Visit to Israel and Jordan

Five women and I spent two weeks in Israel and Jordan in October ’04.

I made our arrangements directly with Walter Zanger (Einkarem, Simtat ha-Yekev 4 Jerusalem 95745, Israel; e-mail walterz@netvision.net.il). This is the fourth time that I have used Walter as a guide. He is one of the best in Israel.

For his driver/guide services and van (which he rented for two weeks), Walter charged the six of us a total of $375 per day plus, outside of Jerusalem, the cost of his hotel room. Also accompanying us on the trip was Paula Barnard (e-mail barnard@aol.com), acting as tour leader.

Walter had Paula make our hotel and other arrangements through his Israel travel agent. My total cost for the land portion was $3,759, which included five nights at the King David Hotel. Several in our group chose the YMCA across the street, a cheaper hotel option, for a total cost of $3,179 each.

The price included van hire and all transportation, entrance fees, lectures by Walter and an Arab guide for the three days that we spent in Jordan. Full buffet Israeli breakfasts were included with all 14 hotel nights. Six dinners were included plus a surprise Friday night dinner at Walter and Paula’s house.

I have been to Israel many times, but this was my first time staying at the King David. It was a wonderful experience. The rooms were very comfortable. One of the highlights of the stay was its main dining room for breakfast.

Paula and Walter met us at the airport in Jerusalem. We toured the city and did a marvelous walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. One afternoon I went to the Hadassah Medical Center while the rest of the group went to Yad Vashem.

Heading for the Galilee, we stopped at Beit Shean in the Jordan Valley. We spent four nights at the Kibbutz Kfar Blum Guesthouse. Four generations of my relatives live on the kibbutz, and the food there was marvelous.

Other stops included the Nemrod Fortress on the border with Syria near Mount Herman; Gamla in the Galilee; Tzippori and Beit She’arim, both very interesting; the caves at Rosh Ha-Nikra, on the border with Lebanon; Akko; Caesarea, a Roman town built by King Herrod, and Tel Aviv.

Walter drove us to Petra, Jordan. We had no trouble crossing the border, but we had to leave our van in Eilat. We hired an Arab guide and another van with a driver and late that day arrived at the Mövenpick Hotel, where we stayed two nights. About a block from the entrance to Petra, this is an excellent Swiss hotel. This was my second visit to Petra. I enjoyed spending the day walking around. New tombs have been discovered under the Treasury.

Walter then drove us to Ein Gedi on the Dead Sea. On the way we spent a couple of hours touring Masada in Israel. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Dead Sea, where I enjoyed a massage.

The next day we returned to Jerusalem and spent several hours at the Israel Museum. I had a chance to see the Art Wing and several other galleries that I hadn’t seen before. I would recommend the gift shops at the museum for special gifts made in Israel.

The next day Walter drove us to Ben Gurion Airport for our trip home.

The weather in Israel was very warm for October. I did go swimming at the Dead Sea but in the Olympic pool; the Dead Sea is too salty for me. This was a wonderful trip. The people were very friendly and I felt safe.

MARLENE SNEDAKER
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