NordenBladet – The Museum of Pizza (MoPi) is slated to run at an undisclosed location between October 13 and 28. The Brooklyn-based media company behind the concept, it’s “the world’s first experiential pizza adventure.”
Although MoPi is NYC’s first museum devoted to the pies, the Pizza Hut Museum recently opened at Wichita State University in Kansas. There’s also Pizza Brain in Philadelphia, which houses the world’s first museum dedicated to the Italian sensation, and Chicago’s U.S. Pizza Museum.
“Pizza is more than a food—it’s a cultural phenomenon that transcends geography and language,” said Kareem Rahma, CEO of Nameless Network and founder of MoPi. “With The Museum of Pizza, we’re combining our passion for storytelling and pop culture to fuel discovery, friendship, art, music, and selfies. Lots of selfies.”
For US$35, visitors can go on a made-for-Instagram expedition, which includes a cheese cave, pizza beach, pizza art gallery and one gratis slice. Tickets are available for pre-sale at themuseumofpizza.org.
NordenBladet – Åland (in Finnish Ahvenanmaa and in Swedish Åland) is an archipelago consisting of over 6500 island in the Baltic Sea that forms a self-governing Åland province. The population of Åland is Swedish-speaking and the only official language is Swedish. Åland belongs to Finland, except a part of the island of Märket, and it is autonomous. Åland has its own laws, citizenship and stamps. Fasta Åland is the largest island in the archipelago. It is surrounded by smaller islands. There is the Sea of Åland in the south, South Kvarken in the west and the Gulf of Botnia in the north. There is a notional border between Åland and Åboland archipelago.
We often do not have much time on our trips, and we have to decide what to take and what to leave. Here are 10 most interesting sights that you should definitely visit on this amazing island. Let’s start with Mariehamn.
Badhusberget, Mariehamn
The most beautiful view on Mariehamn can be enjoyed from the town’s oldest water tower – Badhusberget. You can drive a car up the hill. You are able to see the iridescent water from above, as well as old bridges, a church, a passenger port and a windjammer Pommern. The observation platform situates on the west side of Mariehamn, quite close to the passenger port.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLglJ3vMGX4
The Flying P-Liner Pommern museum ship
It is a unique over one hundred years old four-masted barque that has remained in its original form. Between the world wars, Pommern was one of largest windjammers belonging to Gustaf Erikson – a shipowner from Åland. He was the owner of the biggest sailing fleet in his time. There are exhibitions on the decks, and one can also watch a documentary about Pommern. There is the Åland Maritime Museum next to the museum ship where you can see a real pirate’s flag among other things.
The Pommern (formerly the Mneme was built in 1903 in Scotland) is a four-masted sailing and museum ship that is considered one of the symbols of Åland. The ship is anchored in the western harbour of Åland, and it is open to visitors in its original form. The ship was built as a cargo ship in 1903 in Scotland. The ship was used to carry saltpetre and later grain from Australia to England and Ireland and timber from Finland and South-Africa to Australia. The ship had the capacity of 49 000 bags of grain. Gustav Erikson bought the ship from Greece in 1923, and it was brought to Åland. Pommern made his last voyage in 1939. The ship has been anchored in Mariehamn’s harbour since the Second World War. The heirs of Erikson gave the ship to the town that restored it.
Finström church
The medieval church of Finström is located on the main island of Åland, 5 km from Godby. The patron saint of the church is Saint Michael. The church has preserved several medieval frescos that were whitewashed during the Reformation and have been cleaned out by now. There are very valuable wooden sculptures of various saints. A lovely churchyard and surroundings.
Borgboda
It is a village in Saltvik. Ida’s stuga: you can acquaint yourself with Ida Jansson’s a bit sad biography and her stuga. Water pelargoniums in return! Viking castle: Borgboda is the biggest of Åland Vikings’ fortresses. The path up the hill is lined with exciting wooden sculptures that are inspired by Vikings’ mythology. There are only the remains of the stone foundation. A magnificent view from the top of the mountain! The wooden sculptures show the way to the viewing site.
Getabergen – Geta mountains
Åland has two large mountains, Orrdalsklint and a mountain in Geta. Orrdalsklint is the highest point in Åland, it is 128 metres above sea level. There is a wonderful view over the tiny islands surrounding the main island that compensates for the difficulty of climbing uphill. Geta mountain is the second highest mountain in Åland, it is 99 meters above sea level. You can even see the coast of Sweden on a clear day. An observation tower, miniature golf, a café, a very good restaurant, cabin houses, as well as a hiking trail that gets past the blockfield and the cave Getagrottan. Pay attention to the signs on the cliffs not to get lost!
