Local Knowledge

Israelis

Hebrew is a guttural language and most people speak quite loudly, wave their arms a lot and get close to the people they are talking to. Do not be alarmed! They are not quarrelling. On the contrary they are being friendly! Israelis are often accused of being pushy and inquisitive, but the good news is that they are always ready to help, so never be afraid to ask if you need it. In an emergency, you only have to yell and you will be surrounded by people offering aid!

Money

The common denomination of Israeli currency is the shekel. You will find Exchange offices on the high streets of most cities. The rate is better than in a bank and you don’t have to stand in line! U.S. currency is widely accepted, so you don’t have to be under pressure to exchange your money although obviously some local currency is always useful. Traveller’s checks are accepted but credit cards and cash are usually easier to use. In rare cases, personal checks will be accepted. You will find an ATM (known as a caspomat) outside most banks. You may be surprised to see people queuing in the street to withdraw money. Israel’s streets are generally safe and people don’t worry about being mugged! Check with your bank card or credit card company that your card will be accepted in Israel. When you use an ATM you will receive shekels for the amount you requested and the U.S. dollar amount will be deducted from your account. This eliminates some service fees that banks charge.

Weather/Climate

Israel strictly speaking has only two seasons, Winter and Summer. Autumn is a brief period where the weather begins to get colder and Spring is equally short as the days get longer and warmer again. These are the times of the hamsin or sharav, a few hot dry days, often with high winds, that may break with a sudden unexpected rainstorm that is over in hours, or even minutes. The average temperature can change greatly depending on where you are in the country. Even after the hottest day, Jerusalem temperatures will drop to pleasant at night (in winter they are really cold!). The Galilee, Golan and the Dead Sea also offer cooler evenings as relief from the hot days, while in Eilat nights are almost as hot as days for most of the year. Fortunately the high temperatures there are not accompanied by humidity! (Tel Aviv is much less pleasant in the summer, in spite of the temperatures being up to 15? less than Eilat, because of its high humidity.)

Flora

Spring in Israel brings the most amazing displays of wild flowers. Even the desert blooms! There are over 1,200 recorded species of flowering plants in Israel and each area has its own specialties. Many of the flowers we take for granted originated in Israel. The anemone and the poppy are but two examples! Israel is famous for its irises and there are several species unique to Israel. Indeed each is unique to its own little corner of Israel.

Birds

Anyone who comes to Israel between February and April is in for a treat. Israel is world famous as the trans-aerial highway for migrating birds! In the Autumn and Spring millions of birds fly over on their way to warmer climes. Many stop over in Israel. Often you can look up and see the sky full of eagles, storks or pelicans! The fish ponds are a great attraction to the water birds, amongst them flamingos, cranes and egrets. Kingfishers and hoopoes live in Israel all year round. From the bird observatory in Eilat to the Hula reserves of the Northern Galilee, Israel is a bird-watchers’ paradise!

Water

Water is a precious commodity in Israel. Try not to waste it. When your hotel says that by hanging your towel up again rather than having it changed you will be helping to save water, they are telling the truth not trying to save on their laundry bills. Tap water in Israel is safe to drink everywhere but does not always have the greatest taste. (The water in the north is the best!) Bottled water is readily available. It is important to drink a lot (4 litres a day in the summer) so I recommend that you invest in a water-bottle holder, so that the water can be carried comfortably on your shoulder. Drink a lot BEFORE setting out for the day. Don’t worry about having to make frequent trips to the bathroom, this is a good sign! If you don’t need the bathroom you are not drinking enough. Bathrooms in Israel are reasonably civilized - no holes in the ground as in other Middle Eastern countries!

Food

You can get just about every style of cooking in the world in Israel. The immigrants from every corner of the globe have brought their favourite dishes with them. Israel was also the first country to give a refuge to the Vietnamese boat people. (Almost thirty years ago they were refugees. Now they and their children run some of the best authentic Asian restaurants in Israel) Jewish dietary laws demand that food be kosher, but do not assume that every eating place in Israel is therefore kosher. Many places are NOT kosher (in deference to Muslim, Christian and other residents, and also to non-observant Jews.) Kosher restaurants with certification will always be closed on Shabbat (Saturday) but there are places that serve only kosher food but cannot obtain a licence because they open on the Sabbath.

Electricity

If you plan on taking any electrical appliances such as a hair dryer, travel iron or shaver, you will need to obtain an adapter. It must be capable of converting 110 volts to 220 volts. Make sure your adapter is rated to provide ample current for your appliance.