AMAZING ISRAELText and Photography by Tania Rodriguez
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A trip to Israel can be daunting in light of political tension, but for my two friends and I it was a chance of a lifetime since we were already in Cairo.
We planned to stay with my friend Matthew's |
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extended family in Tel Aviv for a week. After a long stay in Cairo, Israel was a breath of fresh air. The contrast between both cultures was like night and day. In Cairo I had to cover three-fourths of my body including my hair. In Israel, young women just out of high school joined young men in the military where they trained side by side.
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Israel is a strikingly beautiful and clean country and Tel Aviv is so modern it could have easily been a city in Western Europe. A common sight was the men and women in chic outfits cruising down the Mediterranean Sea under the warm sun. The city had plenty of shopping, eating and sightseeing but my pilgrimage was to Jerusalem and I was anxious to visit this holy city, the site of three major religions - Islam, Judaism and Christianity. After a quick bus ride, we entered the cobblestone streets where we were greeted by street vendors selling everything from rosaries and religious memorabilia to clothes. We followed the footsteps of Jesus along the same streets he trod, remembering how he painfully carried the cross before his crucifixion and then visited the Wall of David where I had to wear a skirt over my slacks as a form of respect. I watched people of all ages walk towards the wall nodding their heads in prayer. As I walked away, I was told to walk backwards, facing the Wall, as a form of respect. The Dome of the Rock Next we visited the Dome of the Rock, which is a very sacred site for Muslims. It was beautiful and enormous. The dome-shaped top of the building was a quite a spectacular sight with its gold plated decor. We were not allowed inside because of a religious holiday but just admiring it from afar gave me great satisfaction. I was baffled at the complexity of the relationship between these three major religions. Jerusalem is the one city where these three religions reside and have a deep-rooted history, but there are differences that separate the people. The Dead Sea
We arrived to the Ahava Spa where we followed another group of people into the locker rooms to change into bathing suits. Next we were directed to a large tub of mud directly from the Dead Sea and applied the mud all over our bodies - the mud that contains wonderful minerals that detoxify and tone your skin. As we walked towards the Dead Sea, the hot sun dried the mud on our bodies to give it its full effect. Once by the water, we carefully dipped in trying hard not to get any in our eyes, as it is the saltiest water anyone can encounter. The Dead Sea being the lowest point of the earth has a large salt content that will keep you afloat as well as help take toxins out of your body. It was a weird sensation, but I will try anything once and the nasty smelling sulfur baths were no exception. They smell like rotten eggs, but it is essential to remain soaking for as long as possible in order to complete the whole spa treatment.
Israel was not what I had expected. It was a lot more peaceful than I had heard in the news and it was cosmopolitan beyond expectation.There were large Ethiopian, African-American and Latino Jewish communities bound together, not by their skin color or cultural background, but by their religion. A quick word of advice - just remember to follow the customs practiced here, and you will enjoy your visit as much as I did.
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Now it was back to Tel Aviv to prepare for our final Israeli destination, the Dead Sea. We wanted to experience the rejuvenation that the Dead Sea provides first hand. Some have even referred to it as the "fountain of youth." There doesn't seem to be much to explore and see as there is to experience.
The baths are meant to complement the detoxification and healing effects of the mud and salt water. This fountain of youth is one I will remember forever. It was ironic when I noticed that my friends and I were the minority among a group of visitors that were at least 30 years old. Before we left, I made sure I got some Ahava mud and salt products to take home for my own "Bathtub of Youth."