 flight map to Israel-just started |
 memorial for Yitzhak Rabin-Tel Aviv |
 pond lilies at Rabin Square |
 Driving from Tel Aviv to Haifa-our hosts' daughter Yael works at big hospital on hill |
 google Haifa |
 stores across the street during our walk in Haifa |
 Galina enjoying her iced coffee at Cafe-in, Haifa |
 Rich and Galina at Cafe-in, Haifa |
 Yael and Tami with their dresses for the wedding |
 produce store in the Haifa hills |
 looking down into Bahai gardens from top |
 cool sailboat skyscraper-Haifa |
 Haifa and the harbor |
 mandatory solar water heaters atop apartment buildings in Haifa-zoom in to see them |
 looking up the Bahai gardens from main street in Haifa |
 people contemplating shoes for dinner-housewares store in Tel Aviv |
 shops along street-Ein Kerem (ancient town outside of Jerusalem) |
 painted freezer view on utility box-Jerusalem |
 pomegranate juice stand in Jerusalem |
 faces in repose painted on ventilation door |
 Machneyuda restuarant for dinner-outside is covered with portraits |
 Galina Rich and Tami loved our meal at Machneyuda restaurant |
 our chef poses for a picture |
 midnight-after visit to the Kotel (Western Wall)-students begin dancing and singing |
 leaving the Kotel-dancing is now with two concentric circles |
 the Azrieli Center-Tel Aviv |
 Back in Jerusalem-cool gate inside 1800s settlement next to Machane (Market) Yehuda |
 Galina purchased beautiful earrings at Michal Negrin |
 dinner with cousins Miles and Alida- Kedma restaurant overlooks the walls of the Old City |
 Miles Alida Galina and Rich loved our dinner at Kedma restaurant |
 apartment buildings in Maale Adumim |
 signs at Maale Adumim junction with route 1 |
 small group of bedouin homes just east of Jerusalem |
 bicycle sculpture at Maale Adumim circle |
 past the buildings on the far hill is Ramalla |
 heading back to Tel Aviv via Jerusalem |
 the fence-east of Jerusalem |
 Rich Tami Liat and Micha prepare Shabbat dinner |
 table is set for shabbat dinner-carpaccio and salmon |
 sunset over north Tel Aviv coast-power plant in background |
 Jaffa flea market-covered alleyway dominated by clothes and fabric |
 the wedding of Tami and Micha's daughter Yael to Gidi- this is the pool and event building |
 the bride Yael and very happy parents |
 Yael and Gidi under the chupa beneath a spectacular old tree |
 Yael and Gidi under the chupa |
 celebrating the wedding-Gidi and Yael up on chairs |
 on the road again-car sculpture outside of Tel Aviv |
 Going up to Masada-passing the descending cable car |
 ruins at Masada from above |
 these lines cut all through Masda-below is original-above is restored |
 southern parts of the dead sea from Masada |
 Galina hiking back up to the main part of Masada |
 Rich hiking back up to the main part of Masada |
 inside the southern cistern |
 Rich and Galina at lunch after Masada |
 At the Dead Sea-salt is encrusted everywhere around the dead sea |
 the Dead Sea water is salty but very clear |
 Galina waves while floating high on the dead sea |
 Rich floating-hands up-in the Dead Sea |
 Rich sitting holding knee on the Dead Sea |
 black headed bird at Ein Gedi Bottanical Gardens |
 We loved this very old-looking tree-olive i think |
 Galina muds herself up at the Dead Sea |
 Rich full of Dead Sea mud |
 Hiking up the lower part of King David Falls |
 rock rabbit or hyrax |
 hyrax poses for the tourists |
 hyrax pokes head through gap in rocks |
 face in cliffside-King David Falls |
 found an ibex while on our way to the old synagogue |
 the old synagogue (below King David falls) is covered by a cool sail |
 original mosaic tiled floor of old synagogue |
 closeup of synagogue mosaic center piece |
 back in Jerusalem-after a fun dinner off Jaffa Rd in Jerusalem-Galina Alida Rich and Miles |
 next stop is northern israel near Carmel-Yodfat-hill with caves and ruins-supported by University of Rochester |
 sea squill flowers on Yodfat mountain-they bloom for a short time each year, right before the first rain |
 Galina enjoying our walk up Yodfat mountain |
 Rich on Yodfat mountain |
 cool cave at Yodfat but not safe to go in |
 sunset over Yodfat mountain |
 near the Golan Heights at Agamon Hula nature preserve-crazy multi-person conference bicycle for touring |
 rental options for Agamon Hula-bikes and multi-person bikes- we rented a golf cart |
 butterflies in the clover at Agamon Hula |
 butterfly-Agamon Hula |
 beaver trolling around the pond-Agamon Hula |
 grass and Agamon Hula lake |
 smallish white sea-birds |
 beaver in the grass |
 dragonfly close up-Agamon Hula |
 lunch at Doreen steakhouse near the Golan-first was the salad course-all was yummy |
 Galina got eggplant with tahini sauce |
 theres the Sea of Galilee- is actually not very large |
 Arrived at Rosh HaNikra-hill at the top of the Israel coast |
 Rosh HaNikra-we're closer to Beirut than Jerusalem |
 Micha and Tami at Rosh HaNikra |
 Galina and Rich at Rosh HaNikra |
 Roman aqueduct runs along the highway |
 Next stop-the old city of Akko (aka Acre)-passageway to the market |
 the shuk-or marketplace-at Akko |
 hookas for sale-Akko shuk |
 all manner of spices for sale-Akko shuk |
 At Tami and Micha's-- red and white pomegranates-some already squeezed |
 family shot-Liat Micha Tami Rich and Galina |
 on the way home |