For the last six years, I have been fortunate to return to Israel every two years for a conference. Truth be told, I never tire of a return visit to this beautiful country. Although there is so much to see and do in Israel, time is always so limited for extended visits in any one area, so with each return I like to explore new regions.
Interestingly, the State of Israel, located in the Middle East is only about the size of the state of New Jersey with a population of about 8.4 million. Although only 70 years since David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel, there is a complex history that dates back to at least ca.1200 BCE (before common era) and the region has a history that dates back before that… let’s just say a very long complex history.
The one city I do return to on every visit is Jerusalem. This city is just magical. It is the cradle or the holy city of three major faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Old City has a palpable sense of its history, yet, I have always felt a sense of peace, humanity and communal existence every time I visit. There are so many places to explore and photograph in the labyrinth of markets, holy sites and living quarters. There are also many new discoveries of secret passage ways and delicious culinary experiences on every trip.
The labyrinth of busy markets- Jerusalem 2018
Freshly made hummus to order- Jerusalem 2018
High school band members. Too shy to look my way but enjoy their photo taken – Jerusalem 2018
Roof top view- Jerusalem 2018
Western Wall observations- Jerusalem 2018
On this last trip, our group explored a sliver of the southern Negev desert by jeep tour and let me say, it did NOT disappoint. We covered a lot of desert ground and enjoyed some amazing vistas! And, there was a close encounter with some regional Ibex.
Beauty as far as the eye can see- Negev Desert- 2018
Beautiful Ibex- Negev Desert – 2018
Colorful abstract – Negev Desert – 2018
Another great trip! Look forward to the next visit to Israel….
Lessons learned on this trip: Checklist before you leave the hotel… yes, it happened! I forgot my memory card. Luckily, I always keep my iPhone with me so I did have a camera for the day.
Which set of photos did I use my iphone instead of my camera, any guesses?
Each time going to Jerusalem there is always something cool and neat to see! It is like going to Acadia – always changing depending on the light and the weather.