Israel/2 Bradt

by Wilson, Samantha

• ISBN13: 9781841623627
• ISBN10: 1841623628
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-01-10
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Summary

Israel is a land of dramatic contrasts where three world religions--Judaism, Christianity and Islam--meet in stunning landscapes, where ancient architecture stands next to modern, where the fertile north spills into the arid southern desert and where the secular live alongside the devout. This second edition gives practical tips on the top hotels and restaurants plus all the information to get the best from Israel's range of attractions. From archaeological remains of Crusader castles and Roman cities, scuba diving off Eilat's coast, marveling at the mountainous Golan Heights to floating in the Dead Sea, Bradt's Israelis the perfect traveling companion, enlightening and enhancing every trip.

Excerpts

“Israel is a land of dramatic and poignant contrasts, a land whose tumultuous existence often forms a shadow over the rich and vibrant life that beats beneath it, a land of incredible beauty, variety and character. Upon this soil have walked some of the greatest figures of our past, a ground that has seen the birth of World religions and the passionate battles that ensued to protect them.

From the snow-capped peaks that straddle the northern border with Syria, to its barren and eerily beautiful expanse of rock deserts that form the gateway to Egypt and Africa beyond, the country leaves few landscapes unrepresented. As a meeting point between the cold steppes of Europe and the desert lands of the Syrian African Rift Valley, Israel is a country geographically (and politically) divided. The swirl of green valleys, tree-studded hills and trickling streams that form the northern region are dotted with towns that have stood the tests of time, their inhabitants displaying a vibrant mesh of beliefs, traditions and cultures that remain proud and strong.

In contrast are the arid lands of the south, vast craters, tiny isolated settlements and the inhospitable beauty of the Dead Sea swallowed up in their midst. The lively, cosmopolitan hub of Tel Aviv takes pleasure in its role as the country’s economic, commercial and diplomatic centre, its wild beaches and secular way of life providing Jerusalem’s diametric opposite. Jerusalem; few, if any cities on this planet can attest to the life that this incredible city has lived, its will-power, determination and passion to survive having seen it rise above all else that has come its way. Forming the cross on the map where the World’s three biggest religions converge, it is a place like no other, one that leaves even the most religiously apathetic of visitors in awe.

Israel is a modern country that has created, thanks to its millions of immigrants, countless faiths and numberless cultures, a charm and uniqueness like nowhere else on earth. Combine this with its rich historic, geological and natural treasures and it is instantly apparent why so many have fought for so long to keep it.”