Saturday, October 14:Depart U.S., evening flight Sunday, October 15 Welcome to Israel A member of our staff will meet you upon arrival at Passport Control at Ben Gurion Airport to assist you with arrival procedures. He will then see you to your guide, driver and touring vehicle for the transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv to check in and freshen up. Enjoy an opening Dinner and Orientation is included for you tonight at 'Blackout' the only restaurant in Israel in which the waiters are blind or sight-impaired. It is part of the new Na Lagaat ("Please Do Touch") center located in the old Jaffa port. The restaurant is kosher, serves dairy vegetarian food and fish, and operates in complete darkness. The hostesses take the patrons' food orders in the lighted bar area outside the restaurant and transmit the orders to the kitchen. The blind waiters and waitresses then greet the visitors in the dimly-lit restaurant vestibule and lead them into the pitch-dark restaurant. The visitors are seated and dine in complete darkness. Overnight Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv 1
Monday, October 16 Touring in Tel Aviv After breakfast meet your guide, driver and touring vehicle. Drive over to Jaffa, one of the oldest biblical cities in the world and an important seaport since antiquity. Visit the restored Old City including the artists' colony and the quaint harbor. Jaffa has much to offer in the way of art galleries, gift shops and restaurants found tucked away amongst the winding, cobblestone streets. While here in Jaffa, meet Ms. Doris Hiffawi, a n d h e a r h e r h u m o r o u s a n d entertaining life story and family history including being married off as a teenager and growing up as a Christian-Arab in Jaffa. Stop to have Malabi, a thick Turkish drink (own account). Proceed to the Levinsky Shuk (Market), one of the finest markets in Tel Aviv, specializing in spices and Mediterranean delicacies. Meet up with a local market expert who will take you on a tour of the marketplace and introduce you to the shopkeepers to see all their wonderful produce. Hear their stories and sample their wares offering mostly spices and delicatessen products from a wide variety of choices. Meet an expert guide and take a stroll through the streets of Tel Aviv where among the shadowy carpentries and garages, are hidden unknown works of Graffiti art. Stroll on through Neve Zedek, one of the first neighborhoods of Tel Aviv, for a short tour to see the meticulously restored historic homes. Overnight Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv Round off the day at the Culinary Center to meet an experienced chef who will give you a menu for dinner, split into groups and have some fun with the chef preparing a gourmet meal. After practicing your skills in the kitchen, all sit down for a feast you cooked yourselves. 2
Tuesday, October 17 Along the coast to the Galilee Check out of your hotel this morning. Depart Tel Aviv heading north toward Zichron Yaacov, at the foot of the Carmel mountain ridge, visit the Tishbi Winery that overlooks the vineyards of the estate. The Tishbi Winery includes a tourist center where y o u can hear how their wine is made and taste their produce. You will also be invited to taste their gourmet chocolate to learn how the connection of the two tastes creates a unique concept. Continue along the coast to the ancient city of Akko. Enjoy lunch in Akko at the Uri Buri Restaurant. After lunch tour, Akko, once the Crusader capital of the North and now a city of mixed Arab and Jewish populations. Walk on the city walls to the harbor, and through the colorful markets, to visit the huge underground Crusader Halls. Drive on via the Galilee to your hotel and check in. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure taking advantage of the hotel facilities and the spa treatments on offer (should be reserved in advance not included in the cost). You may also like to swim in the indoor pool or relax in the outdoor Jacuzzi that has a magnificent view of the Galilee. A fish/dairy/vegetarian dinner is included for you tonight at your hotel with ingredients from the hotels' Organic Farm. Overnight Mitzpe Hayamim Spa Hotel, Galilee 3
Wednesday, October 18 The Golan Heights Overnight Mitzpe Hayamim Spa Hotel, Galilee This morning drive up to one of the highest mountains on the Golan Heights, the Bental Volcano, which will give you a terrific view of the Israeli/ Syria lines as you hear of the importance of this area to Israel. Continue to a Druze Village for a cooking workshop. This unique religious and ethnic minority family that live in Israel, will explain what it's like keeping their traditions while living in Israel and show you how to prepare a traditional Druze meal. Round off the visit with lunch sharing the food you made during the workshop. After lunch visit the Assaf Boutique Winery where seven different types of grapes are grown for wines. Tour the winery to view the state-ofthe-art on-site laboratory which provides inspection services for this winery and other boutique wineries in the area. Their barrel room contains more than 150 barrels where the wine ages, matures and takes on its wonderful taste and fragrance. Hear an explanation of the entire production process. Now it is time to board awaiting jeeps to descend the Golan Heights. During the course of the expedition, you will pass former Syrian army headquarters and positions overlooking the Galilee. In the late afternoon, meet a local chef in the scenic outdoors to take part in a Galilean style cooking workshop where you will prepare a meal together. Round off the visit by partaking of the gourmet meal outside in the hills. 4