The ruins of the Bomarsund fortress
The fortress was constructed by the Russian Empire in the first half of the 19th century. It was destroyed in the Crimean War in 1854. The main fortress has the outer wall made of hexagonal red granite stones. You can drive a car to the ruins of two defence towers at the top of the mountain where once again you can enjoy a spectacular view over Djävulsberget and Notvikstornet. Read also the article about Bomarsund. More information, videos and a computerised reconstruction of the fortress HERE.
Kastelholm
Kastelholm is the main tourist destination of Åland as several most visited sights are situated there. Kastelholm castle is the only medieval castle in the Åland Islands. It is partly refurbished. You can visit the Outdoor Museum Jan Karlsgården next to the castle that introduces the farm culture of Åland in the 19th century. Furthermore, there is a prison museum Vita Björn. In this old prison, you can see how the cells have looked like in Finland at various times in the past. More information and videos about Kastelholm you can find HERE.
Färjsundet
Färjsundet is a place near Godby with one of the most splendid views in Åland. Here is a road tunnel made in the granite cliff (by detonating). The road tunnel leads straight to the high bridge but there is a café and an observation tower on the large cliff mountain above the tunnel. Färjsundet bridge connects the communes of Finström and Saltvik.
Käringsund
Käringsund is a lovely village by the sea, located in Eckerö, the westernmost part of the Åland Islands. The wildlife safari is an experience for the whole family. In 45 minutes it is possible to see various species of deer, boars and ostriches. We highly recommend it! The rustic boathouses and the pier and the natural yachts’ harbour next to the latter is the scenery that brings inner peace. There is suitably also a fishing and hunting museum in the village.
The trip in the Åland archipelago
When you are already in Åland, you should not miss the opportunity to make acquaintance with the real milieu of the archipelago. You can go by ferry. Kökar, which is one of the areas with the wildest nature, is located in the south-east of the Åland archipelago and it is lots of people’s favourite. Franciscan monks constructed a monastery on the island of Hamnö in the 15th century. The ruins of the chapel are next to the church built in the 18th century. When you are pressed for time, you can take a ferry from the main island to Föglö island and spend some hours or more in Degerby. Ferries go there quite often and the trip is only 25 minutes.
NordenBladet – It does not matter where or who you travel with but do it safely. Here you can find some tips in order your trip will come to no good.
1. Think about your health: do not forget to take your European Health Insurance Card. Download the mobile app of the European Health Insurance Card, it is free of charge, and it will help you to get in touch with the medical institution of the country you are visiting. If you travel out of Europe or to the country where the European Health Insurance Card is not valid, get yourself travel insurance. You could also take along a basic first aid kit, like bandages, iodine, disinfecting tissues, etc.
You should visit your doctor before going to an exotic destination, to get your vaccines, if necessary, and to get information about how to protect your health in other ways.
2. Know your rights: it is not important whether you travel by train, plane, bus or ship in the European Union if any delays or cancellations occur or you have some special needs what concerns your mobility, the passenger rights of the European Union will protect you. Download the mobile app of the passenger rights.
3. Do not keep all your money in one place: do not keep all your cash and bank cards in the same place during your trip. Put at least one bank card and some cash somewhere else, preferably not into your pocket. If you lose some of your credit cards or it is stolen, inform the police and contact the card-issuing bank at the first opportunity to disable the card.
4. Do not keep your wallet in your pocket: put your wallet into your first or inner pocket, even better in the pocket that can be closed, to avoid being the victim of thieves.
5. Make electronic copies of your documents: scan your travel documents (identification card, passport, visa) and send them to your email address. So you can always access them in case you should lose the originals. If your identification card or passport are lost or stolen, turn to the local police and contact the closest consulate or embassy.
6. Be careful with the people you do not know: set certain limits on trusting strangers, such as, do not go with them to dangerous neighborhoods or take food or drinks from them. Likewise, do not take packages or presents from strangers.
7. Do not brag about your wealth: it is obvious that wherever you are (particularly in foreign places), it is not reasonable to wear expensive jewellery and clothes or a big and pricey camera. Therefore, try to avoid unnecessary attention not to be the target of thieves.
