Street Food and Food Politics in Jerusalem

Excellent story by Al Jazeera – will surly make you hungry….

“Jerusalem is an ancient city living a very modern conflict”, says the Al Jazeera reporter, and she is very right. This lovely “Travel” piece by Al Jazeera attempts to take a closer look at a new angel of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict – Street Food. Watch this video and learn about Hummus, Falafel, Pitta bread (with Za’atar) and traditional Palestinian cooking. Israelis have adopted this delicious cuisine long ago and you will find famous street dishes such as Hummus, Falafel, shawarma etc., everywhere you go from Eilat, through Tel Aviv, to Netanya, Haifa, Tiberias and off course – the Galilee. Still tradition is not to be underestimated, the best hummus in the country is still made by Arabs (e.g. Abu Hassan in Jaffa and Saied in Acree)

Isragirl Presents : Street food of Jerusalem (Part 1), Video by Al Jazeera ©

This 12 minute clip will take you through the narrow alleyways of Jerusalem’s old city, Makhane Yehuda market and a lot of Hummus and Falafel Joints around this mixed culture city. When you get to Israel make it a trip goal to try these dishes at least once – they are healthy, fresh and very tasty.

And though watching this video might give you the feeling that Israelis and Palestinians just need to fight and argue all the time (i.e. even over the nationality of local dishes), watching Part 2 of this video will prove that food also brings people of different faiths and nationalities together in Jerusalem.

A taste of heaven in Jerusalem – Hummus rules!!!

More Shameless Pride Parade Promotion

Watch this video and discover that Israel, is not just about the conflict. The Pride Parade to the Rescue…

Isragirl Presents : TLV World Gay Destination 2007, Video by Oshalev ©

Only two more days till the pride parade takes over the streets of Tel Aviv. Its time for some more shameless promotion. Just a few facts you may have forgotten: TLV is only 4 hours away from most European cities and a mere 5 hour’s flight from London. Tel Aviv is blessed with a fantastic weather and a long stretch of sandy beaches, there for: a) lots of skin is showing on the parade; b) the parade will end in a huge beach party; c) opportunity for some more skin to come out…

Tel Aviv is a great GLBT destination any weekend of the year, it has knockout gay parties, wild bars and dance-bars, it has unbelievable restaurants, eccentric shopping opportunities, a handsome gay beach, and it is, in general, a very gay friendly city. So why not celebrate with the local GLBT community and join us for a very happy occasion and party? Sunshine is guaranteed as well as shiny happy people, lots of alcohol, music and love.

Some After Parade Parties – Friday June 6:

HaOman 17 – FFF Party – The main after parade event, from midnight till noon the next day, plus another After Party on Shavuot, June 8, long line-up of DJs from Israel and the World, Add: 88 Abarbanel St.

Cedamus Amori – New York House and Electro, Add: 37 Nachalat Binyamin St.

-1 – A Playground Party, House, Dance and Electro, Add: 52 Nachalat Binyamin St.

Evita – Electro and House, DJ shmulik Tiar, Add: 31 Yavne St.

Femme Fatale – Eighty’s with Igi Waxman, Add: 19 De Pejeto St.

Last minute invitation to the TLV Pride Parade plus After Parade Party Options

---

Featured friends’ posts:

• Travel Israel: Guide, Travel Tips, Photos and Videos
• Burning Man Fresh from the Oven
• GLBT in Israel
• GLBT in Tel Aviv
• Tel Aviv Parks
• Tel Aviv Markets

Accesories Market 2008: Sixty Designers – One Stylish Market

Accesories Market 2008: Accssorize your visit to Israel in Old Jaffa

Isragirl Presents : Accesories Market, Photo by Accesories Market 2008 ©

Last minute update for those who find shopping to be the best part of travelling: The Accessories Market opened its gate on Thursday, May 22, and will continue to accessorize us till Saturday, May 24. If you fancy shoes, purses, wallets, handbags, bags, jewelry, belts, pendants, sandals, pins, hats and other accessories, this is the tourist attraction for you. Sixty designers in one market offering accessories, still not named….its a dream come true, heaven on earth…. (for some…). And even if fashion is not your thing, Old Jaffa is absolutely beautiful and extremely romantic in the evening… A stroll through its narrow alleyways is mostly recommended, the accessories market is just a bonus and a presents’ shopping opportunity.

Where: Califf House, 33 Hatzorfim St., Old Jaffa (15 min from center of Tel Aviv)

When: Thru 4pm-11pm, Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 11pm-10pm

Entry: 5 NIS

Don’t be a Fashion Victim – Accessorize at the Accesoorise Market. Check out Old Jaffa while you are there…

Tourism to Israel brakes record

Some 182,000 tourists visited Israel in Jan 2008, a new record for Israel and certainly very good news for the tourist industry of our small country. It appears people all over the world realized that this beautiful country is not to be missed and they don’t let news reports from the Gaza strip (or Damascus for that matter) get in the way of their dream winter vacation.
The number of tourists in January show rise of 7% compared with Jan 2000 the braking record year of tourism to Israel till now. Israel hopes to see more then 2.8 million visitors this year and so far it looks as if this goal is defiantly attainable.

On a much more personal note, I would like to add that the news can be very scary sometimes but more often then not, they have little to do with tourists. I visited South Africa in 1993 just before the first free elections, violence was sky rocking and my family back home was very worried watching the news. Needless to say I had fantastic time there… I was in north India in the summer of 2002 when according to CNN and BBC a violent clash between India and Pakistan was inevitable…. I was relaxing in Kulu valley and having the time of my life… nothing happened in the end. I could go on and give plenty more examples, but to make a long story short, here is my travel tip of the day – TV news and newspapers need to sell commercials and advertisement space, and PANIC sells…Tourists visiting Israel will be very disappointed if they expect to see here the Israel they know from news reports of Gaza – Israel is safe, street violence is scarce and the population is extremely friendly. So take the advice of 182,000 visitors of Jan 2008 and come to Israel, a wonderful adventure awaits you!!!

The secret is out, Israel is a perfect holiday destination

A glimpse of Tel Aviv – Shana Tova Madonna

Forbs Magazine published lately that Madonna made in 2007 more money then any other musician in the world. Good for you Madonna…. Well as you know, Madonna is a passionate Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) student, and in the past two years she had spent Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year holiday) in Israel. Since she makes so much money, I guess she could spend her holidays any where she would like, and if she chose Israel – maybe she knows something others don’t… Holidays in Israel are fantastic, if you are lucky enough to know any Israelis most chances that you will be invited to a family feast, and you should strongly consider saying yes, cause you’ll have the time of your life.

Check out this video called “Shana Tova Madonna” – it’s a small taste of Tel Aviv – and was made in her honor as a welcome present – but I dedicate it to you…

Oh, and by the way, Shana Tova means Happy New Year in Hebrew.

»* Many Thanks to Omer Shalev who made this video and to YouTube…

A Video of Tel Aviv specially made for Madonna, the most famous tourist of Israel

Snow in Israel – a celebration

It started snowing last night… It happens once or twice a year in Israel, tops.

It’s snowing in Jerusalem, snowing in the Golan Heights and also covering the gorgeous Hermon Mountain.

Hopefully, Israelis will be able to take out their snowboards by the end of the week and travel up north for some extreme white fun.

My mom lives in the north of Israel, her office is over looking the Sea of Galilee and on good days she can see the Hermon Mountain from her office window. I got this beautiful picture from her, it was taken in the north part of the Golan Heights, and I just had to share it with all of you. Thanks mom….

A white celebration in the scenic Golan Heights of Israel. How I wish I could be there on that day