It’s all about the kid. And the kid is very limiting. That’s one thing we’ve had to learn while traveling around Europe these past 15 months. Car rides must be an hour or less. Plane trips force you to come up with ingenious games to play with drink cups. And no matter how determined the adventurer, no plan is baby proof.
But determined we were – even Indiana Jones would be proud – as we were going to Israel for 10 days with a child. And even though we didn’t get to the Dead Sea, Masada, or a few other locales written up in the bible, we did manage to make the most of a chance work trip – and spend some quality time watching Elizabeth blow bubbles.
Jerusalem:
This video should explain it all.
Actually, we saw most of those sights (except the giant sign, which I couldn’t find anywhere). Here are some pictures to prove it, including Elizabeth standing on a camel.
Although the old city had lots to see – even for secular folks like Elizabeth and her parents – Jerusalem has a new side too, with malls, movie theaters, and restaurants with tongue-in-cheek names like Doggy Style (hot dog joint). Unfortunately, as this is the mecca (sorry!) for monotheistic devotees, even shopping centers were closed on Shabbat. It was worse than Germany on a Sunday.
Around Jerusalem:
Biblical Zoo – Fun, but kind of a gimmicky, this zoo has biblical references to all the animals inside, showing you what line in the Old Testament references monkeys, elephants, and camels. Too bad it also has red pandas from Asia, parrots from South America, and penguins. It’s also laid out so confusingly that we had to ask Elizabeth for directions.
But determined we were – even Indiana Jones would be proud – as we were going to Israel for 10 days with a child. And even though we didn’t get to the Dead Sea, Masada, or a few other locales written up in the bible, we did manage to make the most of a chance work trip – and spend some quality time watching Elizabeth blow bubbles.
Jerusalem:
This video should explain it all.
Actually, we saw most of those sights (except the giant sign, which I couldn’t find anywhere). Here are some pictures to prove it, including Elizabeth standing on a camel.
Although the old city had lots to see – even for secular folks like Elizabeth and her parents – Jerusalem has a new side too, with malls, movie theaters, and restaurants with tongue-in-cheek names like Doggy Style (hot dog joint). Unfortunately, as this is the mecca (sorry!) for monotheistic devotees, even shopping centers were closed on Shabbat. It was worse than Germany on a Sunday.
Around Jerusalem:
Biblical Zoo – Fun, but kind of a gimmicky, this zoo has biblical references to all the animals inside, showing you what line in the Old Testament references monkeys, elephants, and camels. Too bad it also has red pandas from Asia, parrots from South America, and penguins. It’s also laid out so confusingly that we had to ask Elizabeth for directions.
I also noticed a Southwest plane at the mini airport. I’m pretty sure that would qualify as long haul.
Bethlehem – Pronounced “Bethlem” by my father, the little town of Bethlehem was, in fact, little, with one main church next to the town square that followers of Constantine’s mother’s detective work decreed "THE”spot that Jesua ben Josef (as he was known at the time) was born. Actually, this nice old Asian lady is touching the EXACT spot on which Jesus and his placenta plopped before being put into a warm, hay-filled manger. Thanks Asian lady!
Herzliya:
The Beverly Hills of Israel, Herzliya is a sunny beach town with a lot of money that bursts with Israel’s prettiest during the summer months. Good thing we were here in the winter, when it was still sunny and warm (but unfortunately not acceptable for me to wear a Borat mankini).
Be’ersheva:
Now we were really in the desert. I saw a camel-crossing sign, some Bedouins with their goats, an actual tumbleweed drifting across the road (it almost hit our car), and whole throngs of boys and girls just out of high school in olive-green fatigues, low-rise pants, and Uzis nonchalantly draped across their backs.
We actually have no pictures of this incredibly ugly town, but we do have a nice video of Elizabeth in one of the posh local malls.
2 comments:
A fleece, polka-dot cape and hood? Every wardrobe needs that. The videos are great. More later.
I am very impressed that she can blow bubbles or blow out, that usually takes a long time to learn, so she must be ahead of the curve. Did Elizabeth get to pet the camel on the nose? I never have but I think they have velvety soft noses, but then they do spit also. Doggy Style is double entendre like Lawyers Do It In Their Briefs, fortunately those bumper stickers went out of style. What is with the big metal bears and it seems that someone is standing on one of them. I'll have to check out your pictures to figure that out. And the mini Israel, what a delight for Kate.
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