TEL AVIV
THE NYC OF ISRAEL
A massive city, with fun times,
and of course it is on the water.
There is a lively nightlife scene,
and the town is not as religious
as Jerusalem. For example,
Jerusalem is pretty adamant
about Shabbat, meaning that from
sundown Friday night to Saturday
morning about 80% of the city is
closed. If you are not an observer
of Shabbat, it is the perfect time
to party it up in Tel Aviv.
The wedding we originally went for was
in Jerusalem, so we chose to stay there the
entire time. Israel is not a big country, so I
suggest hiring a driver for easy travel from
one place to another, however it is on the
pricey side.
With gorgeous hotels all throughout Israel,
each one is quite modern. The food is
insanely tasty and the rooms are stunning.
Our room had a gorgeous view of the Old
City of Jerusalem, definitely a treat to wake
up to every morning. The Orient Hotel had
a luxurious rooftop pool complete with a
beautiful bar and incredible music. The ho-
tel is also very kid-friendly, watching other
families travelling with their children and
enjoying all that Israel had to offer made me
wish that my kids came with us, but we will
be back!
A short ten minute walk from our hotel
lies The Old City. In the Old City are the
markets, Kotel (The Western Wall), Church
of the Holy Sepulchre and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Please keep in mind that these are holy and
religious sites, where you must observe their
traditions and be respectful. Men must wear
pants and women must have their shoulders
and knees covered. Be sure to bring a letter
to the Kotel where you can drop it into the
crevices outside of the wall. When leaving
the wall it is respectful to walk away directly
facing it as to never turn your back to it.
It is a beautiful and unforgettable expe-
rience, filled with intense emotional, yet
incredible moments! I highly recommend
joining in on this part of Israeli culture.
Jerusalem is predominantly kosher and
the food is outstanding. Our favourite
restaurant was one by Jaffa Gate, called The
Eucalyptus. My husband and I first walked
by the restaurant and fell in love with its
charming atmosphere. The music and drink
selection also added to this comforting vibe
that is found in most areas of Israel. Israeli’s
are quite the mixologists in both music and
cocktails!
Finally, while in Jerusalem check out The
First Station! It is essentially an old rail-
road station that was reimagine into a long
closed-off street filled with installations,
restaurants, shops, street art, music and fes-
tivals. It is definitely a country with intense
nightlife!
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