Sandy's Written Creations

Only museum opened on Sabbath in Jerusalem is the Israel Museum. I visited the museum with my mother during Sukkot October 2016. We took a cab to the location from our Mamilla Hotel. My mother has difficulty walking so this was a challenge. The galleries were huge with no sitting and not all levels could be reached by elevator. I was able to get a portable stool for my mother to use and there was a motorized cart that took us from entrance area to galleries.

There were outside areas with art. I liked the vegetation. Only one café was open and it was difficult to find our way using the map. Staff were not very helpful. We ended up going through the building with sea scrolls but there were lots of stairs. Café was near the model of the Old City. Bathroom we used in outside area had plumbing issues.

I took a lot of pictures to show my mother after because she couldn’t do much walking. I most enjoyed the work in the South American galleries. The textiles and pottery of the Incas was of great interest to me.

My trip to the Dead Sea in Ein Bokek (October 2016) was with my mother. We stayed four days at the Spa Club Hotel.  Half the roadway that runs through the resort  was under construction as well as a beach area. There is a small market with shops, small eateries and some restaurants.

From early morning to the evening, people spend a lot of time soaking in the sea. My attempt was very short. I should have worn my thongs into the water cause the salt deposits felt like glass shards. The sand is orange and found on most of the chairs provided. There is little shade from a few date trees. I got my hair wet so I had to take a quick shower. It was a hot and salty experience that I could not appreciate.

My mother soaked in the mineral pool provided by the hotel and enjoyed the tea room where she could make her own mixtures.  I took a walk to the market to use the ATM and went to Masada. Masada is about a 10-15 ride north of Ein Bokek. Unknown to hotel, there are drivers who for a fee take people to and from area. Stand at the bus stop and these drivers come along offering a ride. I paid 100 shekels one way and 20 from Masada with a shared ride. There is the bus but waiting out in heat was not great.

My visit to Old City in Jerusalem from the Mamilla Road through the Jaffa Gate to the Cardo area. King David’s Citadel is at the Jaffa Gate area.

Mamilla Road from above:

Jaffa Gate

Cardo Area of Jewish Quarter:

My walk from Royal Beach Hotel through HaCamel Market, up on Allenby (below)

Graffiti is everywhere.

Along Rothschild Boulevard

Other places in area include the Big Synagogue and a smaller one.

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Wandering streets to hotel.

My visit to the Western Wall with my 85 year old mother who was the reason for my trip to Israel. We went this October 2016 in the middle of Sukkot so the crowds made it difficult to get to the wall. My brave mother made her way into the crowd and people sitting right up to the wall. I guess you have to have faith to appreciate the moment.

We were grateful for the taxi driver who took us through the Old City from Jaffe Gate to Dung Gate. It was a slow go but my mother didn’t have to walk far.

For those who do not know there is live streaming at the wall online.  Women and men are separated and there is a security check that one must go through. As for one’s dress, a head covering was not worn by all. I wore pants with a tee top. I brought a covering for my head and shoulders just in case but I just wore a hat cause it is very hot in the sun. Carrying water is a good idea. I did see some sinks near the entrance.

My mother is the very short gray haired women making her way to touch the wall. She felt it was worth the few seconds she had at the wall. This was not her first time but this time she made her journey without my father who died on Sept 11, 2013 at 93.

Stayed in Tel Aviv during an October 2016 trip to Israel. These are the views from the Royal Beach Hotel.

My walk along the Promenade in Tel Aviv and my moment at the Mediterranean Sea:

There is one annoying sound one hears from the beach that echoes off the buildings-the noise from matkot (hitting small ball back and forth with paddles).

These are my pictures from my trip to Mount Masada in Israel:

By the Dead Sea, the remains of this ancient former fortress continues to undergone restoration. It serves as a reminder to all who believe that one’s freedom is more precious  than life itself. Faith plays a big part in what one believes about the events that are told about this site. They show a film at the site and it made me wonder why an army of 7,000 would bother with a small group of rebels in one of the world’s most desolate places. Hatred, cruelty, fear  and weakness might have played a big part in this struggle.

It is a rocky hot environment that I can’t imagine was a pleasant place to live for either a king or bunch of Jewish rebels. I visited during October in the morning. I took the cable car to and from the top, not believing I could ever make the climb. There were bathrooms, water sources and places to escape the heat while wandering about.

I was staying in Ein Bokek.  I was going to take the Egged Bus but these taxi drivers go up and down the roads offering rides (for a fee) to those waiting for the bus. I took a risk and went by taxi for the 10 minute ride. The hotel personal didn’t know about this.

I was in Masada (the youth organization of the ZOA) when I was a teen so it was the only place in Israel that I was hoping to see.

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