A quick visit to Mediterranean

naren_gs1 · 21st November 2009, 21:35

I had my first visit to a Mediterranean country this past week. I managed to go out for a day while I was in Israel. I felt fortunate to visit Jerusalem which is a source of belief for billions of people on this planet. I also covered the Dead Sea (offers the floating experience, also the lowest place from mean sea level; -418m).

Even, Tel Aviv, where I was based, seems to be a nice place. Weather this time of the year is probably the best. Temp was around 15 degrees with bright sun shine right through. Mediterranean seems to offer many food options, even for vegetarians. Enjoyed few delicacies (could not keep track of the names!) apart from the most common dish, Falafel.

Attaching few snaps.

The Mediterranean at Tel Aviv

A quick visit to Mediterranean-img_4797.jpg

An Apatment complex

Roads on the way to Jerusalem

A settlement on the way to Jerusalem

Another settlement (or is it Ramallah city, do not recollect) on the way to Jerusalem

Judean desert as seen from the Mount of Scopus, Jerusalem. Dead sea can be seem from here on a clear day. Area farther east in the background is Jordan.

Few settlements as seen from the Mount of Scopus, Jerusalem.

Part of old Jerusalem city as seen from Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.

Cemetary (old Jerusalem) as seen from Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.

Walled city (old Jerusalem) as seen from Mount of Olives.

Roads/desert on the way to Dead Sea

-150 meters below sea level, on the way to Dead Sea

Dead Sea - from road

This particular beach on the Dead Sea is called Kaliya beach!

Dead Sea - from beach

The lowest bar in the world at Deard Sea

Swimmers floating on the Dead Sea

Med, again, Tel Aviv

vigsom · 21st November 2009, 21:44

woooooooooooooooooooow !!!

samish_g · 21st November 2009, 22:21

Fascinating pictures indeed, Naren. The roads appear to be in very good condtion. Did you get a chance to get your hands behind the wheels?

Akadian · 21st November 2009, 22:48

Hi Naren,

Excellent pics, man. Do keep them coming

naren_gs1 · 22nd November 2009, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by samish_g

Fascinating pictures indeed, Naren.

Thanks Samish - Mediterranean seems to be a beautiful area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by samish_g

The roads appear to be in very good condtion. Did you get a chance to get your hands behind the wheels?

No Samish - I just tagged along with a collegue who had alredy planned for this trip using a cab.

kannan666 · 22nd November 2009, 09:28

Lovely pics Naren, that was a lovely tour of the Mediterranean and of Jerusalem, waiting for more !

naren_gs1 · 22nd November 2009, 16:51

City of Modi-in. This is one of the hub of education in Israel.

A quick visit to Mediterranean-img_4805.jpg

Passing through west bank. Pls note the wall fencing on both the sides of roads.

A quick visit to Mediterranean-img_4812.jpg

Hebrew University, Mount of Scopus, Jerusalem

A quick visit to Mediterranean-img_4825.jpg

An Olive tree on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem

A quick visit to Mediterranean-img_4828.jpg

Mount of Olive & Cemetary as seen from Old City, Jerusalem

A quick visit to Mediterranean-img_4846.jpg

Boats and Yachts, at the Med, Tel Aviv

A quick visit to Mediterranean-img_4897.jpg

samish_g · 22nd November 2009, 21:48

The weather appears to be ideal for travel - 15 degrees, clear blue sky, sun shining down your back. I am sure you have enjoyed yourself to the hilt naren. Jerusalem is indeed picteresque. Thanks naren for sharing the photos.

WindRide · 22nd November 2009, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by naren_gs1

....

Passing through west bank. Pls note the wall fencing on both the sides of roads.....

Sad... Hope the walls get pulled down some day like the German Wall.
I personally find it difficult to appreciate these pics, considering the cruelty and hopelessness that engulfs that part of the world.

sandeepmdas · 23rd November 2009, 09:20

Israel is, indeed, the promised land.

ashwinsid · 23rd November 2009, 10:04

@naren_gs1 , nice! If possible please post details of restaurants, average cost of food, water etc, travel tips and other info so that prospective visitors can have it as reference!

ambivalent_98 · 23rd November 2009, 11:09

Awesome photos. I liked the dead sea ones. People just float owing to the salinity of the water. Thats cool !!!

Indian Ranger · 23rd November 2009, 11:28

Naren,

Good photos and narration. Do post more pictures and share your experiences from this land.

srishiva · 23rd November 2009, 11:57

Excellent! Do you have any pics from within the city like markets, street views etc?

alpha1 · 23rd November 2009, 12:26

No wonder Middle East has always been the land of constant tension.

