Has anyone done Greece & Israel in 2 weeks?
Nov 18th, 2005, 05:59 AM
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Has anyone done Greece & Israel in 2 weeks?
Hi,
We are looking at flying from Montreal, Canada to Israel for 1 week-10 days, and then spend the remaining time in Greece (I'd like to see Mykonos and Santorini). Has anyone done a trip like that? I'd love some insight - we are just in the preliminary stages of research...
Thanks!
Susan
We are looking at flying from Montreal, Canada to Israel for 1 week-10 days, and then spend the remaining time in Greece (I'd like to see Mykonos and Santorini). Has anyone done a trip like that? I'd love some insight - we are just in the preliminary stages of research...
Thanks!
Susan
Nov 18th, 2005, 06:34 AM
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I have not done them both in that time. I have been to both though.
I would not attempt seeing both if you have the choice of focusing on one.
I would go to one or the other, they are both very different experiences as you can imagine.
I often find that less is more in travel.
The week you would spend sun bathing in Greece you could snorkle or dive in the red sea. THE MOST INCREDIBE OCEAN LIFE EXPERIENCE probably outside of the great barrier reef (which I have not done).
Why not Israel and Egypt (Cairo) if you are bent on seeing two countries?
I would go to Israel having been disillusioned with Greece on more than one trip. Not saying never go just think Israel is a much more exotic trip. Greece has junked up a lot of country/seaside with eye sore hotels from a building boom in the 70's. They look like 70's hotels anyway could have been made later. Not commenting here directly on Mykonos and Santorini. Isreal, I have no heritage there speaking strickly from a tourist perspective.
Just this tourists take.
I spent 5 weeks in Israel and did not squeeze in a second country.
I would not attempt seeing both if you have the choice of focusing on one.
I would go to one or the other, they are both very different experiences as you can imagine.
I often find that less is more in travel.
The week you would spend sun bathing in Greece you could snorkle or dive in the red sea. THE MOST INCREDIBE OCEAN LIFE EXPERIENCE probably outside of the great barrier reef (which I have not done).
Why not Israel and Egypt (Cairo) if you are bent on seeing two countries?
I would go to Israel having been disillusioned with Greece on more than one trip. Not saying never go just think Israel is a much more exotic trip. Greece has junked up a lot of country/seaside with eye sore hotels from a building boom in the 70's. They look like 70's hotels anyway could have been made later. Not commenting here directly on Mykonos and Santorini. Isreal, I have no heritage there speaking strickly from a tourist perspective.
Just this tourists take.
I spent 5 weeks in Israel and did not squeeze in a second country.
Nov 18th, 2005, 06:38 AM
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Pyramids and such a spectacular experience! Probably a 2 hour plane ride from Jeruselem, overnight bus trip.
The souq (Market sp)also will outshine any shopping experience you would have in Greece.
The souq (Market sp)also will outshine any shopping experience you would have in Greece.
Nov 18th, 2005, 07:19 AM
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Some confusion here. Israel is Palestine, i.e., the older term Palestine refers to what we now know as Israel including the Occupied Territories. Presently, of course, I'm guessing one can tour the famous religious sites but likely miss certain places like Hebron and maybe Nazareth as too risky. Anyone know?
I took Holy Land trips twice years ago (but resist the term Holy Land BTW for reasons I won't go into) both for about ten days. Once was with an Israeli guide and once with an Arab Christian guide and thus some different sites and experiences. In the one case the tour company included a wonderful visit to Egypt and Jordan and the second trip had a stopover in Athens for several days. Years later we returned to Greece for a more extended visit.
Today while looking back with appreciation for those Israel trips I would not return for political reasons.
ozarksbill
I took Holy Land trips twice years ago (but resist the term Holy Land BTW for reasons I won't go into) both for about ten days. Once was with an Israeli guide and once with an Arab Christian guide and thus some different sites and experiences. In the one case the tour company included a wonderful visit to Egypt and Jordan and the second trip had a stopover in Athens for several days. Years later we returned to Greece for a more extended visit.
Today while looking back with appreciation for those Israel trips I would not return for political reasons.
ozarksbill
Nov 18th, 2005, 08:39 AM
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Susan, you can spend 2 weeks easily in Israel, without even touching Egypt. In addition to the obvious historic sites, there's a lot of eco-tourism (think Ein Gudi, Rosh Hanikra), charming towns with history and art (Tsfat, or Safed in English), the beaches in Eilat, a visit to a kibutz, etc. etc. etc. Let me know if you want some help. I've visited Israel several time, and spent about 8 months there combined...
Regards,
Enrique
Regards,
Enrique
Nov 18th, 2005, 09:27 AM
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Ozark, I wonder where your information is coming from. British divided the Palestine into Jewish and Palestinian part - 1/3 of what was then Palestine. 2/3 went to Jordan by the British Mandate.
So, why are you saying "Israel is Palestine"?
So, why are you saying "Israel is Palestine"?
Nov 18th, 2005, 11:35 AM
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Faina, and ozark
actually, the British first divided the Palestinian mandate (which has nothing to do with the current Palestinian people) into an Arab kindom with a Palestinian majority and a Hashemite king, which was named Jordan, retaining the remaining 23%.
That remaining territory was partinioned in 1948 by a majority of the UN, with roughly half of it going to the arabs and half to the Jews. The next day, Israel proclaimed its independence, and was attacked by all its Arab neighbors. Israel did capture some territory during the war, but also lost some (most notably, access to Jerusalem's old city and the Western Wall). The rest, as they say, is history...
actually, the British first divided the Palestinian mandate (which has nothing to do with the current Palestinian people) into an Arab kindom with a Palestinian majority and a Hashemite king, which was named Jordan, retaining the remaining 23%.