8. Do not leave your things unattended: it is also quite clear that while being in public areas you should not put your bags in front of your feet or hang them on your seatback. Your luggage should have your name and contacts while travelling and do not leave it unattended until it is registered.
9. Do not fight back: if you are in a situation where somebody is trying to rob you, just give your wallet, watch, telephone, etc. away. If you are trying to fight back, it is possible you will get hurt.
10. Be careful when using your credit card: there might be software saving all your keystrokes in public computers (for instance, in internet cafés) that enables someone else to use your passwords.
11. Be connected: contact your family regularly to keep them informed about your travel plan. So they will know where to find you in case something should happen. It is easier to be connected today as the prices of roaming and internet connection have been reduced almost everywhere.
12. Do your homework: read about your destination to be aware of all the possible safety problems, local customs, areas to avoid, etc.
13. Use public transport wisely: be careful in crowded subways, train stations, elevators, near tourist attractions, at the market and in other places where there are a lot of people. Do not draw attention to yourself and behave like you have been lost. Leave the impression of being confident, even when you are lost indeed. It is not recommended to use unofficial taxis.
Besides all the tips for safe travelling do not forget the most important – use your common sense!
NordenBladet — In 2017, the Finland´s Foreign Ministry received nearly 267,000 travel notifications, up by almost 96,000 on the previous year. This was more than ever before. The number of countries and regions visited was 198.
Matkustusilmoitus.fi is an online service where people can register their travel plans and contact details with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for it to be able to contact them in case of an emergency or a crisis abroad. In the course of last year, travellers who had registered their travel details in the online service were provided information and guidance in 109 emergencies in different parts of the world. Information was sent in cases ranging from natural catastrophes to terrorist attacks.
Demand for the consular services provided by the Ministry and its missions abroad is also on the increase. In 2017, over 67,400 consular assistance cases were recorded compared with 55,000 in 2016.
Finland’s diplomatic and consular missions abroad have the responsibility to provide advice and to help customers find a solution to their situation independently. The missions also provide assistance to Finnish nationals in distress abroad.
The most common reason for seeking consular assistance is an expired or lost passport or other travel document problems. Many countries require a passport that is valid for six months after the end of the visit to their country. Finnish missions abroad granted a total of 18,795 new passports.
In 2017, the first year when identity cards were issued in Finnish missions abroad, a total of 1,875 identity cards were issued.
The majority of the services involved provision of guidance only. Many cases were handled through the Ministry’s 24/7 service which, as required, referred them to the embassy or consulate in question. The Ministry’s 24/7 service is responsible for the on-call arrangements of all diplomatic and consular missions abroad outside their office hours.
In 2017, the missions and the Ministry handled reports of 519 deaths abroad. As many as 432 persons needed consular assistance due to an illness or accident abroad. The missions assisted 175 travellers who had fallen victims of crime and 213 Finns arrested or imprisoned abroad.
The countries with the most cases of consular assistance were Spain (752), Estonia (211), Thailand (187), Sweden (109) and Russia (109).
The most frequently visited content on the Foreign Ministry’s website is travel advice. The Ministry publishes travel advice bulletins on 150 countries, focusing on their long-term security situation.
The Foreign Ministry recommends that all Finns travelling abroad take out a comprehensive travel insurance and that they get familiar with the terms and conditions of the insurance policy in advance.
NordenBladet – Tourest is the oldest and largest travel trade fair in the Baltic countries that has been organized by the Estonian Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ETFL) since 1991. It covers all the main travel segments, offering efficient platform to meet face to face the travel-hungry consumers and the majority of the market’s travel trade professionals who make the purchase decisions. It’s the optimum environment to present your products at the start of the season.
Tourest 2018, organized already for the 27th time, nearly 30 000 visitors wil be expected, who will have a great possibility to familiarize with the over 500 exhibitors from ca 30 countries.
Estonia is a growing market. 26 years of independence have not come close to satisfying the ever-growing motivation for travel and the need for exciting new destinations. In 2016 the number of visits to different countries abroad exceeded the population 3 times.
Nearly 8000 m2 of exhibition area of the Estonian Fairs exhibition centre, located on a pictureresque shore of the Gulf of Finland, is divided into three exhibition halls.