Thursday, October 19 From Galilee along the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem Enjoy the morning at leisure taking advantage of the hotel facilities and the spa treatments on offer (should be reserved in advance not included in the cost). You may also like to swim in the indoor pool or relax in the outdoor Jacuzzi that has a magnificent view of the Galilee. At noon check out of your hotel. Head south to Stop off at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu situated in the fertile Beit Shean Valley. Meet an expert who will take you on a tour of this unique Kibbutz that boasts clean air and a chemical free environment, view organic farming at its best. Learn about the biological pesticides that are mass produced as natural enemies for biological pest control. Also, see how Barn Owls are used. Hear how bumble bees help form natural pollination in greenhouses and open fields, all this is used to protect the environment. Round off the visit with a typical Kibbutz lunch. Drive on along the Jordan Valley and ascend to Jerusalem. Before entering the eternal city, take a moment to stop at Mount Scopus and participate in an emotional moment when the group partakes in an age-old tradition of saying the "Shehecheyanu" and "Borei Pri Hagefen" blessing as pilgrims did when approaching Jerusalem for centuries. Arrive at your hotel and check in. 5
Thursday, October 19 continued This afternoon meet Nurit Hertz and take part in an Indian, vegetarian workshop, learn about the special spices, herbs, and ingredients used as you will cook an Indian style meal. Conclude the workshop by enjoying the food you cooked. Late in the evening head to the crowded ultraorthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim to meet an expert who will take you on a special evening tour of this ultra-orthodox area. Smell the aroma of fresh challah from the bakeries as you watch the people begin making their early preparations for Shabbat. Overnight David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem Friday, October 20 Touring in Jerusalem Enjoy a late start today at some of the neighborhoods of Jerusalem such as the Nachlaot area where there are quaint small synagogues pressed up against newly restored residences and colorful alleyways. Continue to the Mahane Yehuda open-air market in Jerusalem to see how the locals do their shopping in preparation for Shabbat. Meet with a culinary expert who will take you on a special tour by introducing you to some of the shopkeepers to see their wonderful produce and hear their stories and sample their produce. Return to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure. You may like to take a walk to Mishkenot Shananeem, the first Jewish neighborhood outside of the Old City walls developed by Moshe Montefiore. Or head to the Mamilla outdoor Shopping Promenade for some shopping at the 6
Friday, October 20 continued exclusive shops and boutiques situated along the walkway there are many restaurants and sidewalk cafes to dine in (own account). Towards the evening make your way to the Old City to welcome the Shabbat at the Kotel (Western Wall) and notice how people from all corners of the world gather together with one purpose in mind, to welcome the Shabbat Bride at the holiest place on earth for Judaism. Tonight you will be hosted by an Israeli family who will welcome you into their home to share Shabbat meal enjoy good food, wine, and lively conversation. Overnight David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem Saturday, October 21 The Southwestern Frontier Depart your hotel heading south to the observation point overlooking the Gaza Strip, see where rockets were launched into Israel and learn from your guide about the current situation. Continue to Moshav Talmey Yoseph where the homing pigeons will arrive to. Take an interesting agricultural hi-tech tour with a local Agronomist in the Moshav greenhouses. Pick and taste a variety of organic vegetables followed by a typical farmer's style lunch cooked on open fires in the special "poyke" mode of cooking. Conclude the day at a boutique Winery to enjoy a tour and sampling of their excellent produce. Return to your hotel to freshen up. Dinner is included for you tonight at Machneyuda Restaurant (pending availability). Overnight David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem 7
Sunday, October 22 Lehitraot Drive over to the Old City of Jerusalem and enter through one of the famous gates. Enjoy winding through the narrow, busy streets, and colorful Bazaars filled with small shops where you will meet a culinary expert who will take you on a special tour of the marketplace and introduce you some of the shop keepers to see their wonderful produce, hear their personal stories and sample their wares. Now enjoy some time for last minute shopping (or an optional guided tour of the Old City) before returning to your hotel to check out (late check out is included). Your guide, driver and touring vehicle will meet you prior to your departure flight. Drive to Majda Restaurant for a farewell dinner before your transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your departure flight. A member of our staff will assist you with departure procedures. 8