Israel
#6 Israel – Tammy’s Wedding in Jerusalem – September 2022. Age: 28
I write about Israel with a heavy heart as we consider the atrocities currently ongoing in this country and the millions of people impacted. Hopefully a solution will saves lives in the long run will be found soon.
The trip to Israel was spellbinding. It started rather incongruously with the most dreadful experience with Wizz Air – never fly with them. The flight was cancelled an hour before scheduled time, whilst air-side. All the customers had to wait air-side for about 4 hours for a Wizz Air rep to release us. I personally had to get a £150 cab to heathrow, rushed, to make a re-booked flight in order to avoid the rehearsal dinner for my friend Tammy’s wedding. I didn’t make it, arriving at 5am. It’s taken 2 years to get about half the compensation owed, to this date. That’s not the worst of it…
On to the trip: 2 days in Tel Aviv. Beautiful city but not really my vibe I’m afraid. We had an unreal night out with friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. On holiday, you forget your sensible self and you look at your bill the morning after a night out and jump that you spent £100+. In Tel Aviv, it was more like £300+… oh, that’s half my holiday budget gone in one night. We spent the days chilling on the beach while others went off to explore the shopping riches; again, not really my cup of tea.
Jerusalem was far more my scene – we spent 5 days here. You could spend much longer just exploring the immediate city with the melting pot of religious culture. The food was also amazing – I probably ate a gallon of hummus while I was there.
A couple of full days exploring the 4 main sectors in Jerusalem. The only slightly unnerving thing was on our first night out, we were getting loose in a little underground market district, I forget the name, and about 20 young people walked past, I would estimate maybe 20 years old, all carrying what looked like serious guns, in cammo gear, and evidently inebriated. Who’d have thunk?
Next day we trekked down and visited Masada – the story around this place is ridiculously powerful and our guide was fantastic. Be prepared with plenty of water though – on top of that fortress, the searing 35+ degree heat can really slap you in the face.
The following day was a trek down to the Dead Sea – this is a great experience, especially if you’re venturing into the sea with friends who are lacking in the motor skills department – some great pics of the gang falling into mud pits and having to get pulled out by passersby. We finished this with a quick visit to the local Dead Sea beauty product store first for a 5000% mark up on what you can just find if you go for a dip!
The wedding itself was an outrage; I suspect I will never go to anything this flash or beautiful ever again. The ceremony was actually ATOP the Mount of Olives, overlooking the setting sun over Jerusalem, glinting off the Dome of the Rock. I have never seen anything quite so spectacular. No expense had been. No expense had been spared by big Maurice (Ostro – look him up, he’s on Wikipedia and whatnot).
It would be remiss not to mention parts of the Jewish culture which I had never experienced before; the seven blessings, the breaking of the glass, and of course, the Hora! They will all live long in the memory.
I do have one final little story about Israel which will live long in the memory. Wizz, can you believe it, cancelled my flight home too. £600 later and an additional unwarranted night in Tel Aviv seemed like a terrible outcome – who would have thought I’d meet a fellow passenger drowning their sorrows at their misfortune who worked at the Intercontinental. We got drunk together and ended up in an Exec Suite courtesy of her position – Every cloud… Although they do still owe me a bomb.
