Religion, Race and Culture: the Astonishing Diversity of Jerusalem
Jerusalem is unique. Not just because it is an ancient city bursting with history. But also because it is a major centre for three different religions, attracting pilgrims from around the world. History and religion have made this an exceptionally diverse city:...
The Unexpected Pleasure of Eating Out in Jerusalem
I didn’t expect to eat particularly well in Israel. I had memories from my last visit of endless amounts of falafel, fish and salad, and not much else. But I was pleased and surprised to find that the food had changed out of all recognition. Eating out in Jerusalem...
The Jerusalem Ramparts Walk, a New Perspective on the Old City
With its narrow streets, bazaar like atmosphere and thousands of years of history, the Old City of Jerusalem is one of the world’s foremost tourist attractions. It is also a place of pilgrimage, a focal point for three major world religions. All of which means that it...
Wandering Among the Sculptures at the Billy Rose Art Garden
It was a sunny Sunday morning, and I was strolling through a peaceful garden. This was the Billy Rose Art Garden, in the grounds of Jerusalem’s Israel Museum. The Museum has some impressive exhibits, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and extensive collections of art and...
Street Art of Nachlaot and the Machane Yehuda Market
One of many surprises about Jerusalem was how much there was to see in the “new” town, the area outside the Old City. One such discovery was the Nachlaot district and the neighbouring Machane Yehuda Market. This is a fascinating area, not least for the street art that...
Shabbat of a Lifetime, a Unique Jerusalem Experience
The Sabbath (or Shabbat) is a unique time in Jerusalem. Families come together and all work stops for twenty-four hours. One of the most important elements of the Sabbath is the Friday evening meal. I was privileged to experience this at first hand with Shabbat of a...
Restaurant Review: Anna Italian Café, Jerusalem
It’s rare for me to devote a whole post to a single restaurant. But the Anna Italian Café in Jerusalem is no ordinary eating place. Like many restaurants, it serves excellent food. Like others, it has a great ambience, and is set in a historic building. But what makes...
Eating my way around Jerusalem with BiteMojo
When I was in Jerusalem I had the opportunity to try out BiteMojo, an exciting new travel app. It’s a sort of cross between a walking tour, a food tour and a restaurant crawl. A unique and fun way to explore the culture and cuisine of a city. (And if you'd like to try...
Revisiting Jerusalem at TBEX International
I spent the summer of 1976 as a kibbutz volunteer in the far north of Israel. While I was there I travelled around the country, visiting Jerusalem, Haifa, the Golan Heights and many other places. It was one of my first ever foreign trips and I’ve never forgotten the...
Kayakking Through the Mangroves in Abu Dhabi
A few minutes earlier we were in Abu Dhabi, a noisy, bustling metropolis of high rise concrete, fast cars and muezzins. But here among the mangroves it was calm and peaceful, and there was no sound apart from the gentle swish of paddles. Learning to Paddle Five...