That remaining territory was partinioned in 1948 by a majority of the UN, with roughly half of it going to the arabs and half to the Jews. The next day, Israel proclaimed its independence, and was attacked by all its Arab neighbors. Israel did capture some territory during the war, but also lost some (most notably, access to Jerusalem's old city and the Western Wall). The rest, as they say, is history...
Nov 18th, 2005, 11:48 AM
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We went with a church group to Israel last November and were not able to go into Bethlehem or Jericho at that time. We did go to Eilat and from there on a day trip into Jordan to see Petra. It was a wonderful trip, although my husband doesn't feel friendly toward the camel he rode.
Nov 19th, 2005, 06:38 AM
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Maybe this is a semantic discussion. What I meant was only that Palestine seems to me a pre-modern Israel geographic term. Am I wrong? I recognize the large population of Palestinians, many living in Occupied Lands or Gaza or wherever including Jordan, etc. So are the many people in territory controlled by Israel now living in a semi-autonomous state called Palestine?
I know the tragic history, but what is the correct geographic term?
ozarksbill
I know the tragic history, but what is the correct geographic term?
ozarksbill
Nov 19th, 2005, 07:28 AM
#13
In the late stages of the Turkish empire (up to WW I) there were three administrative districts in the area - Syria (more or less today's Syria and Lebanon,) Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Palestine (Israel and Jordan.) During the British mandate, and firmed up in the Balfour Declaration, two territories were carved out - Palestine and Trans-Jordan ("trans" meaning "across" the River Jordan, i.e., east of the river, or, simply, the "east bank."
The British placed Hashemite Arabs (a minority group) on the Jordanian throne. From the outset, Jordan's population was majority Palestinian Arab, governed by (minority) Hashemite royalty.
The partition of the rest of Palestine (i.e. the west bank and coastal areas) drew a crazy quilt map of Jewish/Muslim areas that would have been impossible for either party to govern. Many feel the map was the result of the British wanting the partition to fail, and setting it up so that the Jewish state could not be viable. In a way, the same thing happened in the partition of India into India and East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan couldn't be governed from the west, and eventually broke away and became Bangladesh. More British geopolitics-with-agenda (IMO.)
After the War of Independence the Israeli borders were more contiguous, but still nearly unworkable, e.g., Jordanian control of East Jerusalem, Syrian control of the Golan, both of which placed armed adversaries virtually yards from each others' population concentrations, created ultra-long lines of communication, etc. The Six-Day War resolved those issues in favor of the Israelis, and those are the lines that are now being blurred and moved as the Palestinian Authority and Israel work on their "land for peace" plans.
When you visit Israel you're visiting Palestine and when you visit Jordan you're also visiting Palestine. The place names have dimensions of "when" as much as "where." It's like visiting the US and Canada and saying "I enjoyed visiting America." You're right, but different people will perceive different geographic locales, not to mention cultural and political distinctions.
The British placed Hashemite Arabs (a minority group) on the Jordanian throne. From the outset, Jordan's population was majority Palestinian Arab, governed by (minority) Hashemite royalty.
The partition of the rest of Palestine (i.e. the west bank and coastal areas) drew a crazy quilt map of Jewish/Muslim areas that would have been impossible for either party to govern. Many feel the map was the result of the British wanting the partition to fail, and setting it up so that the Jewish state could not be viable. In a way, the same thing happened in the partition of India into India and East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan couldn't be governed from the west, and eventually broke away and became Bangladesh. More British geopolitics-with-agenda (IMO.)
After the War of Independence the Israeli borders were more contiguous, but still nearly unworkable, e.g., Jordanian control of East Jerusalem, Syrian control of the Golan, both of which placed armed adversaries virtually yards from each others' population concentrations, created ultra-long lines of communication, etc. The Six-Day War resolved those issues in favor of the Israelis, and those are the lines that are now being blurred and moved as the Palestinian Authority and Israel work on their "land for peace" plans.
When you visit Israel you're visiting Palestine and when you visit Jordan you're also visiting Palestine. The place names have dimensions of "when" as much as "where." It's like visiting the US and Canada and saying "I enjoyed visiting America." You're right, but different people will perceive different geographic locales, not to mention cultural and political distinctions.
Nov 19th, 2005, 08:16 AM
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Thanks, Gardyloo, for clearing up some geographical matters. The historical background helps, and I like your mention of the "when" along with the "where" when talking about Palestine. So you think Israel and Palestine are really one and the same? How about the so-called Palestinian State...it isn't simply a portion of Israel?
ozarksbill
ozarksbill
Nov 19th, 2005, 08:36 AM
#15
<i>How about the so-called Palestinian State...it isn't simply a portion of Israel?</i>
Of course not. Gaza was never part of the State of Israel, and Gaza will be part of the State of Palestine, or whatever title they give it. Some bits of the State of Palestine will be former parts of the State of Israel, others will be once-upon-a-time parts of Jordan, others part of UN trust areas like the Gaza strip.
Sorry there aren't too many simple answers.
Of course not. Gaza was never part of the State of Israel, and Gaza will be part of the State of Palestine, or whatever title they give it. Some bits of the State of Palestine will be former parts of the State of Israel, others will be once-upon-a-time parts of Jordan, others part of UN trust areas like the Gaza strip.
Sorry there aren't too many simple answers.
Dec 17th, 2005, 07:49 PM
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With our two preteen girls, we did both Greece and Israel. We went on a tour in Israel that was geared to families with teens and preteens. We liked Israel much better than Greece--the archeological sites and historical sites are well preserved and well presented--and we thought the food was better in Israel, too. In Greece, we toured Athens, Delphi, Poros and the Pelopennese. I highly suggest touring Mystras, a very magical place.
