After I collected my dad, my sister and a rental car at Tel Aviv airport, I showed them my hotspots in the city, we had smoothies and Shawarma in Old Jaffa at dusk and then took off to Jerusalem. It took us ages to find that damn hotel, who would have known that all of Jerusalem's streets are one-way and that maps don't help? Anyway, we were the first guests in a freshly renovated room at Jerusalem Inn (so fresh, indeed, we neither had a mirror, nor anything to put any clothes on...).

So, during the next two days, I explored Jerusalem - and have to say it wasn't really my place to be. I found the architecture to be super boring compared to Tel Aviv and walking and strolling aimlessly around the city was really only half the fun. All the religious sides didn't really strike me due to my lack of religious passion I have to admit. The masses of tourists scared me to death and the "nice" yet quite agressive sale's attitude of the people on the markets and souks reminded me of my worst days in Morocco last year.








In the Old Town of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem's highlights were probably the little secret insider tour that a friend of a friend gave me in the old city (not due to what he actually showed me, but the amazing stories he knew to tell along...), the Western Wall, actually impressing, though I found the forced seperation between women and men quite irritating, and the pasta party held by the marathon organizers the night before my dad and sister ran the half marathon over the countless hills of Jerusalem. They served us all kinds of pasta and rice, with all kinds of desserts and teas and coffees and juices. I really enjoyed :).









At the Western Wall.







Strolling around Jerusalem during the Marathon.

I was actually most excited when we finally wrapped our stuff and left East, observing a crazy high, concrete wall on the side of the street, entering the Westbank towards the Dead Sea and leaving it again for the Israeli shore. We had a blast getting soaked in mudd and floating around like crazy people, though I have to say, the Israeli beach we went to was only half the fun of Khalia Beach in the West Bank where I had been earlier, by myself.





A big, scary wall. East Jerusalem.





Posing in the desert.




By and in the Dead Sea.

We had delicious food in Jericho, strolled the market (a great example that people can be good sellers without getting super annoying and following and touching you, yes!) and went North towards the Sea of Galilee, having to cross a very intimidating Israeli check point, getting all of us, our luggage and the rental car completely frisked.





In the Westbank.

The Sea of Galilee, mainly due to Shabbat, was honestly, highly unspectacular, but the drive there must have been one of the most beautiful ever, oscillating between desert, hills, bustling green, seas of blossoms...

That night, we made it back to Tel Aviv, had some amazing Falafel in a sidestreet and I took a long walk with my dad: good conversation passing by beautiful architecture.

It's my dad's birthday today, and this post is just for him ♥.



All photos: Carolin Weinkopf