“The Main Hall” accommodates Estonian and international tour operators, travel agencies, transportation and insurance companies, educational institutions, hotels, leisure companies, etc. A special “Global Village” area has been reserved for different international destinations.
“Travellers’ Club” seminar area offers an inspirational programme of different travel destinations. It will definitely be one of the highlights at Tourest 2018 as well as a chance to enhance visibility as a destination.
“Travel ABC” is another seminar area in the Main Hall, where interesting topics connected to travelling will be discussed.
The hall “Visit Estonia!” lines up Estonian national tourism regions and attractions.
In the hall “Taste Estonia!” one finds a large selection of Estonian authentic food and cafeterias offered by Estonian Culinary Route. You could treat yourself during the long days of exhibiton and buy presents for those back at home. On top of that a colourful programme could be enjoyed on the main stage, with games and auctions. There will be a special area and acitivites for kids, organized by the Põlvamaa county.
TOUREST IS OPEN:
Friday, Feb 9 12:00-18:00
Saturday, Feb 10 10:00-18:00
Sunday, Feb 11 10:00-15:00
NordenBladet – Popular tourist destinations in Norway are now available on Google Street View Nature. This feature can be used by tourist who are planning on visiting these destinations so that they can better idea of what the terrain is like. Google Norway believes that this will make hiking safer and decrease the amount of rescues on hiking trails.
Anybody can apply to use Google Norway’s Street view equipment to help them on their mission of recording all of the trails in Norway. The equipment consists of a backpack with 15 cameras that weighs about 20 kilograms. It takes pictures every couple of seconds, which are later put together to create a 360 degree panorama that can be viewed in Google Maps.
“We receive far more application than we have the capacity to accommodate,” Press Manager Helle Skjervold told NRK.
Director of Culture for the Municipality of Odda, Lage Thune Myrberget is excited about the project and believes that it will help prevent dangerous situations that occur when tourists aren’t prepared.
“Consider tourists in Australia, China, USA, Canada that want to come here. This gives them a totally unique opportunity to experience the trip as they plan it. They can see how challenging the first kilometer is,” Myrberget tells NRK.
He hopes that if prospective tourists make use of this new feature, then there will be fewer occurrences of people needing to be saved from the trails due to lack of preparation.
Photo: Trolltunga or “Troll Tongue” in Odda, Hordaland County, Norway (NordenBladet)
NordenBladet – For those people who are used to extra services in hotels meaning a white bathrobe and toiletries will be definitely shocked by the upcoming list. The hotels included in the list are referred to as the most luxurious accommodation in the world. Comfort doesn’t mean breakfast in bed or a blanket corner folded back at night before going to sleep. From personal fireworks to skiing with the olympic winners, it is just a small part of the insane options that can be enjoyed when you’d stay in one of those hotels next time.
Lodge, Sea (Georgia) – butler
You don’t need to fear the hustle of packing your things. Hotel Lodge on the Sea island offers you an opportunity to order a butler who is staying with you 24/7 and who will do all the necessary things from you. Packing your suitcase before leaving, serving milk and pastries in the evenings, preparing your bath with rose petals. Butlers will take care of anything you’d need. The service is available for everyone who is staying in the hotel and the price is included in the room’s price.
Hard Rock hotels – guitar rental
A service named “Sound of Your Stay” is available in 23 hotels and 11 casinos of the Hard Rock Hotels chain and it includes a guitar, audio amplifier and earphones rental, so you could rock in your hotel room without disturbing others.
Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans (Louisiana): personal health therapist
Do you need help to recover from a hangover? During the week of Madri Gras (Shrove Tuesday) the local Ritz-Carlton hotel offers you a chance to recover your health under the professional medical supervision. The service includes serving cocktails and smoothies which ease your hangover so you’d feel as comfortable as possible.
Il Savliatino, Florence (Italy) – champagne bath
In this hotel the guests can order a champagne bath for themselves. Your bath will be filled to the brim with Prosecco, Spumante or the original French champagne. In addition, the bubbly drink will be offered in glasses for zipping. The service fee starts from 9000 dollars and depends largely on the drink you’ll pour to the bath. For those preferring something more sweet, there is a chocolate bath with fruits (that can be dipped into the chocolate) which costs 2700 dollars.
