Christmas in Israel with Jacqui and Michael Zivor. Family - Emily 13; Anabelle 12 and Tom 7.
They live in Zikhron Ya'aqov (in memory of Jacob).
A town North of Tel Aviv and near to the coast.
They have a double story flat. Two flats one above the other. Total of 4 bedrooms; Michaels office and 3 bathrooms.
They also have two balconies. One with artificial grass overlooking a forest area.
Michael is a practicing Psychologist operating out of a clinic in Tel Aviv and he sees . He also works for the University where he teaches one day a week.
Jacqui has recently qualified as an English Teacher and has started an "Intership" with a juniour school in Zikhron Ya'aqov.
On a Busy Tuesday we pack up and leave for the airport; Moyna Joseph takes us there. Meanwhile I have had some admin work to be done and Barbara is with her builder friend in the house. I have this list of last minute and urgent Dole stuff. And incredibly I manage to finish most of what I set out to do this morning. Ally does some last minute shopping.
We fly to Johannesburg. It takes us over an hour and a half to clear Israeli Security and check in despite the fact that we sent our bags through from PE.
At last we get through to the International side and are able to have a bite to eat and some tea.
We are nearly at the back of the plane in Row 55. There are 9 seats in most of the plane so I estimate about three to four hundred passengers all together. We board in stages . We are in Group C.
The plane was scheduled to take off at 9am but we finally get going at about 10.00pm. A shakey start and turbulence bounces us around during the flight. I do not sleep well. Cramped leg room.
We land at 6am but I leave one of the passports in the plane and have to go back to find it. At last we are through passport control and baggage collection and meet up with Jacqui and her family who have all come to meet us.
We have a long drive to their home in Zikhron Ya'akov. We have a bit of breakfast and then off to the shops where there is no Christmas shopping going on. Tom and I play in the park area.
Back in the flat we unpack and make a light supper. Michael returns from work. We watch a movie (most of us with eyes closed) before getting into bed.
Christmas day in Israel.
Jacqui and others have a huge pile of presents which take about two hours to dish out and unwrap. Michael goes to work. It has been blowing solidly all night. Jacqui starts preparing for dinner.
Ronit brings some stuff that she has prepared. Gili and Hadas arrive with dishes of prepared chicken. Yorum and Shahar arrive a little later. Shahar is a student counselor for school leavers before they go to the Army which is presently 2.8 years for men and 2.4 years for women is how she explains it. The students learn social and community skills at the bridging school. Gili sells diamonds and Hadas is an Architect.
Boxing day 27th December 2019
Michael has to go to work at the University.
It is still raining and a cold wind blowing so we are mostly at home. We go for a walk in the popular street of Zikhron Ya'aqov (Remember Jacob). Small shops in old houses. People walking and enjoying the morning. We stop at an Ice Cream shop. The shop has every possible Ice Cream available as well as an assortment of Yogurts. I order a small cup and end up with a huge Ice Cream that I cannot finish.
This evening we watch a one man show called Nick Nack Noo at a Center Stage venue of about 80 seats. An entertaining Children oriented show with a message: "Big and modern is not always the best. Remember where you came from and value the simple things of life".
We have a Pizza Supper at a Restaurant near to Zikhron.
Friday morning. Still raining and wind. And Lightning. But by mid morning the sun tries to shine and warm up the lounge. Jacqui takes the dog to the sitter. Ally goes to the Pharmacy. Michael has patients at home. It is Shabat today so everything closes this afternoon until Saturday evening.
This afternoon we walk up the hill called Ramat Ha Nadiv which honours the people who helped build this area of Israel (Rothschild family).
We start off from the parking area in the rain as we walk up hill. A little while into the walk the rain stops and we are warm. We walk up to the ruins of the Farm Homestead from the Second Temple period (500BC to 70AD) and the Byzantine Farm ruins (300AD during the rein of King Constantine.
While we are with Jacqui I continue to receive emails and Whatsup messages with requests and enquiries for tours. Fortunately I am able to stay in touch with our team at home and most of the requests are filled by Peter; Alan and Frank. Mike is a newly qualified guide and he too takes some of the assignments. With Whatsup we are able to stay in constant communication. Even phoning using Whatsup. Technology is amazing.
Saturday 28th. And Sunday 29th
It continues to rain in Israel. Flooding is reported in Jerusalem and also in Galilee.
We have a weekend in the Nedev Desert and the Ramon Crater. We stay at the Desert Shade Eco-Camp. A Bedouin Camp which is basic but fun; The best part for us is the central area which has WiFi and a steady supply of sweet tea. A lovely little bedroom; central kitchen and shower areas.
Our experiences here include a walk along the cliff face of the Ramon Crater Lookout (Mitze Ramon which translates to Ramon Lookout) to the Koppie Platform where we have hot tea from Barbara's new Stanley Flask. This evening we share supper with Nadav and Ella who are cousins of Michael and who live in the area.
