I'm starting to post reports from my week-long tour of Israel on my blog. Our itinerary included stops at Haifa, Acre, Rosh Pina (Galilee), Tzfat, Masada, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. I'll be writing for the rest of the week.

Here's what's up so far:

El Al security - http://caroundtheworld.com/2010/05/1...ines-security/

Hummus! Yum! - http://caroundtheworld.com/2010/05/1...e-best-hummus/

Dead Sea float at Mineral Beach - http://caroundtheworld.com/2010/05/1...mineral-beach/

More TK!

Chris

I wasn't able to go to your link. Leaving next week and I would really love to see your blog. Did you use a tour guide or get around on your own? All of your insights would be appreciated.

Jami - We had a guide with us from the Ministry of Tourism. But after going there, I wouldn't hesitate to do it alone next time. The roads seemed easy to drive, and the drivers weren't too bad - certainly no worse than Tuscany or the Caribbean. It might be nice to hire a guide for a day in Jerusalem, just to get some history.

My website is Chris Around The World, www.caroundtheworld.com. All of the Israel stuff is the most recent. I should have a few more posts on Galilee, Masada, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem up in the next few days.

"I wouldn't hesitate to do it alone next time. The roads seemed easy to drive, and the drivers weren't too bad - certainly no worse than Tuscany or the Caribbean."

Careful - you are destroying an urban myth

It always amazes me how so many people who absolutely refuse to drive in Israel will rent a car in France, Italy, S.Africa, etc, without a moment's consideration of the quality of the drivers in those countries.

Look at this document for statistics about traffic injuries and fatalities in western countries(scroll down to page 2 of this PDF document):
http://www1.cbs.gov.il/www/publicati...08/pdf/t_m.pdf
You will see that Israel is far from the most dangerous country to drive in.

Last year we drove ourselves around Israel and found it to be very easy. Great roads, maps, etc.

Happy to bust a myth like that one, mbgg!

Post on Tel Aviv up: http://caroundtheworld.com/2010/05/2...e-in-tel-aviv/

I loved the Bauhaus architecture here, as well as the energy at night. We stayed at the Dan.

Post on Masada. Watch out for the heat here - it gets intense up there on the mountain! A don't miss stop:
http://caroundtheworld.com/2010/05/2...-massada-tips/