NordenBladet – Solo Sokos Hotel Estoria has attracted attention with the thematic rooms (see HERE) for years, being the only hotel of design and storytelling in Estonia. Solo Sokos Hotel Estoria, having been singled out to the top five of Tallinn hotels, can boast its 93 rooms each one telling an interesting success story of Estonia. Many of you might not even know that Solo Sokos Hotel Estoria is located on the exact same address (Viru väljak 4) with Viru Hotel, both belonging to the same hotel chain.
Viru Hotel in the heart of Tallinn was opened back in the year 1972 and has been Estonia’s best known hotel among the Northern neighbours throughout times. This year the hotel celebrates its 45th birthday and operates under the name Original Sokos Hotel Viru.
Now also Viru Hotel surprises us with fascinating thematic rooms! With regard to the 100th jubilee year of Finland the hotel has introduced to its guests the most intriguing stories from Finland and also in May it has opened on the 18th floor eleven Finland-related thematic rooms with magnificent views, each one of them telling an exciting story about Estonia’s northern neighbours. The topic vary from diplomacy to sports, from tourism to music and culture and from nature to comic strips. Every story conceals a cordial connection with Estonia (have a look at them on Original Sokos Hotel Viru home page HERE).
Mrs. Evelin Org, how did the idea of the thematic rooms develop and how popular have they proven to be? The idea stemmed from the simple wish to bestow for the important jubilee a gift to Finland that would be significant and spirited at the same time. The entire project was delivered to the Embassy of Finland already in May – on the 45th anniversary of Viru Hotel.
The rooms have attracted major attention – there have been those who stay as well as those who wish to have a glimpse.It is great to see that the rooms provoke so many positive emotions in people. That was actually the initial aim.
Is there also any thematic room that is favoured by far the most? What is the favourite thematic room in the eyes of the visitors, and why that particular one? All of the rooms are equally popular, especially when Cristmas is coming. Many people have discovered this unique opportunity of making a distinctive present and surprising their friends and the people closest to them. As a present, the most popular have been the gift cards to the Finnish Embassy, ice hockey or Fingerpor room. Towards the end of the year, the Finnish Embassy room has a great role to play. The room also accommodates a sauna that serves as a pleasant surprise during the winter months.
NordenBladet – while getting to know the Israeli sightseeings, I recommend paying a visit to Masada – the Jewish symbol for liberty and hope. In my previous blog I cast a look at Qumran, and today I take a glimpse at Masada, which is one of the best known Jewish symbols of rebellion against the Roman authority.
Masada is located in the southwestern top of the Dead Sea and it is a settlement on a rock 400m above the sea level, with a territory of 550 times 270 square meters. The fortified settlement was founded in the first century B.C. by Jannae Alexander. It was conquered by king Herod who also founded the fortress on the mountain between the years 37 and 31 B.C.
There are two options for reaching Masada. Either it is with a guide in the early morning, climbing the hill along a turning pathway, or like we did – also with a guide, but during daytime and using a special elevator. We had the wonderful guide Lilach Arad (Galey Kineret Tours) with us, who in a fascinating manner explained the historic events, the biographies and the daily lives of people and the stories of the buildings. I certainly recommend taking with you at least 2 litres of drinking water when getting up the hill, and not to forget to take along headgear against direct sunlight – the heat is unprecedented!
Let me also add a few words about the history of Masada. In the year 67 A.D. the Sicarii, the Jewish rebels, subdued the Masada Roman garnison and conquered the fortress. The rebels from Jerusalem joined them after the capture of the Second Temple in the year 70 A.D. in 73 A.D. the fortress was attacked by the Roman governer Lucius Flavius Silva of Judea as lead of the Legio X Fretensis. They surrounded the fortress and erected a ramp to the western wall. After the completion of the ramp and three months of struggle the Romans succeeded to break through the fortress wall on 16 April 73. It was only after the conquest that the Romans discovered that the fortress had been abandoned and all the inhabitants, 960 people – men, women and chidren, had committed suicide. Just two women and five children had survived.
The stronghold accommodated the inhabitants living rooms, dining rooms and bathing area. There was a water reservoir originating from the mountains, founded in the cave. While seated on the ruins of the Masada synagogue we contemplated on the braveness of those thousands of rebels that gave their lives in the struggle against the Roman power. The journey up the hill in the heat of 30 degrees celsius was toilsome, yet worth the effort, I had the feeling as if I had traveled in time backwards two thousand years – the ruins were preserved that well. The place is definitely worth visiting and it is a sign that life goes on – millennia later Masada is visited by local people as well as the Jews who have settled abroad, and also numerous tourists all over the world.
