trip and dreams with Israel

Affordable hotels in Kissimmee- Kissimmee vacation

2012-01-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

Whenever people plan a vacation in Disney they consider Disney hotel as their first choice. However hotel in Disney land charges good amount of money hence many visitors look out for cheap and affordable hotels in Disney area. Visitors don't consider for Kissimmee hotels as they think that might be too far away. It is absolutely wrong? Kissimmee hotels conveniently located near Florida attractions and charges almost half amount of Disney hotels. Here some of the Kissimmee hotels are recommended for your Florida vacation Super 8 Super 8 Kissimmee is one of cheapest accommodations in Kissimmee. It offers free super fast continental breakfast in morning; you can park your vehicle free in premises. You are pretty close to the central Florida attractions as you accommodate here. Clarion hotel The hotel is just 5 minute away from Walt Disney attractions. All rooms are fully featured with latest amenities and facilities. Outdoor pool, onsite bar grill free breakfast themed beverages are served on Tiki Bar and grill. Business class guests can take advantages of free internet and computer table. Continental plaza For luxury stay in Kissimmee this hotel is perfect place to stay. The elegant hotel is almost adjacent to the Disney land, universal studio and rest Orlando attractions. The amenities and services provided by the hotel is somehow equal to the Disney hotels yet you pay less in continental plaza. Days inn maingate If you are looking for the bustling vacation this is the hotel for you as its central location puts you close to the attractions, restaurants, night bars and shopping destinations. The vibrant atmosphere in and around hotel keeps you charged so you can have fun as much as you can. Destiny Palm Guests who want a bit more privacy and luxury amenities should consider once to stay in this hotel. The hotel is located in the heart of the city and lets you to enjoy everything with the comfort of home; you can fully relax and can enjoy a typical Tropical Florida vacation Still there are many cheap accommodation hotels in Kissimmee Fl to explore. Several hotels are available on internet. Either you can reserve yourself of ask your travel agent to make reservation. Have a blast on Florida vacation!
fear of flying | noguera ibiza

הובלות

2012-01-15T19:32:00.000-08:00

הובלות הם היום דבר שבשגרה ואנשים רבים נעזרים בשירות זה לצרכים שונים. זו יכולה להיות הובלה של דירה, של בית עסק, של משרד או של חפץ יקר ערך כמו כספת או פסנתר – שירות הובלות הוא הפתרון המושלם והחסכוני העומד היום לשירותינו. כיוון שהובלת חפצים עשויה להיות משימה לא קלה, גוזלת זמן ואנרגיה, שכן עלולה לגרום נזק לתכולה אותה רוצים להעביר. לכן, פנייה לחברת הובלות מקצועית, כמו חברת אילן הובלות בעלת 17 שנות ניסיון בתחום וכמות רבה של ממליצים, תהפוך את החוויה למהנה, מהירה ופרודוקטיבית. עם זאת, כדי שההובלה אכן תהיה כזו רצוי להיערך אליה בהתאם ולחשוב היטב כיצד בדיוק תרצו לבצע את ההובלה.

הובלות – חפשו ממליצים

שירות הובלות הוא כאמור דבר נפוץ ומקובל במחוזותינו ובכל העולם. עם זאת, חשוב לציין כי זהו פרויקט לכל דבר אליו יש לגשת בכובד ראש. הכוונה היא לעבודה מקדימה שיש לערוך בטרם מזמינים חברת הובלות. העבודה הזו מתחילה בסקר שוק במהלכו תחקרו חברים או בני משפחה לגבי חברת הובלות עליה הם ממליצים. אפשר גם לקרוא ברשת האינטרנט באתרים הקשורים להובלות סיפורים ובתגובות של ממליצים אחרים. חברת אילן הובלות היא החברה בעלת ממליצים רבים, הן עסקיים והן פרטיים, הכל בזכות המסירות, המקצועיות והאמינות שאנו מעניקים ללקוחותינו.

