Mass Tourism in Petra - the Sad and Ugly Truth
Getting to Petra - A Practical Guide
'A Tomb with a View' - Death and the Nabateans
Exploring Petra - The Street of Facades, Ampitheatre and High Place of Sacrifice
Standing In Awe Before Petra's Treasury
According to archaeologists, it is not that easy to date the Treasury precisely since there are few inscriptions or ceramic evidence left but their best working assumption is that because of its important location (the foot of the Siq) it was a tomb for the Nabatean King Aretas IV (who reigned from 9B CE to 40 CE…
Petra's Siq in Pictures
Petra’s ‘Siq’ is a gorge which stretches for over a kilometre, and consists of extraordinary rock formations that soar high and turn the sandstone all kinds of colours, according to the time of the day At certain points the gorge is so narrow, almost no light can come in. At other points, the warm sun turns the rocks rrange, red, brown and rose-coloured. Astonishing.
The Nabatean ‘Siq’ - my First Glimpse of Petra
And as we walk further along the Siq, suddenly I realise why all those who have come before me have found it so impressive. The path drops down, and suddenly I’m flanked on both sides by enormous rocks that soar high into the sky (my guess is more than 60 metres!) The colours are astonishing and the formations are like nothing I have ever seen before…
"Cheap Alternative to Bus, ma'am?"
Eduardo, however, is freaking out …and with good reason. You see, he grew up in Mexico City where robberies and kidnappings were rife, so the first thing he thinks when he sees the empty backpacks is “Twelve People have been shot and dumped out on the highway and w’re next.” Trying to allay his fears is going to be tough, if not impossible.
A Special Kind of Tax
Me and My Leica: Budapest - by Roy Katzenberg
The Sharing Economy - Playing a Big Part in the Conservation of Resources - by Robert Nachum
We own so much and consume constantly – and the adverse effect on our planet is evident. Startups like Rideshare and BlaBlaCar mean it’s never been easier to reduce your carbon footprint. By connecting people who drive to those who need a ride, empty seats are filled, drivers offset their costs, passengers get a cheaper ride and – hey presto – the roads are less congested
Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Street in pictures
The Archaeological Find of the 20th Century? Israel's Dead Sea Scrolls
The Scrolls are considered to be of extraordinary importance due to the tremendous insight they give us into Jewish society in Israel during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, as well as the origins of rabbinical Judaism. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, they encompass a variety of subjects and literary styles. They also include fragments of manuscripts from almost every book in the Hebrew Bible...
"Hoops for Kids" - Sport, Mentoring and Fun, All Rolled into One
The kids seem to love it though…and over the course of three hours rotate from one activity to another. After basketball there’s lacrosse, then football (or soccer as the Yanks call it!), followed by banner-painting, bouncy castles and face-painting. And, least I forget, volunteers are running popcorn and candy floss stands which are, of course, an enormous hit...
"Travels with Myself and Another" - A Memoir of a Woman Ahead of her Time
The book is a true travel narrative. Gellhorn was a brave and sometimes reckless woman (well, you'd have to be, to marry Hemmingway) and the tales she recounts here are what she calls her “horror stories” - that is the hardship of travelling in less developed parts of the world (some of them actual war zones...)
Street Art, Florentin Style - Tel Aviv Graffiti in Pictures
Walking around Floretin, you'll notice how much of the artwork you see if painted on the gates and doors of businesses. Most of the artists are anonymous but a trained eye can spot signature pieces, according to themes. Edgy, creative and often very provocative, enjoy the wildlife, cubes and even Alice in Wonderland on your wanderings...
Trendy Galleries, Grungy Bars and Cheap Eats - Welcome to ‘Hipster’ Florentin
With its maze of one-way streets, public transport is scare, which makes Florentin a great place to explore on foot. Don’t miss the fabulous Levinsky Market (selling spices, nuts, grains, olives etc, Anita - a legendary ice cream shop (think fig, halva and date flavours), complete with chandelier, and bespoke furniture stores...
A New Year's Eve Mission - by Veronica Holmgren
A force as strong as two Swedish girls out to get their New Year's kisses is a sight to behold. It had just stopped raining and we hailed a cab and told the driver to take us to Rothschild Boulevard. The traffic was awful so I gave the driver a pep talk - after all, we were on a mission. I informed him that we we were entirely in his hands and here I must add that one should never tell an Israeli cab driver this unless you are REALLY in a hurry. You have been warned!
Bar Hopping in Tel Aviv - Part IV: Jaffa
Tucked away in a tiny, secluded courtyard, close to Jaffa’s famous Clock Tower, you’ll find this ‘garden wine bar.’ This is a real local’s place, that serves as a deli in the day (cheeses, pates, breads, olives, etc.) and a wine bar/food joint by night. Great atmosphere, very laid back and an easy place to fall into conversation with other customers...