Israel

Our flights from and to Tel Aviv were an adventure itself: We literally ran through the whole airport in Istanbul just to find out that our flight to Tel Aviv would be leaving one hour later; a Jewish scholar tried to tell us how wrong it is to be an atheist; Nicol got stuck at the passport control with his temporary residence permit and eventually we had to go through the interrogation and security check for suspected terrorists.

How To Get From The Airport To The City Centre of Tel Aviv

The easiest way to get from Ben Gurion Airport to the city centre is to take the train to Savidor Central Railway Station; for students it is about 16 shekels ( around 3.60€).

Exploring Tel Aviv

Shuk Ha'Carmel

This market is quite nice and the entrance can be found at the intersection of Allenby Street and Shenkin Street.

It does not only offer fruits, vegetables, spices, pastry and delicates, but also clothing, accessoires and jewelry.

Banana Beach 

next to Retsif Herbert Samuel Street

Banana Beach is quite a lovely place and a nice spot to spend some time.

While walking along the shore you can watch people surfing, jogging or doing Yoga or you can just sit down on some rooks and enjoy the fresh and salty breeze of the sea.

Old Jaffa

The port in Jaffa and all the old houses are precious and are definitely worth being discovered.
The old city is hiding a lot of galleries, little shops of artisans and nice cafés.
I can warmly recommend to have lunch in this area - nothing will beat this great view of the sea you have there!

Casbah di Florentine 

3 Florentin St.

Casbah di Florentine is a nice and cosy restaurant in the area of Florentine. Prices are fair and the food is super tasty.

The biggest part of the restaurant is outside, but it is rather like a porch; especially on warm evenings it is nice to sit there and have a wine over some political discussions(:

(courtesy of Nicol)

(courtesy of Nicol)

How to get from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

The best way is to take the 405 bus from Tel Aviv Central Bus Station to Jerusalem. The bus ticket costs like 18 Shekel and the bus ride takes like one hour.

When you arrive in Jerusalem, take the tram (single ticket is 6.90 Shekel) from "Central Bus Station" and get off at "Jaffa-Center". From this stop the Old City Part is within walking-distance.

Exploring Jerusalem

Western Wall

The wall is divided into one part for men and one for women.
It is possible to get close to the wall where everyone is praying and place a note in one of the cracks of the wall as well. However, to respect this religious place please be dressed appropriately and don't be rude or push the praying people. Also, as a man you should wear a kippa, which they will hand you out at the entrance.

Being at the Western Wall, placing my note in the wall and hearing all the women next to me praying and wailing while they had a highly spiritual experience was one of the most emotional moments in my life.

(courtesy of Nicol)

Via Dolorosa

The Via Dolorosa ( Spanish for "Painful Way") is the path which Jesus had to take to his cruxifixion with the cross on his back. There are nine stations that are marking special incidents on that way and the ninth station is then the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus died and - as it is told - resurrected.

 (This is Damascus Gate where you can also find the bus to Bethlehem)

(In my opinion this is actually one of the best photos I've ever taken)

Old City Part in general

As almost all of you know I am not religious at all and I also had no spiritual experience in Israel. However, I find religious history quite interesting and with this in view Jerusalem is rich of historical places. So I can also recommend to just walk around in the Old City, stop by at the market and take in the atmosphere of this thoroughly wonderful city.

How to get from Jerusalem to Bethlehem 

Go to the Arabic bus station at Damascus Gate and take the bus with the number 21 ;the ticket will be 8 Shekel.
Back from Bethlehem it might happen that the bus does not have number 21, but it departs from the same stop, so do not worry about that!

Exploring Bethlehem

Christmas Eve

So Nicol and I went to Bethlehem on Christmas Day and we thought it would be - even for atheists - something totally special.
We were told that there was a Christmas celebration on the market square, so we went there just to find out that it was a Pro Palestine gathering.
I am convinced of a total division of politics/state and religion and the instrumentalisation of one of them for the sake of the other, so I personally found that kinda odd regardless of my view of that whole conflict.

Also, in general there was not really a christmas-ish atmosphere and only knowing that Christ was born there is not making up for a non-believer.
However,  I think for really religious people having such a Christmas Eve should be unique.

 ( courtesy of Nicol - funniest hostel ever)

Church of Nativity

This church was built over the place where Jesus was born. It is also possible to see the very spot of the birth, however, it was too crowded on Christmas Day and we did not see it.

City Centre

It is also quite nice to walk through the city centre.
However, as a girl pay attention and always walk in front of the guy(s) you are with. Besides loads of guys offering money for me, I personally had an issue with a guy that tried to push me in one of the side streets.