car. Accommodation in Eilat Israel is not a cheap country, that’s why it’s hard to find budget accommodation there. The situation in Eilat is even more complicated as it is one of the main holiday resorts in Israel. From the available accommodation options, I recommend Hotel Club in Eilat located near Eilat Coral Reef Nature Reserve. The advantage of this hotel are large apartments with terraces equipped with a kitchen where you can prepare meals. As a welcome gift, guests receive a box of chocolates, a pizza with a drink and 2 cards of 2 GB of internet. There’s a large swimming pool, tennis courts, pitch, game room and a shop offering products at competitive prices in relation to ones in the city. The hotel offers a varied excellent breakfast, and during the day you can have dinner at a reasonable price in the bar located in the front of the pool. If you are looking for a more comfortable accommodation than hostel, I suggest you check the accommodation on Airbnb. To lower the costs you can use special discount for the first reservation. Using this link you can save up to 30€, while I will receive 20€ as a bonus for your reservation, which will also be a form of gratitude for my contribution to write this post. How much does it cost? Costs of departure from 5 to 8th of December: • Flight Warsaw Modlin – Eilat – Warsaw Modlin – 78 PLN (Ryanair with hand luggage) – around 20€• Accommodation in Club in Eilat 880 shekels so around 220 € for 3 nights for double room (3-room apartment, breakfast included)• Car rental for 3 days – 70€ / 2 people + fuel 30€ pln /2 people• Entrance ticket to Timna Park – 49 shekels so around 13€• 1 Falafel with fries 23 shekels – 6€• Dinner at the hotel 30 shekels – 8€ Total cost per person : 207 € Do you want to go to Eilat? Check the first post:

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Israel, Eilat – escape from winter, a perfect plan for the weekend! Part I

Gosia — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:29:02 +0000

It was a cold weekend in November, and I had just come back from sunny Israel. The level of my depression reached its peak. To kill the time, or maybe with a glimmer of hope, I started looking for cheap airline tickets. And then it happened, in front of my eyes appeared return tickets from Warsaw – Modlin to Ejlat in Israel for barely 20€! Less than 2 weeks before I had been in this popular tourist destination, but I had just been passing by and I couldn’t visit some of the attractions at the time. Before I thought it over, tickets had already been on my e-mail. On cold Thursday 5th December we said goodbye to Poland and only after 4 hours of flight we were welcomed by a warm Israeli evening. There is a dry desert climate in Eilat, and rains are rare here. During our stay, the air temperature was between 24 and 26 Celsius degrees, while the water in the Red Sea was about 24°C. The perfect conditions for swimming, sunbathing and sightseeing. Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve Israel has only 13 km of coastline at the Red Sea, and all of it is located in the area of Eilat. Fans of swimming and water sports will surely find a lot of attractions on this small piece of the coast. In addition to diving and snorkeling, you can swim with dolphins in the so-called Dolphin Reef (adm. 69 shekels and optional swimming with dolphins – 300 shekels) or visit huge aquarium. However, the most interesting and budget attraction is Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve. Admission costs 35 shekels and this is the most profitable option to see the reef during your stay in Eilat. In the park you can swim and dive in crystal clear water surrounded by amazing coral reef and colourful fish. The Reef can be seen, also from two piers. Timna Park – a short trip to the moon While in Eilat, it’s worth taking a trip to Timna Valley, located less than 30 km north of Eilat. From the route no 90 you should turn left just behind the brown signpost directing to Timna Park. The turn can be recognised by the huge Egyptian statues on the left side of the road. Why Egyptian? Because two thousand years before our era, the area was inhabited by the Egyptians. The first copper mine in the world was operating here. The entrance to the park is quite expensive because it amounts to 49 shekels – around 15€. The characteristic lunar landscape, huge cliffs, interesting rock formations and a surprising variety of colors are worth their price. In the price of the ticket you’ll get a souvenir for free – a bottle that you can fill with coloured sand form the park. It’s best to explore the park by car, as the attractions are quite far from each other. There’s a decent road through the park so no 4WD car is needed. Of course, it is also an option to explore the park on foot, but I don’t recommend it during the summer months, as the temperature in Timna reaches then up to 40°C. There is also an option to rent bikes on the spot, but prices are said to be high. You can use public transport to get to the park. Egged buses no 394 and 397 stop at Elifaz Park Timna 90 (stop on demand), located on the main road close to the turn to Timna. The road from the stop to the park takes about 40 minutes. The first attraction in the park is the spiral mountain. The way there resembles the famous Route 66 in the United States. Right behind the mountain, you can see the first mushroom, actually half of it. This is an interesting rock in a characteristic red color. The next attraction is the second mushroom – the most recognisable spot in Timna Valley, It surprises with intensive pink color. Near the mushroom you can see the ancient pits – the remains of copper smelting. An amazing rock formation are the Salomon’s Pillars, huge high columns built from sandstone and interestingly formed by erosion. The next point is a rock shaped like a sphinx. The tour ends in oasis, where you can find restaurant and a gift shop. In the shop you can pick up the bottles mentioned earlier, which can be filled with yellow, red, green and black sand. Check out the next part here:

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Israel – 7 amazing places to visit!

