Engaged: traveling through Palestina/Israël and Jordan

 

Four years ago, my husband took me to a special place for us. Special, because not only did we get engaged, I also got pregnant with Finn. We did a road trip through Israel/Palestina and a day trip to Jordan (Petra). Four years later we came back to experience this beauty all over again. Here’s a trip to love.

What not to love about Tel-Aviv?

Tel Aviv is a real melting pot of so many different cultures and this reflects in everything, from the architecture, great food and beverages to the lifestyle, the beauty of the people from different cultures and religions. It’s a great starting point to relax a few days, enjoy the city by bike, foot, electric step or roller-skates. It has the longest seabank where you can enjoy a beautiful walk from Jaffa till the marina several kilometres further. Visit the Jaffa Flea Market and just enjoy this historical place in all of its aspects. 

Where to eat and drink?

  • Café Puaa: great spot to enjoy a drink and a bite outside or inside, the atmosphere is great and so is the food

  • Manta Ray: lovely seafood by the sea and cosy interior in the Charles Clore Park

  • Eggs Benedict: have the best eggs in town, really any kind of egg

  • Banana Beach: have the best hummus on the beach

  • King George Street: lovely beachbars and restaurants

  • Have an ice-cream in Old Jaffa

  • Have a drink or apero in Kalamata, Old Jaffa

  • Have breakfast in the Market House Hotel

  • Fishermen’s Restaurant

  • Kitchen Market in Tel Aviv Port for the best food in town, we enjoyed our last night at this place and I can highly recommend

  • Breakfast at Milk Bakery in Jaffa

  • Have a drink and snack at the Goldman Garden

  • Best cocktails in Jaffa at the Kuku’s Nest

  • Restaurant Onza for a lovely diner outside

Enjoy food, drinks and good vibes on the beach

  • Our favourite beachbar is Banana Beach: the people are just great and so is the food

  • You can enjoy any beachbar when you walk along the seaside, there are plenty of them and each one has its own benefits. Most of them have free wifi if needed

  • Most of the chairs are owned by the city, so you can just pay at the automat to get a seat, a very easy system

  • You might need an umbrelly for the heat in the summer, it can get really sweaty up there

  • A little less touristique is Jaffa Beach, beautiful for sunset 

  • be careful for the jellyfish. In July and August there can be plenty of them

From the city to a salty spa: Jerusalem and Eilat

When in Israël/Palestina, there is so much you can do in such a little time

 We started in Tel Aviv, from there we drove to Jerusalem, which was only a two hour drive. Jerusalem feels unique, because you just feel it’s the cradle of civilization and the beginning of many cultures. There is just so many heritage, culture, history to discover. Visit the Old City of Jerusalem, Western Wall and discover the four different quarters of the city: walk in and out the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Armenian quarter. 

  • Temple Mount: (Haram al-Sharif for Muslims and Har ha-Bayit for Jews people). Learn about the history and why this is so important for the different cultures.

  • Wailing Wall and Jewish Quarter

  • Church of Holy Sepulchre

  • Tower of David

  • Mount of Olives

  • Mount Zion

  • Old City Walls

  • Israel Museum

  • Kidron Valley

  • Abu Ghosh

We have been here twice and we haven’t even seen everything yet. Good excuse to come back very soon! Jerusalem can be really hot, because of the reflection of the sun on the beige colored buildings and floors. Time for some refreshment!

Dead Sea floating

We were ready for a day at the spa so we enjoyed some floating on the Dead Sea, a mud bath followed by a spa. From the Dead Sea, we drove to Eilat for two days, where we enjoyed some diving at the Almog Beach. Enjoy the Red Sea with its blue blue water. Eilat is situated at the Gulf of Agaba, famous for its watersports. We had dinner and enjoyed lovely cocktails in the Three Monkeys Pub. 

Feeling like Indiana Jones

Everyone who has seen this movie will recognize this place. It’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World and it’s just breathtakingly beautiful. We enjoyed a daytrip to Jordan, Petra and it was very worthy. It feels as if you are in a different world, surrounded by this magical rocks. Behind every cave you will find an historical story, so it’s a must visit!

We were ready to come back to our home for the last days: Tel Aviv, and enjoy some rest here. Tel Aviv is just perfect to combine some sports in the morning, a day at the beach, reading, pingpong and just relaxing, with a lovely diner to end the day.  

For our last day, we went to Akko, old city. A crusaders city with influences of Ottomans, Byzantines, British, Romans, Jews, Christians and Muslims. It’s one of the oldest ports in the world. Have fresh calamari in Akko Port and just walk around in this wonderful historical city. 

We must say, the Middle East is one of our top destinations, just perfect for a getaway with the two of us, so we hope to come back very soon.

 

 

 

 






 
Lieve Vandenweghe