NordenBladet – Israel is a small Jewish state on Mediterranean coast, with a small window on the Red Sea. Israel’s neighbors are Egypt and the Gaza Strip in the southwest, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, and Syria and Lebanon in the north. Israel is a densely urbanized and economically developed society, and therefore it is most convenient for the passenger to distribute it by city, which also includes regions and other places. For a better understanding of Israel, I will give you a brief summary (translation from Estonian) of the Germalo tour operator’s newsletter.
General information for the state of Israel
National government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Jerusalem
Money: New Israeli Seekel, NIS is an abbreviation, ILS is International abbreviation
Time: UTC + 2 hours, same with Estonia.
Summertime / witertime: 1 hour, starts last Friday in March, ends on Saturday between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur holidays
Language: Hebrew (Official)
Population: 6,426,679 (including 187,000 Iiraels in the West Bank and 20,000 Israeli conquered Golan uplands and up to 177,000 in East Jerusalem, as of July 2007).
Electricity: The electrical voltages are 220V and 50 Hz.
Area: 20 770 km2
Highest point: Har Meron 1208m
The lowest point: Dead Sea – 408m
History
After World War II, the British took their troops out of Palestine and the United Nations shared the region with the Arabs and Jews, which the Arabs did not embrace. Israel’s Arabs neighbours conquered areas in the hope of restoring the borders that were the Ottoman Empire. The Israelis inflicted unfinished tensions on the two sides between the Arabs in several wars. On April 25, 1982, according to the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty of 1979, Israeli troops pulled back from Sinai. The territorial disputes with Jordan were resolved on 26 October 1994 with the Israel-Jordan Peace Agreement. In addition, on May 25, 2000, Israeli troops retreated from Southern Lebanon, which they had been occupying since 1982. In October 1991, a conference was held between representatives of Israel, the West Bank, Palestine and Syria in Madrid to find a definitive solution.
Economy in Israel
Israel is a technologically advanced market economy with a large share of the government. The economy depends on imports of crude oil, grain, raw materials and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the last 20 years. Israel is largely natural-economic in the production of food products, with the exception of cereals. Polished diamonds, high-tech equipment, chemicals and chemical products, machinery and transportation equipment, rubber, plastics and textiles are the most important export articles. About half of the government’s external debt belongs to the United States, which also provides major economic and military assistance. The inflow of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union 1989-99 coinceded with the opening of new markets at the end of the Cold War, and it gave the Israeli economy a big boost – the economy grew rapidly at the beginning of the 1990s. Later on, this growth stalled, and the current situation because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the steady decline in high technology and tourism, as well as the fiscal rigor, resulted in rising inflation.
People in israel
The Hebrew Bible, and also the Old Testament, names the people of Israel as descendants of Jacob. His gender was also called Israel. The easiest division in the Israeli society is between the Jews and not the Jews – Israeli Arabs. There are about 90% of Jewish areas in Israel and 15-40% of Israeli-controlled areas. In terms of faith, 77% of Jews, 16% of Muslims, 4% of Christians and 2% of Druuzs (an Islam branch). In theory, all religions are equal, but in practice, Arabs have many limitations, both legal and de facto (difficulties in obtaining building permits, difficulty in security and travel conditions). The division is also in the Jewish community. First of all, the differences between the Jews who lived in Europe for almost 2000 years and who are considered richer and have better political ties and those Jews who migrated from Central Asia to North Africa. However, in recent years, the differences between these groups have decreased. When these tensions have diminished, tensions have grown between secular and Orthodox Jews. Of the population, only 15% consider themselves strictly Orthodox, but they have a lot of power thanks to Israeli politics, 50% consider themselves moderately Orthodox, and 45% consider themselves secular, although they adhere to some traditions. Although secular Jews are over the whole of Israel, there are more Orthodox people in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and Ashdod.
Israeli culture
The Israelis often compare themselves to a sharp, fruity fruit that is harsh and sharp from the outside but sweet inside. The Israelis are straightforward in a way that may seem sudden, even rude in the world. Honesty and openness are often valued more than courtesy and goodness. The direct personal questions are normal and should not be offended. The information they collect about you here is designed to make you feel better, not to set up traps. The Israelis are accustomed to fighting for their right to exist and to remain confident in their own family, religion, military, and towards other Israelis. Fights and uprisings have been approved by society and should not be taken as signs of hostility. The Israelis are careful not to be impressed by the friar – the loser, or the weak one – that is, someone who pays too much, queues quietly when others pass by and who use to use instead of standing up for themselves. But the Israelis are very friendly and accommodating. When they get connected, they take care of their guest.