הובלות – ערכו רשימות

בטרם מזמינים חברת הובלות, כדאי לערוך רשימות של התכולה אותה תרצו להעביר, פרטים מדויקים של יעד העברה, כולל כל האילוצים שלו (קומה, גדול, נגישות וכו'). הדבר יקל עליכם בעת סגירת המחיר וקבלת השירותים הרלוונטיים מחברת הובלות. אפשר למשל להזמין הובלה סטנדרטית ואפשר להזמין מנוף הכולל הרכבה ופירוק של הרהיטים – הדבר תלוי בסוג התכולה עצמה, בקומה ובמיקום אליהם צריכים להעבירה.

הובלות – מיינו חפצים

במקביל לחיפושי ממליצים על חברת הובלות זו או אחרת מאוד מומלץ לבצע סינון ומיון של כל התכולה אותה רוצים להעביר. הדבר מאוד יקל עליכם בעת ההובלה שכן יפנה לכם המון מקום. תמיד תוכלו לתרום בגדים או רהטים לאנשים הנזקקים או לחלופין למכור מה שאתם לא צריכים. במקרה הכי גרוע אפשר גם לזרוק – העיקר שלא תוסיפו להובלה חפצים מיותרים ותיהנו ממקום פנוי. לאחר מכן תוכלו לבחירתם לארוז לבד או להיעזר בשירות אריזה של אילן הובלות. אנו מעניקים שירות של אריזה החוסך ללקוח זמן יקר ויחד עם זאת גם עושה סדר בבלגן עם כל הקרטונים.

Isfiya

2011-10-31T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Druze village of Isfiya is located on the top of the Carmel Mountain commanding a panoramic view of the surrounding green hills. The village has a rich tradition of openness, hospitality, and warmth that is characteristic of the Druze community. Its special location and rich ethnic tradition and culture have proved especially attractive for travelers and tourists.

Isfiya was first established during the 17th and 18th century by Druze from the mountains of Lebanon. They were later joined by several Egyptian families, and in 2003 the village was merged with the neighboring Druze village of Daliat El Carmel. The two unified villages are known today as Ir Carmel.

The village has opened itself to tourists, while at the same time preserving its traditional Druze life style. The Druze are well-known for their warm hospitality and receive guests with smiling enthusiasm. The Isfiya residents are no exception, and welcome visitors into their homes, where they can get a close glimpse of Druze religious customs and traditions.

Visitors can walk through the narrow streets of the village and wander through the picturesque alleyways on their own, but it is recommended to go with a guide, who will add to your visit by showing you around and telling you interesting stories about the community. In the center of the village are several old buildings built in the style characteristic of northern Israel and southern Lebanon. There is also an olive press in the impressive ancient quarter where visitors can learn about the process of making olive oil and make oil candles.

The main street of the village has a lively bazaar filled with a variety of colorful shops. Nearby restaurants serve guests spicy ethnic foods. The colorful market is filled with visitors on Shabbat and is a noisy, festive place filled with exotic aromas and colors.

Visitors who wish to learn about the Druze culture from close up can lodge in an authentic Druze home or in guesthouses run by the local residents. Guests can enjoy traditional foods, listen to stories, and watch special performances of traditional music, song and dance. Those who would like to have a religious experience can visit the Druze house of prayer, the mosque, or in the Catholic-Maronite Church.

The western entrance to Isfiya has a beautiful promenade overlooking the view. Isfiya is a good departure point for nature walks in the Carmel Mountains nearby.

Nazareth

2011-10-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

Nazareth, or Natsrat as its name is pronounced in Hebrew, is the cradle of Christianity, the city where, according to tradition, the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the place where Jesus spent his childhood and youth. Nazareth, in the lower Galilee, is located in the heart of a valley surrounded by mountains that embrace several of the most important Christian sites in the world. This is a city of religion and faith, of spirituality and holiness, but also a city with a rich history, fascinating archeology, modern culture and Middle Eastern charm.