Gosia — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:45:26 +0000

Israel is mostly associated with holy places, leisure sunbathing like Eilat or music scene like Tel Aviv. However, in this small country there’re more than 40 national parks. What’s more interesting, due to the different location, they are very diverse. They include: green oases, the emerald coast, a unique crater, ruins of ancient cities or even the coral reef. Rosh Hanikra Grottoes, Israel or Lebanon? White, limestone cliffs, caves and crystal clear water of the Mediterranean sea this is how Rosh Hanikra Grottoes look like. However, at the top of the white rocks you can see a high fence with a barbed wire, on the other side is Lebanon. Actually, from Rosh Hanikra, it’s closer to Beirut than Jerusalem. Here runs so called Blue line – the line set by the United Nations, only 19 years ago (in 2000). The border was established just after the Israeli army withdrawal from Southern Lebanon. You can get to the grottoes by cable car (return ticket costs 45). In addition to clean water and paper white rocks, very interesting is 200 m tunnel. It was built during British reign in this area in order to connect by railway line Haifa with Beirut and Tripoli in Lebanon. The railway line served the British for military purposes during World War II. Ein Gedi – zielona oaza nad Morzem Martwym Oaza Ein Gedi zlokalizowana jest na wschodnim krańcu Pustyni Judzkiej, tuż obok Morza Martwego. Pustynia Judzka zupełnie nie przypomina pustyni, zamiast piaszczystych wydm, można tu zobaczyć wysokie wzniesienia i skały. W parku znajdują się dwie główne ścieżki prowadzące przez zielone doliny: Wadi Arugot i Wadi David. Oprócz cudownych widoków na oazę oraz Morze Martwe, dodatkową atrakcją jest możliwość kąpieli w strumykach i wodospadach. Szlak przez dolinę Wadi David kończy się na wysokim wodospadzie, w którego głębi znajduje się jaskinia. Poza niesamowitymi widokami, na terenie parku znajdują się również ruiny prehistorycznej świątyni oraz starej synagogi. Szlaki oznaczone są dwoma kolorami. Czerwone prowadzą przez pustynne krajobrazy, natomiast niebieskie – w dolinie, wzdłuż rześkich strumieni i wodospadów. Wstęp kosztuje 28 szekli. Masada Strome, niemal pionowe zbocza Twierdzy Masada wyróżniają się w nieco monotonnym krajobrazie wybrzeża Morza Martwego. Ogromna góra licząca ponad 450 m nad poziomem Morza Martwego, co w praktyce wynosi jakieś 10-20 m n.p.m odejmując depresję, widoczna jest z daleka i robi niesamowite wrażenie. Strategiczne położenie Masady było jednym z powodów dla których Herod – Król Judei postanowił wybudować tu kompleks fortyfikacji. Masada była ostatnim bastionem obrony Żydów przed Rzymianami w 73-74 n.e. Po długotrwałym kilkumiesięcznym oblężeniu twierdzy przez Rzymian, obrona została zerwana. Obrona zakończyła się masowym samobójstwem mieszkańców, którzy woleli odebrać sobie życie niż zostać rzymskimi niewolnikami. There is a long path to the top, but most tourists decide to get there by cable car (return ticket costs 46 shekels and admission to the park 31 shekels). Caesarea Maritima The person of the king Herod is also associated with Caesarea Maritima – one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Israel. In the complex of the ancient ruins you can visit the Roman theatre, the remains of the ancient port, the citadel and the fragments of ramparts. The path to ruins leads along a huge hippodrome, which is located just at the shore the Mediterranean Coast. Admission to Cesarea National Park costs 39 shekels. Ein Avdat – an oasis in the middle of the Negev Desert Parking just at the entrance to the area of Ein Avdat National Park does not encourage to go on a trip. The arid landscape of the Negev Desert starts being boring after driving more than 170 km through the same countryside. However, a few steps further the tourist trail will lead you to completely different place. Admission costs 28 shekels. A narrow, deep canyon, surrounded by interestingly sculptured rocks, caves and waterfalls creates a unique atmosphere of this place. Ein Avdat is also the habitat of the ibex, which can be seen on the trail. Ramon Crater Sometimes there’re places that can’t be described by words. Sometimes there’s no point in taking out the camera, because even the best photo will not present the scale and beauty of these places. That’s in the case of the Ramon Crater (Mitzpe Ramon). It’s a real gem on the map of Israel and a must-see place during your stay in Israel. It’s one of the biggest craters on earth, created by erosion. It is 40 km long, 9 km wide and 300 m deep. The scale of this place is unimaginable, moreover, it’s constantly extending due to the processes of erosion. The crater was named after a participant of the tragic mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, astronaut – Ilan Ramon. The nearby museum is dedicated to the disaster of the Columbia Space Shuttle, while the hills surrounding the crater were named after the rest of the mission participants. The canyon makes an amazing impression at sunrise and sunset, especially from a nearby viewpoint, resembling the shape of a camel. Ejlat – Coral Reef Therefore after an intense sightseeing, it’s best to rest in Eilat – located at the Red Sea. In the suburbs of this famous holiday resort is a national park where you can swim in the Red Sea surrounded by amazing colorful fish.

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