Israel Archives ⋆ The Passenger

July 11, 2015July 15, 2023

Terra Sancta

When I had to select the destination for my 34th birthday, Israel came into my mind – mainly because I wanted to see Yad Vashem. When I started to talk about this idea I was bothered with a lot of security issues. Friends and family didn’t like the idea of me being at an unsafe area influenced by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. When travelling throughout Brazil I read Breaking news by Frank Schätzing (which in some part tells the history of Israel and the storyline is also situated at Jerusalem) and the decision to go to the Holy Land finally was made.

July 11, 2015July 1, 2018

The Bahá’í & Shrine of the Báb

Haifa hasn’t many sights and the towns landmark belongs to a religion I have never heard before: the Bahá’í. It originates from Iran where the members were prosecuted for turning away from Islam. In Haifa you can’t overlook a temple situated on the foothills of Mount Carmel: the shrine of the Báb – dedicated to the founder of the religion.

Continue reading “The Bahá’í & Shrine of the Báb”

July 10, 2015July 1, 2018

Sand, waves & saltwater

If you leave Haifa and drive through the Carmel tunnels (with the craziest interchange in the mountains I’ve ever seen; where the roads 23 and the 672 meet) you come to an area close to the sea. At first you’ll see a technology park with all tech giants also known in Europe gathered. But behind this at the shore there is a wonderful beach.

Continue reading “Sand, waves & saltwater”

July 10, 2015November 30, 2018

Views from up above

Close to Haifa you can find Mount Carmel and the Carmel mountains – a region famous for winemaking. Not far away from the sea you can drive up steep roads into the mountains and catch nice views on Haifa and the area around it. A good starting point is the city of Daliyat el-Carmel, situated in the middle of the mountain range. Be aware that not all roads in the mountains deserve that name.

Continue reading “Views from up above”

July 10, 2015July 1, 2018

Herods great harbour

There are plenty of archeological sites from the Roman and Byzantine eras throughout Israel, but Caesarea stands out. The harbour was fortified by Herod the Great and was an important port for many years. Natural disruptions and political changes led to many times this place has been destroyed and rebuilt. Especially the temple mount has been used for different buildings and religions over time.

Continue reading “Herods great harbour”

July 10, 2015July 1, 2018

Visiting the winemakers

The region around Zihron Ya’akov up in the Carmel mountains is famous for wine from Israel. This is because Baron de Rothschild brought this tradition here and is also buried close to the town. It is not like in Chile where you see huge fields of wine or can have a wine tasting – but at the eastern end of the town you will find the Carmel winery where you can buy a bottle of wine produced here.

Continue reading “Visiting the winemakers”

July 9, 2015July 15, 2023

Made for business

It is said that in Jerusalem they pray, in Tel Aviv they live and in Haifa they work. And if you look at Haifa you absolutely agree: it is nicely fitted onto the foothills of Mount Carmel, but it hasn’t much sights worth visiting. It reminded me much on La Spezia in Italy. And don’t walk throughout the city to find a city center or old town – there isn’t one that deserves that name.

July 9, 2015July 15, 2023

Hotel Bay Club

The Bay Club in Haifa, Israel is a nice hotel situated half way between Mount Carmel and the shore, close to a public park. The hotel is a beautiful old buildung surrounded by pine trees, built in mediterranean style like in San Remo, Cannes or Monte Carlo and some rooms have balconies or roof terraces.

July 9, 2015July 1, 2018

The town of the crusaders

Akko (formerly St. Jean d’Acre, also called Acre, Akku) is a beautiful old town at the shore of the mediterranean sea. It exists since 3.000 years BCE, was a very important town for the crusades and then fell into the hands of the Arabs. Most European buildings have been destroyed and replaced against islamic buildings.

Continue reading “The town of the crusaders”

July 9, 2015July 15, 2023

The border to Lebanon

Close to the town of Rosh HaNikra there is a chalk rock forming the natural border between Israel and Lebanon. It is a barrier a lot of armies – like the one of Alexander the Great – had to cross. During World War II the British built a 250 meters long tunnel into the mountain to connect Beirut and Haifa with railway tracks.