Nazareth, which began as a small Jewish village about 2,000 years ago, became a stronghold of Christianity in the Byzantine period, just a few hundred years later. During that period the name of Nazareth spread far and wide, and the yearnings to see the place where the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ had lived turned the city into a popular pilgrimage site. These visits led to the building of the city’s first church - the Church of the Annunciation at the traditional site of Joseph and Mary’s home. Many more churches have been built throughout the city, and were destroyed and rebuilt with the changes in Muslim and Christian rule over the centuries. In the 19th century Nazareth attracted renewed interest and Christians returned to live in this city and rebuilt churches and monasteries. Today Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel and has about 30 churches and monasteries, as well as mosques and ancient synagogues.

A tour of Nazareth is like reliving its various periods. Every era left behind it a powerful symbol that became a delightful and popular tourism site in the modern era. Most of the sites are concentrated in the Old City, built in the mid-19th century in a charming Middle Eastern architectural style. A walk through the narrow streets, between the picturesque houses, is an amazing experience and it is worth walking slowly to enjoy their beauty.

There are many ancient churches in the Old City, with the Church of the Annunciation heading the list. The rebuilt church retained parts of the previous churches, from the Crusader and Byzantine periods. The church also houses an impressive collection of paintings.

Right next to this church is the Church of Saint Joseph, built on the ruins of agricultural buildings where, according to tradition, Joseph, Mary’s husband, had his carpentry shop. While the Church of the Annunciation was built on the site of Mary’s home, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation is built over Mary’s Well, from which Jesus mother is said to have drank. This is a structure from the Crusader period and has some interesting frescoes. Right next to Mary’s Well is the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, inside a Crusader hall. According to tradition this is the location of the synagogue in which Jesus prayed.

Among the many other churches in Nazareth are the Mensa Christi Church, the Maronite Church, St. Gabriel’s Church and the Salesian Church. The Old City also has important buildings from the Ottoman period, including the Saraya, or Government House, built by Daher el Omar, the governor of the Galilee in the 18th century, and the White Mosque, which is used today as a house of prayer and an education and culture center. The White Mosque also houses a museum with exhibits that document Nazareth’s history. No tour of Nazareth’s Old City would be complete without a visit to the local market, which has become a popular and well-known attraction thanks to the colorful stalls and the variety of merchandise. In the market you can enjoy a visual feast of fashionable fabrics, taste the spices and local foods, and by artwork and souvenirs. All the sounds, sights, smells and flavors promise an authentic Middle Eastern experience.Nazareth is full of fascinating and lovely corners that will open your heart to their beauty. Another place that is worth visiting during a walking tour is the Nabi Sain ridge promenade to enjoy the marvelous view of the Galilee. You can visit the ancient Turkish bath house discovered during renovations to one of the city’s stores, take a peek at a fancy manor house with a display of the riches and customs of the Ottoman upper class in the 19th century, including some amazing frescoes. Also worth visiting is the Greek Orthodox bishop’s house, where you can walk through a series of underground passages discovered in the courtyard. Another interesting site is the compound built by the Russians as a hostel for pilgrims.

Nazareth, which has welcomed pilgrims for centuries, has Christian hostels and fancy hotels for the comfort of the tourists who throng to this important site, especially around Christmas. Dozens of restaurants serve delicious foods with wonderful aromas foods that attract visitors all year long. Nazareth is glorious during Christmas, when the city is decorated for the holiday and its colors and excitement join the holy atmosphere and the sounds of prayer emanating from the city’s churches.

Beit Lekhem ha-Glilit

2011-10-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Particularly beautiful ancient stone houses and the enchanting landscape of an oak forest are the perfect settings that greet visitors to the picturesque Moshav of Beit Lehem Ha'glilit. This beautiful German Templer village, established 100 years ago, has been extraordinarily well preserved, and has even improved over the years.

It all started with a Templer vision to establish an ethical religious Christian community in the Land of Israel. To realize this vision, a group of German Templers arrived in Haifa at the end of the nineteenth century and bought land here. The first group of settlers, headed by Christof Hoffmann, established the village.