Holidays
Official holidays in Israel follow the Jewish calendar and change from year to year, although they fall more or less to the same period. Different activities stop on different holidays – for example, public transport does not work on many holidays. According to the Jewish tradition, the new day begins with three stars in the sky, which means that the Jewish holidays begin after lunch, before the official date.
The language used in Israel
In Israel, the official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. Hebrew is more common, but a large proportion of the population is Israeli Arabs speaking Arabic. It’s usually easy to speak English in Israel because it is compulsory in school. All street signs and road signs have English names besides Hebrew and Arabic. Massive immigration from NL in the 1990s led to a large Russian-speaking community, the other languages that influence the Israeli population are French, German and Polish. Some elderly and very Orthodox inhabitants speak Yiddish, Germanic Jewish.
Israeli currency and money issues
The Israeli money is Shaghel, the proper name would be New Israeli Sheqel, Hebrew shekel chadas or short shash. Seekel is divided into 100 agorots. The usual symbol for a shackle is NIS, ILS or â,ª. Agorotte has a value of 10 and 50. The tokks are 1,2,5, and 10 as coins, and the 20, 50, 100 and 200 in paper money. ATMs are available in many large cities and, if necessary, money can be easily redeemed from there. US dollars are accepted at some tourist destinations, such as Jerusalem.
Workdays
Working days in Israel are from Sunday to Friday, allowing the Sabbath to be observed from Friday’s sunrise to Saturday sunrise. On Friday, several shops will close between 14:30 and 15:00, meanwhile, allowing for a quiet time to go home. Many shops, especially supermarkets, open the doors already on Saturday night, from 19:00 in the winter and around 20:30 in the summer. The same is true for shops in tourist areas. In Arab cities, shops are generally open 7 days a week. On typical days, shops are open from 9:30 to 21:00 on the big shopping streets. Banks, post offices and some individual shops keep up with the more traditional times and open from 8:30 to 19:00, with lunch break between 13:00 and 16:00. Markets are usually open in the early hours of the morning.
Trading in Israel
Trading is common in contemporary Israel. It’s definitely harder in big stores and supermarkets, but it’s worth a try. Usually, it’s easier to make it when you buy more than one item. Trading in markets and bazaars is quite common, and in tourist places, such as Jerusalem’s Old Town, trades can lower the price by 25%.
Israeli souvenirs
Israeli wine, Kosher products, T-shirts and diamonds. And of course Israel is one of the best places to buy Jewish and Christianity-related nippers. Although purchasing antiques with authorized dealers is allowed, their exports are illegal.
Israeli national cuisine
Israeli cuisine is as varied as its ethnicity. The food here is usually very high, and immigrants from all over the world have come up with all sorts of options. Tips is expected to be 10% in regular restaurants (15% if service seems very good). Some eateries add a service charge, but in this case it is clearly indicated in both Hebrew and English. Falafel is officially a national dish. In recent years, though, it has lost popularity, but is still quite widespread. These are small fried balls, chickpea puree, usually served in pita bread with French fries and lettuce. Usually you can add salads to your choice. It is usually the cheapest available lunch, with prices from 10 to 15 NIS. Another popular choice is shawarma. Cut turkey meat, which is also served in pita or in its bigger brother Lafa, with french fries and salad. There are many other things you can put in Pita, such as Me’orav Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Mix), which contains several special sorts of meat or shnitslit, dipping the fried chicken breast. Usually more humus is added to the plate – chickpea, sesame seeds, onion, lemon and olive oil, which is eaten by hand using pitta. Another famous Iraqi food is the street – sabich – pita bread with hard boiled eggs, fried eggplant, humus and salad.
