Conference taveng::bagels

    Todays temperature (Tel Aviv) was 17 deg centigrade (~64 F) max 
    and 11 C (~54F) min, sunny at noon and cloudy during the evening. 
    Yesterday and Saturday rained a lot. You'll have an opportunity 
    to be 'singin in the rain' and walking in the "BOTZ" (mud?). 
    
    There is already some snow at the Hermon, it is cooler in Jerusalem
    and the Galilee and you may be able to swim in the sea in Eilat.
    
    Nesiah Tova! (Bon Voyage)
    
    Juan-Carlos
    

    Thank you Juan-Carlos,
    
    It sound as though the weather won't be too different than the Fall
    weather we've just had here in New England.  I'll make sure we pack
    clothes for the "BOTZ", although I hope nobody well hear me 'singin
    in the rain',  I've got a pretty bad singin voice.
    
    We have some "unplanned" time while in Tel Aviv we'll be staying
    at the Carlton.  Do you have any recommendations for restaurants,
    we like most foods including spicy.  Any other tips/recommendations
    would certainly be helpful.  This is a long overdue trip that was
    planned last minute. 
    
    Thanks again... Marc

    One thing to consider when traveling in Israel is that there are
    many places with dress codes (not all the same, unfortunately).
    
    For men, there are places where shorts are bad news.  Also, places
    where men have to have their heads covered, and places where they
    are supposed to NOT have their heads covered!
    
    For women, there a places where pants are no good and a skirt must
    be worn, where sleeveless tops are not allowed, where tops must
    be very opaque, or where showing the knees or elbows (or ankles?) is
    unacceptable.
    
    When we went to Israel my wife wore a skirt whenever we were
    touring, and she had a light long-sleeve jacket she could also
    wear.  I wore nice-looking pants and a shirt.  This was fortunate,
    as one time our tourguide forgot about a dress code, and almost
    caused us very big trouble.
    
                              Paul
    
    
    

    Here are some comments from a friend of mine who has been there
    many times...
    
    for a trip to Israel I have found that it is advisable to figure
    out how much the trip will cost....lay out all your clothes on a
    bed ....cut the clothes in half and double the money and you are
    bound to havew a good time.... in Tel Aviv near the Carlton in Ben
    <Yehuda St. there is a restaurant called Mon Jardin .. try the
    charbroiled veal steak...Alhambra for duck....and almost any place
    in old Jaffa.....have a great trip

    Restaurants:
    
    I won't be able to recommend you many restaurants here - for most
    of them they are either very expensive or CHEAP (all meanings of 
    the word) and the food is not always worth what you pay.
                           
    If you look for typical Israeli cuisine - beware, there is no such
    a thing. We have "regional" cuisine: Jewish Yemenite, J. Romanian,
    J. Oriental, etc.
    
    A place I'd recommend is the Yemenite restaurants in the Kerem
    Ha-Temanim. Every cab driver will be able to take you there. Both
    Shaul Exclusive and Zion can be recommended. No problem with English
    speaking people: The waiters there will understand 9 to 10 Languages
    from all over the World.
    
    As for "ambience", the Taj-Mahal (Indian) restaurant or Chez Toutoune
    (French) in Old Jaffa, by the sea, are wonderfull places for a lunch
    or dinner.
    
    For Yddish restaurants, my recommendation is Feferberg in Jerusalem:
    Just like my "Bobe" used to cook.
    
    While in Tel-Aviv it is a MUST to visit the Diaspora museum. It
    is a museum for the Jewish experience. It has no single original
    object, but it intends to tresure the spirit and the feelings
    surrounding those objects - telling my/your/our family stories and
    experiences. Every time I happen to visit it I leave it in a state
    of high emotion, wet eyes and happy of being here.
    
    Regards,
    
    Juan-Carlos
          

    
    As you are going on a tour, you'll probably get shown all the sites
    such as Messada (sp ?), Megiddo, Jericho, Bethlehem, Jerusalem,
    Sea Of Galilee, Dead Sea, Golan Heights, Beersheba etc etc etc.
    I went with my parents about 7 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed
    it. 
    One place everyone should see is the museum dedicated to the Holocaust
    (forgot the name of it). It is not a happy experience, but one I
    feel everyone who goes to Israel should have.
    The Chacal (or is it Chagal) windows (again I forgot where) are
    also pretty good.
    The Knesset may also be worth a visit.
    
    As for a very helpful tip - take LOTS of film !!!!
    Don't take pictures of military installations as they don't like
    that, although the soldiers are always happy to pose for you.
    Also, don't be worried about the tour guides packing Colt 45s.
    
    Have a good trip,
    Paul V

    
    If you still have unplanned days, I'd try to fit in BANYAS, which
    few tourists get to.  Banyas is all the way in the North, near
    Lebanon's Good Fence.  It has amazing waterfalls.  And all sorts
    of interesting historical and cultural tidbits around--Arab women
    in round hovels baking pitot the size of DEC desktops; a huge hotpool
    on the walk to the waterfalls, which was actually a Syrian Officer
    Club during their stay in the area, etc.etc.
    
    And if you haven't ever seen Tsfat, that's a must.  Besides the
    graveyard, in which famous historical figures such as Luria are
    buried, and the synagogues (Tsfat has some of the oldest in the
    world, including the Ari), there's a thriving artist's community
    in Tsfat; and the artists--some non-Jews, some Holocaust survivors,
    some sabras--all have great stories to tell if you have time to
    draw them out.
    
    And if you want to see Teddy Kolleck in person, try Beit Tiko in
    Jerusalem for lunch.

    This is an old NOTE, but I saw no others on traveling to Israel. So
    here goes.
    
    I'm posting this for a friend who works at my site. She works in the
    cafeteria and is not a Digital employee. 
    
    Well, 1st of all me. My name is Phil Connell, but I use PJ in NOTES. If
    any of you read in Womannotes or Dejavu, then you may have seen my
    replies. I use the tag line of Bright Blessings. I work at DAS (Dascomb
    Rd. facility in Andover, Mass. USA) So that's me.
    
    My friend is Joni King. She will be traveling to Jerusalem in Sept. of
    this year. I believe she'll be staying for 3 to 4 weeks. She has a
    place to say with an old college roommate who lives there. What she
    would like to do is to meet other folks while over there. I thought
    this might file might be of some help. She's interested in sailing,
    horses, and adventures. (Whatever that last one might mean. :-) She is
    also considering relocating to Israel and wants to find out about
    employment there. Either as a nanny or caring for elderly people.
    
    So, anyway, if anyone would like to get intouch with her to arrainge
    an "adventure" or whatever, please send me mail at WMOIS::CONNELL and
    I'll pass it to her and an exchange of addresses and phone #'s can take
    place. You and she can take it from there.
    
    Thanks for you time.
    
    Bright Blessings,
    
    PJ