True to their European lifestyle, they built large, spacious houses with big courtyards and adjoining dairy farms. A community center and a public building for worship and social life were erected in the center of the village, and next to it was the water tower that provided the village with water. During the Second World War, the Templers supported the German Nazi Party. As a result, their activity was halted and the British deported them to Australia. New immigrants and children of veteran moshav members from other moshavim settled in Beit Lehem Ha'glilit in April 1948 and established the present-day moshav. Visiting the moshav, you will see that most of the houses of the German colony have remained, and that the courtyards are adorned by large trees. Today, most of the residents engage in tourism, and the moshav has guest rooms, restaurants and coffee houses, art galleries, a spice farm, a modern dairy farm, and more. The moshav is located among enchanting hills of oak trees, among them giant ancient trees that have been preserved thanks to the Templers' opposition to the wild felling of trees by the Turks. Beneath and in between the local Tabor oak trees and snowdrop bushes, lush carpets of cyclamen, anemones, buttercups, irises, and other flowers blossom colorfully in the winter and spring.

Ashkelon

2011-10-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

Ashkelon is the southernmost city on the Mediterranean shoreline. In recent years, its 12 kilometers of beautiful beaches have attracted both Israelis and foreign tourists. Ashkelon was named after an ancient city whose remains can be found on Tel Ashkelon in the Ashkelon National Park. The city is mentioned in the Bible several times. But the main stories connected to it are about Samson and the fact that Goliath the Philistine was “a man of Ashkelon”… The city has been inhabited throughout the ages, but has had its ups and downs. It has been settled and abandoned, bloomed, prospered and then fallen. Its location on the coast has often made it an important port city.

Ashkelon has become a tourist center, and offers new attractions alongside interesting archaeological sites. The city’s major attraction is the National Park south-west of the city, which includes the ancient Tel Ashkelon. The Tel (the Hebrew name for abandoned ruins that often appear as hillocks in the countryside) contains ancient remains, starting with the impressive city gate from the Canaanite Period (about 4,000 years ago), a public building and many sculptures from the Roman Era (about 2,000 years ago), and up to the ruins of fortifications from the Crusader Period (about 1,000 years ago). The National Park extends about the Tel, and has spacious lawns and a public beach.

The city’s remaining public beaches stretch out to the north of the National Park, with an abundance of holiday facilities and hotels. The seashore also has a Marina. Nearby there is a beautiful promenade, and the Ashkelona Water Park, offering families an attractive water experience. Ancient sites are dispersed throughout the city, including an Archaeological Park with two magnificent coffins from the Roman Period (on Ha-Gefen Street in the Afridar neighborhood), the remains of two Byzantine churches (on Tsvi Segel Street in the Barne’a neighborhood), two splendid Roman graves and a Sheik’s grave from the Mamluk Period (next to the Marina). Buildings from the Arab city of Majdal have been preserved in the Migdal neighborhood, including the city’s big mosque and the Khan. Today, the Ashkelon Museum is located in the mosque, which houses an exhibition of the history of modern Ashkelon alongside archaeological findings, while the Khan houses artists’ studios.

Daliyat El-Carmel

2011-09-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Daliyat el-Carmel is a Druze village high on the slopes of Mt. Carmel and has an exceptionally unique character. It is a colorful village that offers wonderful hospitality with a smile and is also very interesting. The Druze is an ethnic group that split off from Islam in Egypt about 1,000 years ago. According to the Druze, their religion is the renewal of an ancient faith that became a secret known only to the group’s sages. Daliyat el-Carmel was founded in the 17th century by Druze from Mt. Lebanon. To the south of Daliyat el-Carmel is another Druze village, Isfiya, which was united with Daliyat el-Carmel in 2003 into a single town whose official name is Carmel.