Kosher food
The Hebrew word for Kasher means legal or law, and this word is not just about food. When it is associated with food, he denotes everything food that faith allows him to eat. These laws are quite complex, but it briefly prohibits certain products, such as pork and crustaceans, and allows some others with only certain restrictions, most importantly, that meat and dairy products must not be bake or cooked with the same meal, which prohibits all Western food such as pizza and cheeseburger. In addition, firing of fire during the Sabbath is prohibited, so at that time only cold meals can be eaten. However, because Israel is already largely secular, it also finds many non-kosher restaurants. Every meal can be called kosher if it matches it, but every meal that is “Jewish food” is not necessarily kosher. For example, kreplach, cholent, kugel, latke and kishka are traditional Jewish foods, but if they are not made by the casher, they are not kosher food. According to Torah, mosquitoes that remember grass are grassy, for example. Deer, sheep and goat, while the pig and rabbit are not kosher. Animals can only be slaughtered under strict rules. Kosher in the kitchen should not interfere with the pots and pans of different foods, they should not be washed together, etc. Most Israeli hotels are Kosher, so breakfast is a dairy product for lunch, or in the evening milk is not included in the coffee, although it is a substitute for soy milk. Most large supermarkets sell only kosher goods, but more and more non-kosher stores are starting to emerge due to the large number of secular Jews who came from the former NL. The least is a kosher restaurant in Tel Aviv, on the other hand in Jerusalem they are much more common. Kosher restaurant is either a meat or dairy restaurant, the latter are great for vegetarians. One of the interesting attractions for many is kosher McDonald’s restaurants (however, one must note that not all of them are Kosher). Most Burger-King eateries are kosher, as well as Pizza Hut, so they do not offer pizza with meat, while the Domino chain is not kosher and offers similar pizza in the West.
Israeli national food
The Jews who have migrated to Israel from many different places in the world have also brought with them different dining traditions. Most of them are offered in specialty restaurants. The range includes: Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewry), Bulgaria, Turkey, North Africa, Iraq, Iran and others. You can also enjoy Arabic cuisine, in areas where Arabs live. One of the food is known in almost the entire Jewish diaspora. It is known in Europe as Cholenty and the Middle East and North Africa as Chamini. This is a kind of stew that has been caught in for a few hours on a small fire, traditionally a Sabbath dish, has begun to ignite the fire as well as a ban on cooking during the Sabbath. The exact ingredients vary by area, but usually it contains animal or chicken, peanuts (chick peas or beans) and / or rice, eggs and vegetables – potatoes, onions and carrots. Chamini is served on some restaurants on Saturdays.
In Israel, good coffee and coffee culture are valued throughout the country. Although Starbucks is not very popular here, there are many very popular local coffee shops here. Many Israelis like to spend time drinking hafuchi (cafe latte) and telling their friends. Meanwhile, there is also a light meal – sandwiches and salads. The largest coffee card in Israel is Aroma. There are three sizes of sandwiches and can be selected from different bread varieties. Arcaffe is a bit more expensive, but their coffee is better. There is also Elite Coffe, Cafe Cafe, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Kosher Cafe Hillel. Many Israelis eagerly eat a bottle of particularly fine-grained coffee that is mixed in a cup and allowed to settle.
Krembo (hybrid from the words Cream and Bo, respectively “Cream” and “inside”) is the most common chocolate snack in Israel. It consists of a round biscuit, with a cream on it, covered with chocolate shell. They are packed in foil and are very delicate, they are not made in summer in hot weather. In Israel, it has been eaten for two generations now and there is a debate about how to eat it right – whether to cook before the cookie, holding it from the top or vice versa, eat all at once or before the top, the base, and finally the cream.
Israeli drinks
There are three kinds of beers in Israel: Goldstar – Munich-style dark beer. It is available in 0.5 and 0.3 liter bottles, KHE-tsi and sh-LISH (half and a thirdof a litre). Maccabee is a pilsner, brighter and softer than Goldstar, in both a bottle and a purse. Nesher – malt beer, in a bottle. There is also a Palestine beer – Taybeh. In addition, many foreign brands are available, among them Heineken, Carlsberg, Tuborg. The most respected liquor is Arak. This is clear, aniseed flavor, which is usually served in 0.3l glass, mixed with water and ice. Drink with grapefruit juice. Store it in ice-cold.
There are also a lot of local large and small vineyards in Israel, many of them very high quality. Most of the common soda-livers and many of their local “sister-brooms”, which are not very tasty, are available in soft drinks. Local beverages include: Tropit – inexpensive fruit flavors – usually grapefruit – a drink. It is sold packed with straw. Coconut Milk – Different brands are available and Prigat – Fruit juice.
