Isragirl Presents : J.Viewz – Smooth Criminal, clip by J.viewz ©

When & Where: so here goes the important part of this post – you’ll have to be quick, since I sure took my time….
Barby, Tel-Aviv on May 27
Beat, Haifa on May 28
Zappa, Tel-Aviv on June 3
all three are small and intimate live music clubs with a good “sound” and a cool vibe. Tickets are not expensive – not sure though there are still tickets for all three concerts – so get your fingers dancing on the keyboard and get some, cause this is one TLV (or Haifa) event you dont wanna miss.

“The church was established at the site where, according to Roman Catholic tradition, the Annunciation took place: where Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a virgin, was visited by the Archangel Gabriel and told that she had been selected to be the mother of Jesus. Greek Orthodox tradition holds that this event occurred while Mary was drawing water from a local spring in Nazareth, and St. Gabriel’s Church was erected at that alternate site. The current church is a two-story building constructed in 1967 over the site of an earlier Byzantine-era and then Crusader-era church. Inside, the lower level contains the Grotto of the Annunciation, believed by many Christians to be the remains of the original childhood home of Mary”. (Wikipedia)

One of the most impressive features of the basilica is its courtyard where one can enjoy large mosaic art pieces sent to the church as gifts from countries around the world. The mosaics tell the story of the annunciation and many of them are dedicated to Mary.

Isragirl Travel Tip: While in Nazareth make it mission of yours to be hungry…Then make your way to Diana Restaurant – this culinary jewel is not to be missed – the salads are a celebration of colors and tastes and the Kebabs are genuinely divine. Diana offers the authentic taste and atmosphere of Nazareth and it is a popular spot amongst locals and visitors by right!!

(Diana Add: 51 Paulos the Six’th St. Tel: 04-6572919).

If in Israel, dont skip the Annunciation Church of Nazareth – You dont have to be Christian to love it…

This evening at 8pm Israel time, the National Holocaust Memorial Day will begin. If you are travelling in Israel, you shouldn’t be planning on a night out since EVERYTHING will be closed: restaurants, cafes, bars, supermarkets, cinemas, theaters, everything!!! Tomorrow morning at 10am a siren will be heard throughout the country and everyone will stand still for one minute commemorating the victims murdered during the Holocaust. This post is dedicated to the victims from my own family and those of my boyfriend’s family, and I would like to recommend you all a visit to Yad VaShem Holocaust Museum.

Yad VaShem Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Museum is Israel’s official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Located at the foot of Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem is a large complex containing a history museum, memorial chambers, art galleries, archives, outdoor commemorative sites (such as the Valley of the Destroyed Communities), a synagogue, and an educational centre. Non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust, often at great personal risk, are honored by Yad Vashem as the “Righteous Among the Nations.”

Isragirl Presents : Yad VaShem Online Exhibition: Teleskoten 1944, Photo by Yad VaShem.org ©

The new Holocaust History Museum was built as a prism-like triangular structure. It is 180 meters long, with stark walls of reinforced concrete and an area of over 4,000 square meters. There are 10 exhibition halls, each devoted to a different chapter in the history of the Holocaust. Unlike the exhibition in the old museum, which was primarily composed of photographs, the new exhibition is a multi-media presentation that incorporates personal artifacts donated to Yad Vashem by Holocaust survivors, the families of those who perished, and Holocaust museums and memorial sites around the world.

The museum is designed so the visitor begins underground and slowly walks upwards. The exit from the main part of the museum is onto a balcony overlooking a stunning view of Jerusalem valley, and involves the visitor stepping from a dark corridor into direct sunlight. This is deliberate and intended to represent the struggle of the Jewish people during the dark days of the Holocaust, to the light of Israel, and the future of the Jews. Check out the museum opening hours and visitors Information.

Never been to Israel? Never heard of the Yad VaShem Holocaust Musem? Take a virtual tour of Yad VaShem Holocaust Musem… And when you get to Jerusalm – go visit Yad VaShem, as it will change the way you perceive the Holocaust, even if you think you know everything there is to know about it.

*This post was written with the help of Wikipedia

Learn about the Holocaust at Yad VaShem Museum – Touring through the museum is a very emotional experiance…

Safed (pronounced Tzfat in Hebrew) is a city in the Northern District of Israel and it is one of Judaism’s Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Tiberias and Hebron. Safed is the birth town of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and still is a center for Kabbalah students and followers. The Jewish community of Safed started growing in the 15^th century and Rabbi Issac Luria (“HaAri” – the lion) – Kabbalah’s foremost advocate – came to live and teach here in 1569. Another famous Jewish scholar who lived here is Rabbi Joseph Caro, author of the “Shulchan Aruch”, and in the local synagogue named after him you will find over 400 years old Torah scrolls.

Located in the mountains of the Galilee, Safed is the highest city in Israel (850 m) and thus enjoys a spectacular view of the Lower Galilee, Meiron Mountain, the Hermon Mountain and the Sea of Galilee. If not for anything else – the vista – is a good enough reason to stop by Safed.