Daliyat el-Carmel’s colorful market, open on Saturdays, is only an excuse to come to this special place. On the main street dozens of stores offer their varied wares and one can get lost in the abundance and variety. Between the stores are many restaurants serving genuine Druze ethnic foods, bakeries that fill the air with the sweet smell of baklava pastries. Other food stands sell high quality olive oil, olives, pita bread and locally produced labaneh cheese. The flurry of activity, the colors, the new beside the old, and the village bustling with people are a multi-sensational experience not to be missed. The market also has a few galleries where cultural evenings can be held, alongside the Druze hospitality. Apart from Daliyat el-Carmel’s main street, with its tourist center, on 22nd Street there is the house of Sir Laurence Oliphant, an Englishman who loved the Holy Land and moved here in 1880 to help the Jews during the period of the First Aliya wave of immigration. Today his house serves as a military memorial to village residents who served in the Israel Defense Forces and gave their lives for their country. The front courtyard of the house is a plaza that overlooks the slopes of the Carmel hills.The Druze heritage house is on 8th Street houses an exhibit about the Druze lifestyle. One can also just wander around the village to no specific place; walk through the narrow passageways that wend their way between old houses, prayer halls and holy sites, beside olive oil presses, textile workshops and art galleries. In recent years the villagers have begun hosting groups in their homes, and such a visit offers a glimpse of their houses, culture and tradition. The local residents offer tourists and genuine ethnic foods, wear their traditional clothes, tell stories about the Druze heritage and there are even guest houses designed with an authentic Druze décor.

There are excellent places for nature hikes all over the Carmel, and the Mukhraka and Carmelite monastery are sites highly recommended for their beautiful views.

Kafr Kana

2011-09-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

The Arab village of Kafr Kana in the Lower Galilee is identified in Christian tradition as Cana of the Galilee. Here, according to tradition, Jesus performed the miracle of the wine, when he went to a wedding of a poor couple and turned water into wine. In the 17th century Kafr Kana was officially recognized by the Vatican, and the pope officially confirmed that Kafr Kana is indeed Cana of the Galilee. Following this recognition the village was added to the list of Christian holy places. Some researchers identify Kafr Kana with the Kana mentioned in the ancient Egyptian Amarna letters (from about 4,000 years ago).

One way or the other, in the Roman-Byzantine period (1,000-2,000 years ago), there was a large Jewish community here, but apparently by the Mamluk period (about 800 years ago) most of the residents of Kafr Kana were Christian, although there was still a Jewish community here, too. Today most of the residents of Kafr Kana are Muslim. In the center of the village are a few remains of ancient buildings and burial caves. The villagers have built new houses to the southeast and northeast of the ancient village. The most important site in the village is the Catholic Church, built in 1879, on the traditional site of the miracle of the wine. Beside this church is the Greek Orthodox church of St. George, built in 1886, which house two stone jars that Greek Orthodox followers believe are the jars in which Jesus performed the miracle of the wine.

There is also a church named after St. Bartholomew, built, according to tradition, on the site of the home of Nathaniel of Cana (St. Bartholomew), one of Jesus’ disciples. Some 200,000 tourists visit Kafr Kana annually. Inspired by the miracle of the wine, a tradition has developed of holding weddings here, as well as renewing wedding vows to strengthen a marriage, and visitors customarily buy wine here. The street of the churches, in the center of the village, has been renovated and a promenade has been built, connecting the religious centers. Small plazas have been built along the promenade, with rest spots, and the facades and courtyards of the buildings have been attractively refinished. Infrastructure has been laid alongside the promenade for commercial and hotel facilities, so that visitors will be able to combine the comforts of modern tourism with their religious experience.

The Negev Desert

2011-09-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

The Negev, which extends over Israel’s southern region, accounts for over half of Israel’s land area. Due to its desert character, however, this region is sparsely populated. Even so, the Negev has seen its share of history. Abraham built his home in Be'er Sheva, the Nabateans passed through here on caravans of camels laden with precious trade goods. For these and other reasons, the Negev has become one of Israel’s popular tourism sites. Various peoples have lived in the Negev since the dawn of history: nomads,Canaanites, Philistines, Edomites, Byzantines, Nabateans, Ottomans and of course Israelis. Their economy was based mainly on sheep herding and agriculture, and later also on trade.The story of the Nabateans is particularly fascinating. The Nabateans were lords of the desert, where they established a trade route known as the “Spice Road.” Caravans of camels traversed this route carrying spices, perfumes and salt from Yemen in the East to the port city of Gaza. Rest stops were built along the route and their remains still beautify the Negev expanses today (Avdat, Mamashit and others).