The environment looks so hostile to flora and fauna.

21st November 2009, 21:35	#1
naren_gs1 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 210 Thanked: 24 Times	A quick visit to Mediterranean I had my first visit to a Mediterranean country this past week. I managed to go out for a day while I was in Israel. I felt fortunate to visit Jerusalem which is a source of belief for billions of people on this planet. I also covered the Dead Sea (offers the floating experience, also the lowest place from mean sea level; -418m). Even, Tel Aviv, where I was based, seems to be a nice place. Weather this time of the year is probably the best. Temp was around 15 degrees with bright sun shine right through. Mediterranean seems to offer many food options, even for vegetarians. Enjoyed few delicacies (could not keep track of the names!) apart from the most common dish, Falafel. Attaching few snaps. The Mediterranean at Tel Aviv An Apatment complex Roads on the way to Jerusalem A settlement on the way to Jerusalem Another settlement (or is it Ramallah city, do not recollect) on the way to Jerusalem Judean desert as seen from the Mount of Scopus, Jerusalem. Dead sea can be seem from here on a clear day. Area farther east in the background is Jordan. Few settlements as seen from the Mount of Scopus, Jerusalem. Part of old Jerusalem city as seen from Mount of Olives, Jerusalem. Cemetary (old Jerusalem) as seen from Mount of Olives, Jerusalem. Walled city (old Jerusalem) as seen from Mount of Olives. Roads/desert on the way to Dead Sea -150 meters below sea level, on the way to Dead Sea Dead Sea - from road This particular beach on the Dead Sea is called Kaliya beach! Dead Sea - from beach The lowest bar in the world at Deard Sea Swimmers floating on the Dead Sea Med, again, Tel Aviv Last edited by naren_gs1 : 21st November 2009 at 21:38.
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21st November 2009, 21:44	#2
vigsom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NSEW Posts: 3,767 Thanked: 25,463 Times	woooooooooooooooooooow !!!
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21st November 2009, 22:21	#3
samish_g BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 217 Thanked: 68 Times	Fascinating pictures indeed, Naren. The roads appear to be in very good condtion. Did you get a chance to get your hands behind the wheels?
	() Thanks

21st November 2009, 22:48	#4
Akadian BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Karnal Posts: 264 Thanked: 5 Times	Hi Naren, Excellent pics, man. Do keep them coming
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22nd November 2009, 09:28	#6
kannan666 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: KA-02 Posts: 1,002 Thanked: 128 Times View My Garage	Lovely pics Naren, that was a lovely tour of the Mediterranean and of Jerusalem, waiting for more !
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22nd November 2009, 16:51	#7
naren_gs1 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 210 Thanked: 24 Times	City of Modi-in. This is one of the hub of education in Israel. Passing through west bank. Pls note the wall fencing on both the sides of roads. Hebrew University, Mount of Scopus, Jerusalem An Olive tree on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem Mount of Olive & Cemetary as seen from Old City, Jerusalem Boats and Yachts, at the Med, Tel Aviv
	() Thanks

22nd November 2009, 21:48	#8
samish_g BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 217 Thanked: 68 Times	The weather appears to be ideal for travel - 15 degrees, clear blue sky, sun shining down your back. I am sure you have enjoyed yourself to the hilt naren. Jerusalem is indeed picteresque. Thanks naren for sharing the photos.
	() Thanks

23rd November 2009, 09:20	#10
sandeepmdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Varkala Posts: 1,538 Thanked: 2,491 Times	Israel is, indeed, the promised land.
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23rd November 2009, 10:04	#11
ashwinsid BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 181 Thanked: 34 Times	@naren_gs1 , nice! If possible please post details of restaurants, average cost of food, water etc, travel tips and other info so that prospective visitors can have it as reference!
	() Thanks

23rd November 2009, 11:09	#12
ambivalent_98 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune-Bangalore Posts: 807 Thanked: 203 Times	Awesome photos. I liked the dead sea ones. People just float owing to the salinity of the water. Thats cool !!!
	() Thanks

23rd November 2009, 11:28	#13
Indian Ranger BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 243 Thanked: 29 Times	Naren, Good photos and narration. Do post more pictures and share your experiences from this land.
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23rd November 2009, 11:57	#14
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	Excellent! Do you have any pics from within the city like markets, street views etc?
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23rd November 2009, 12:26	#15
alpha1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LandOfNoWinters Posts: 2,093 Thanked: 2,604 Times	No wonder Middle East has always been the land of constant tension. The environment looks so hostile to flora and fauna.
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