michaelb119

So the Greece portion of the trip is fast approaching and I still haven’t decided the itinerary. The plan was Athens for three or four days and one of the islands for a few days. I’ve now been reading how the islands pretty much shut down by mid-November, so that probably leaves the smaller ones out. Crete requires another round trip flight and I just don’t think I can add yet another airport experience to the trip. Santorini and Mykonos are probably the two most popular so I figure there has to be some activity going on there, even if not much. But Santorini is really more of a romantic getaway. That leaves Mykonos. Anyone familiar with the Greek Isles? If so, good choice? I really don’t mind a few quiet days to chill and get some writing done. I just don’t want everything boarded up.

Why is hummus so much better here than in the States? Even the store brands hands down beat our awful (mostly awful – ok, Sabra is pretty good) store brands.

Tel Aviv is not the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to–far from it. But what makes it so fascinating is the vibrancy and yet laid-back feeling that permeates the city. It’s a young city – only 100 years old – so you find a lot of new construction but also a lot of run-down buildings. While everyone speaks English, there is surprisingly little signage in English, street signage aside. Go into most cafés with board menus and it’s almost all Hebrew. You can ask and find out in English, but a little advance info on what they are serving would help. That said, Tel Aviv is a great walking city with great beaches:

Having recovered from one bout of sunburn in the Cook Islands, I decided to forgo beach time, but have walked the promenade from one end (Tel Aviv port) to the other (Jaffa). Yes, you can walk the length of the city along the beach promenade. Along the way you will find beach restaurants, a large park, and lots of people. People sitting and kibitzing, biking, walking, and jogging. While cities like Sydney, you see a lot of young people, here there is a mix of the young and the old, giving Tel Aviv so much character.

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Wow, I knew that security would be tight here but it still takes you aback when you see so much of it. To people here, it’s obviously a way of life. But I was stopped by security right after getting off the plane and asked a bunch of questions, then grilled by the passport control agent. But when I entered the prime shopping mall, the Dizenghoff Center, each entrance had a guard going through people’s bags and waving a wand on everyone. He asked me if I had a weapon on me. It’s amazing the freedoms we take for granted in the USA and so easy to criticize others who live with uncertainty every day.

After five consecutive countries that drive on the left, it was strange to be back in a country that drives on the right. Had to get used to it all over again!
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Arrived in Tel Aviv. Here’s the updated map:

Boy, am I glad I spent the extra money for business class. Hong Kong to Bangkok to Amman to Tel Aviv. Lots of time at the airports. Lots of time taking advantage of the biz class lounges!

Hong Kong style, that is. The owner of the apartment I rented has an outdoor cafe, Café De Fontaine, in the South Seas Centre, not far from the waterfront and the Avenue of the Stars. As I arrived, they had just had their Christmas lighting ceremony. I’ll still take the Wanamakers Christmas Light Show.

Always a feast for the eyes…

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This escalator, called the Central-Mid Levels, is the longest outdoor escalator in the world – over 800 metres (over 2600 feet). It is on Hong Kong Island as the streets rise above each other. Oh, it only goes up so the way down is walking.