The modern Israeli settlement of the Negev began about 100 years ago, when a few communities were built. These were joined by another 11 settlements whose founding members built the first homes in a single night. After the establishment of Israel, the new country’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, promoted the settlement of the Negev and after he moved to live in Sde Boker a few more settlements were built.

The Negev is defined as a desert due to the small quantities of rain that fall here (less than 200 millimeters annually), and is divided into several regions, starting with the Be'er Sheva-Arad rift in the north, to mountain ridge in the center and the Arava and Eilat in the south. Although the Negev is barren most days of the year, its expanses desolate and its river beds dry, nature here is very surprising. In the winter, despite the small quantities of rain, the Negev is covered with amazing flowers, including luscious red anemones. When there are heavy storms they can cause flash flooding along the riverbeds.

Today the Negev is the gateway to the desert. It offers charming nature corners, historical and archeological sites, springs and the remains of agricultural compounds. Tourism in the desert is a developing industry and many tourists explore its expanses on foot, on bicycle and in all-terrain vehicles.

The Golan Heights

2011-08-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

The Golan Heights, Israel’s mountainous northern region, is one of the most beautiful and most traveled parts of the country. There are wonderful scenic treasures alongside lovely nature reserves, historic and archeological sites and attractions for the whole family. Some people call this area the Israeli Texas, because of its size, while others see it as a land of plentiful water sources. The beauty of the Golan is so captivating that some visitors return here again and again to enjoy the sights.The view from the Golan Heights becomes more and more magnificent as you gradually climb from the plains, at 300 meters above sea level in the south to 1,200 meters in the north. The eastern edge of this region is dotted with a chain of volcanic hills, while the south and west border on basalt cliffs that descend to the Jordan Valley Rift, Lake Kineret and the Yarmuk River.

Scattered throughout the Golan Heights are a wide variety of sites that offer a broad spectrum of activities for tourists and hikers throughout the year. In the winter both amateur and professional skiers flock to the top of the snow-covered Hermon Mountain to enjoy its excellent ski conditions, the snow that piles up on the ground and the pure white landscape. In the summer hikers can enjoy a swim in the many streams, in spring the plains are carpeted with multi-colored flowers and in autumn the pleasant weather attracts hikers to the many wooded trails.

The Golan Heights also offers tourists an authentic cowboy experience at a ranch with horses and cattle. Visitors can go out to the orchards and pick ripe cherries, raspberries and other seasonal fruits. Bird lovers can watch the eagles nesting in Gamla and on the cliffs of the nature reserve, and see the remains of a Chalcolithic Era settlement (from about 5,500 years ago). There are also burial grounds from 4,000 years ago, a 2,000-year-old Jewish city a monastery with a Byzantine church (from 1,500 years ago) and much more.

The summit of Mount Bental offers a panoramic view of the whole area, while the Sa'ar, Zavitan and Meshushim streams gurgle and froth from the waterfalls along their routes through breathtaking canyons. Odem Forest, in the northern Golan, is the home of a deer reserve, with many different species. Near here you can also see Rujum al-Hiri (Circle of Ghosts), a Megalithic structure about 5,000 years old that researchers believe was used for ritual purposes, burial or as an astronomy observatory. The Golan Heights is the only part of Israel with basalt stones, originating from long ago volcanic eruptions. Here in the mountains the nights are chilly all year long.

Visitors to the Golan Heights can sleep in any of the hundreds of rural guest houses, tour the archeological sites (Banias, Gamla, Beit Tsida, ancient Katsrin) and the unique nature reserves, enjoy the boutique wineries, taste the delicacies at the wide variety of restaurants, experience Druze hospitality in one of the Druze villages in the northern Golan and much more.