Safed is known for its relaxing mountainous atmosphere and for its artists’ quarter. Walking through the narrow alleyways of the artist’s district is a special experience – the galleries are small and intimate and the local population is kindhearted and inviting. It seems that the people of Safed live in a time zone of their own. They somehow find the time to have tea or coffee in the garden with perfect strangers touring through their town, and they find pleasure in getting to know their guests.

Safed offers a perfect escape from the intensive and material rat-race, it is so peaceful and calming that one can very easily find herself wanting to meditate…

Spiritual Safed is all about Relaxing, Meditating, Landscape and Kabbalah

I found this video of Tel Aviv city bus tour on youtube and had to share it with you…I call the video “Tel Aviv gay bus tour” because the video was clearly made by someone with a goal: promoting gay tourism to Tel Aviv, and I think that the invitation at the end of the video refers to the Gay Pride Parade, usually held in June. The Original name of the video is “Suddenly I see – Tel Aviv”, and the name I chose for it is just my tribute to the TLV gay community which does a lot to encourage tourism to Israel (a great number of the videos I found about Israel on Youtube were made by gays).

About Tel Aviv city bus tours: This is a two hours ride on a roofless (shining red) bus, through all the major attractions of Tel Aviv and Jaffa. You will drive by the long sandy beach of TLV, visit the old city of Jaffa, Neve Tzedek neighborhood, Rothschild blvd, the university, the Diaspora museum and Tel Aviv museum. The bus will take you to the vibrant Carmel market, to the posh shopping area of Kikar HaMedina, Dizengoff St. and Rabin’s memorial.

The first tour starts at 9am near Riding Power Plant, the following tour is at 11am and after that, every hour on the hour until 4pm. On Fridays the last tour starts at 2pm. Tourists can get on or off the bus in several places and to make things easy and comfortable, the tour starts with the Tel Aviv Promenade where most big hotels are located, so tourist can hop on the bus at the entrance to their hotel.

It’s a fun tour, audio guided in eight different languages, and with the pleasant Israeli weather, this is a pleasurable way to get to know the city. All you have to do is to bring your camera, sun glasses and sunscreen, grab a seat and relax – you are in for a brilliant ride through Tel Aviv.

Fun ride through Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa on a roofless tour bus – Suddenly I see Tel Aviv

Check out this exquisite photo of the Baha’i temple gently resting on the northern slopes of Carmel Mountain and quietly overlooking the city of Haifa. When visiting Israel, be sure not to miss this amazing shrine of the Bab and the magnificent gardens surrounding it. This is the most important place in the world to the Baha’i faith, a monotheistic religion that has some 6 million followers around the world. A tour through the gardens includes an elaborated explanation about this fascinating faith and thus you are in for both an intellectual adventure as well as spiritual. Due to the importance of the shrine and gardens only guided tours are allowed and visitors should call the temple’s tourist office and book their tour in advance. Still, this small annoyance is more then worth your time, its one of the most beautiful places in the country and in the world.

To book a tour call: Sun -Thurs, 9am-5pm, 04-8313131

Glorious Religious Sites of Israel – Jews, Muslims, Christians and Baha’i Living in harmony in picturesque Haifa

Wind surfing in Eilat. What a wonderful world!!!
Eilat is the perfect winter vacation destination with sunshine, fantastic diving opportunities, water sports, good food, excellent hotels and a relaxing atmosphere

Be A smart shopper, don’t spend all your money in the tempting Israeli markets, save some money for the Duty Free

Imagine blue skies, a breath of clean air, sea waters caressing the beaches, Dolphins jumping up for show and majestic Red Mountains towering over it all. This is not a fantasy, it’s Eilat.

Located at Israel’s south most tip, in panoramic settings, Eilat is the perfect vacation resort. Eilat offers its guests luxurious accommodations and diverse dining options ranging from bars to cafés and restaurants. The Red Sea beaches offer water sports, scuba diving clubs, family activities, the Under Water museum, boat cruises and of course, relaxation! At night these beaches transform into a happening scene with an assortment of clubs and pubs to cater for all tastes.

If it’s a change of pace you want, there is a choice of activities available to you: from laid back camel rides, to jeep trips in the desert. No destination is too far, by airplane or car; you can venture for the day to historical Massada and enjoy a relaxing mud bath in the Dead Sea. Enticing Sinai is literally around the corner and breathtaking Petra is a mere trip for the day.

All this and more is waiting for the taking, so pack your bags and come to Eilat, the city with never-ending sun, good spirits and wholesome fun!

Eilat is an ideal winter holiday spot and the Red Sea is a must for all Diving buffs

Women travelling alone to Israel should know that Israel is safe and very friendly. If you are contemplating such a trip, check out aguide2israel.com section on women travelling alone. It’s fascinating and full of useful tips regarding appropriate dress codes in different areas of the country, making friends, what to do if you feel in danger, local customs, usual annoyances, cell Phones, my favorite – how to handle Israel’s male population and much more…

Incredible travel tips a click away… see you in Israel.

Women Travelling Alone will find Israel very safe and extremely friendly. Check out my Travel Tips for Women seeking an adventure on their own