Then on Sunday morning Michael and I do an 8kay run along the Crater Edge.As we return we pass the Sewage reticulation plant donated by Holland to the JNF. Jewish National fund. Good to see that donations are being used to improve the life of locals. The cleaned water is used for irrigation of local farms.
We have a shared breakfast which Jacqui makes for us. The highlight of today is hiking up the En Avdat Canyon. There are literally hundreds of young boys and girls in the Canyon. Today is the last day of Hannukah holiday time and the Religious Jews are "allowed" to travel. The canyon is quite breath taking. We walk along the river bed and the climb this slippery stairway made of the hewn out rocks. Slippery with wet mud; take care as you could have a nasty fall. Then at the top there are narrow pathways which have to be taken carefully as the back and forth of these young boys and girls could lead to a nasty accident.
Then continue on our way home stopping at the Farm Stall for a snack Lunch of Coffee and a potato bake (Goats Cheese) . We end the day with a Very Tough 3.5hour long drive through traffic back home to Zikhron Yaáqov where Ally makes us a Chicken Curry supper.
Monday 30th.
Michael takes a day off from work.
He has one patient while Jacqui and I go to the clinic where she has an infusion of Iron.
We then go to the Megiddo ruins which is, for millions of Christians, the Armageddon of St Johns Revelations where the forces of Good will finally defeat the the forces of Evil in the final battle at the end of days. An interesting attraction of ruins and a tunnel leading to the water supply. Unfortunately for us it begins to rain heavily almost hailing so we run to the car.
After we have changed we drive to the restaurant at Eid Hud on the top of a hill. It is a family home where they serve a standard lunch. HUGE helpings of almost everything you can think of. Far too much for us. We try our best to get through as much as possible but the meal defeats us.
It is a sumptuous and delicious selection of salads; sauces; meats and vegetables. Afterwards we relax on the couches with coffee and tea and sweet coconut cake.
That is enough for one day and we relax at home for the rest of the evening.
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| View from Yurom's flat in Tel Aviv |
Tuesday 31st.
There is a Gas Rig out to sea off the coast of Zikhron Yaáqov and they have to release some gas so we evacuate from Jacquis house. We are up at 4am and leave for Tel Aviv at 5am. It is about 60km and it takes us about 45 minutes. We drive in the dark. Not much traffic. But lots of Trucks. Jacqui does all the driving.
We find parking near to the block of flats where Yurom leaves. He lives on the 27th floor. There is a magnificent view of the city below. We spend the day in the markets and shopping malls of Tel Aviv.
Wednesday 1st January 2020
In Israel -- Today is a normal working day. The children go to school; Jacqui teaches English; Michael drives to Binyamina where he cycles to the train station and then takes the train to Tel Aviv where his offices are. This evening he reverses the process to get home.
After dropping Anabelle at school in Binyamina we go for a run in the fields. Very wet farm roads and our shoes are caked with mud. We pass deciduous orchards; Citrus trees laden with fruit; Grape vines which are bare in winter; Olive trees with no fruit and wheat or other grass crops.
This afternoon Jacqui picks me up and we fetch Tom; Emily and Anabelle from school. Then Emily goes to dance classes. Jacqui buys some pastries for lunch. From the time Jax leaves work to the time that we finally get back home is two hours of driving and waiting for children.
Thursday 2nd January 2020
We are now well into the new year. The day starts again with the gang off to work and school. Michael is working in Haifa so we go with him and walk down to the town area. It starts to rain. We duck into a mall to gather our bearings with WIfi.
Ally discovers a mall down the road and we walk there in the rain. In the mall I stop for a Coffee while they do some shopping. We find Insulated Cups. We do not know if they are available in SA.
At 12.00 Michael finishes lecturing; and he drives to the filling station where we are waiting.
Pick up Tom from school and then back to the flat to warm up and dry out.
During this time I received notification of documents to be picked up for Dole. Fortunately Di is back from holiday and does the work for me.
Ronit comes to visit. Brings Supper and Cake that she has made.
Friday 3rd. We are up at 2am. Jacqui and Annabell drive us to the Train Station where we buy tickets to the Ben Gurion Airport. It takes an hour. We begin the check in process at 4am and this takes a little over an hour. We then make our way to the boarding gate where we are just in time for the final call.
Our flight leaves at 6am. We are flying El Al .. A day time flight where they keep the shutters closed for the full day so it is almost like an overnight flight.
Arrive in Jhb and do the check in thing and again are just in time for our flight to PE. Which is then delayed due to a heavy down pour.
We arrive in PE at 6.30. Peter Joseph picks us up.
Back home. Unpack. Buy my supplies for tomorrow morning tour. Back into the groove of Touring.
We had a wonderful time with Jacqui and her Israeli Family. 12 days away from home but at the same time we felt it was 12 days at home.
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