Tel-Hai

2011-08-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

Tel Hai is a historic site that commemorates the heroism of the Hula Valley pioneers who stubbornly defended their homes to the death. Nearby Kiryat Shmona is named after the eight (Shmona in Hebrew) pioneers who perished here.

Tel Hai was founded in 1916 by a group of Hashomer guards. Hashomer was an organization that believed that only Jews should guard Jewish settlements. After the First World War, Tel Hai and other Galilee settlements were transferred to French rule and suffered in the Arab revolt against the French. In January 1920 two Tel Hai members were killed in an Arab attack, and on the 11th of Adar, 5680 (March 1, 1920), six more died when hundreds of Arabs attacked the settlement. Among the fallen was Yosef Trumpeldor, the guards’ young commander.

Tel Hai was abandoned, but the battles did not end for another few months, after which the settlers returned to rebuild their homes. Since then, Tel Hai has been a symbol of heroism. Each year, on the 11th of Adar, an official memorial ceremony is held for Trumpledor and his comrades at the cemetery in nearby Kfar Gil’adi, where the young fighters were buried in a common grave. A statue of a roaring lion stands in the cemetery, sculpted by Avraham Melinkov in 1926, as an expression of their strength.

Tel Hai remains just as it was. The buildings are made of basalt stone, with red tiled roofs, preserving the settlement that thrived here in the early years of Jewish settlement in this region. The courtyard houses a museum that reconstructs the life of Tel Hai’s founders and an audiovisual program in seven languages portrays the battle and the heroism. Children can solve historic riddles and try on period costumes and all around the courtyard are sculptures and antique farming equipment.

Near the Tel Hai courtyard is Tel Hai College and a youth hostel that overlooks scenic Hula Valley. West of Tel Hai is a sculpture-lined path featuring stone and bronze sculptures, and to the east is Tel Hai Industrial Park, which houses an interesting photography museum and an amusing antique car museum.

Eilat

2011-08-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

Over the years, the city of Eilat has become the ultimate resort city with hotels and beaches packed with thousands of Israeli vacationers and tourists from around the world, who come to relax in the country’s southernmost spot.

In the winter it mainly attracts tourists from Europe who prefer vacations in a warmer and more pleasant climate while Israelis flock to the city in the summer. The secret of this little city’s charm is its special location in the northern end of the Bay of Eilat. The combination of a hot climate, a tropical sea and a breathtaking background of wild, bare granite mountains has turned it into a tourist gem all the year round.

Eilat’s location made it strategically significant during the many historical periods in which it served as a port – starting in the days of King Solomon (who built a large fleet of ships which he sent to Ophir), through the Nabataeans, the Romans, the Arabs, and the Crusaders, all of whom ruled the Land of Israel.

The modern city of Eilat was established in 1950. In the early 1950s, a quay was built in the new city, and subsequently a port which became the basis for the new city’s economy. Towards the end of the 1960s, the tourism industry started developing in the city, and today Eilat is a paradise for tourists, travelers and vacationers.

The bay is one of the major attractions, thanks to the beautiful beaches, the developed water sports and some of the best diving spots in the world. In the south of the city is the Coral Reserve, with splendid tropical fish among the reefs. Within the precincts of the reserve is the Underwater Observatory, with a marine museum that displays collections of fascinating sea animals. Not far from the observatory is the Dolphin Reef with its resident school of dolphins.

The city’s many and varied restaurants suit all tastes, and there are also clubs, colorful shops and a promenade along the northern shoreline which holds vibrant bazaars during the summer. There are additional attractions for youngsters and families, such as an amusement park, a new “Kings City” (a high-tech theme park for all the family based on the Bible and Bible stories). Eilat also has an IMAXmovie theatre offering a 3-D experience, and many more leisure time activities.

The Arava region north of the city and the Eilat Mountains is an arid desert. But in between the exposed mountains there are many nature and beauty spots as well as archaeological and historical sites, which make Eilat a good starting point for special trips in the area, such as camel treks, jeep tours and more