Israel, Palestine, and Jordan (July 2013)
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A summer vacation to discover the Holy Land of Israel, Palestine, and the beauty of Jordan! We took the plane to Aqaba (Jordan). After staying in Aqaba we crossed the border towards Eilat. From there we drove by rental car up to the north to visit remarkable places in Israel and Palestine. We passed many many military and police checkpoints, but being tourists could proceed without any problem our journey. We visit Masada, the dead sea, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Golan Heights, Haifa, ... and several other nice places. Upon return in Eilat we took some rest before going back to Aqaba and continue an exhausting part of our trip, visit the south of Jordan. It was a surprising visit! We were very impressed by the well preserved historical sights and by the beauty of nature in this area! |
Crossing the border by feet from Jordan to Israel |
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First checking out the water of the Gulf of Aqaba |
4x4 trip through the deserts around Eilat |
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Deserts around Eilat |
Deserts around Eilat |
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Indoor Ice skating in the heat of the desert in Eilat |
Meat the tropical fish |
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Visit to the Oceanarium |
Coral Reef from the observation tower |
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Coral Reef |
Snorkling along the coral reef |
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Liesbeth snorkling |
Floating in the Dead See (lowest point on earth) |
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Dead Sea |
Masada: Castle of Herod the Great |
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Masada: Castle of Herod the Great |
Jerusalem: the Western Wall |
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Jerusalem: the Western Wall |
Jerusalem: the Western Wall |
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Jerusalem: Dome of the Rock |
Jerusalem: Entrance to the al-Aqsa Mosque |
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Jerusalem: Via Dolorosa |
Jerusalem: Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
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Jerusalem: Jesus' grave |
Jerusalem: Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
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One of the many checkpoints between Israel and Palestine |
Bethlehem: The Church of the Nativity |
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Bethlehem: The Church of the Nativity |
Bethlehem: The Church of the Nativity |
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View from Mount Olives towards the old Jerusalem |
Western Wall tunnels |
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Chain of the generations exhibition |
Tunnels in the City of David |
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Haifa: the Bahia Gardens |
Haifa: the Bahia Gardens |
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Haifa: the Bahia Gardens by night |
Taking a rest at the beach of the Mediterranean sea in Haifa |
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Haifa: the cable car |
Nazareth: Basilica of the Annunciation |
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Sea of Tiberius |
Golan Heights |
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Nimrod: Crusaders era castle |
Acre: Jezzar Pasha Mosque |
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Acre: Interior of the Jezzar Pasha Mosque |
Acre: Castle |
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Acre: Tunnels |
Caesarea |
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Caesarea |
Caesarea |
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Tel Aviv |
Driving back south towards Mitzpe Ramon |
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Canyon in the Negev Desert (Mitzpe Ramon) |
Hello you desert animal |
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Canyon in the Negev Desert (Mitzpe Ramon) |
Along the border between Israel and Egypt |
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Military along the border with Egypt |
Let's prepare to go swimming with the dolphins |
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Hello you beauty! |
Prepare to cross the Wadi Rum desert by camel (partially, rest by 4x4) |
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Moving forward, slowly |
Wadi Rum |
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Wadi Rum |
Wadi Rum: Lawrence house |
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The beauty of nature, natural red sand formation |
Resting on a red sand dune |
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Wadi Rum: wild camels passing by |
Sunset in Wadi Rhum |
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Dinner in Petra |
Petra: Al Khazneh (the Treasury) |
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Petra: Al Khazneh (the Treasury) |
Petra: Royal Tombs |
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Petra: 888 stairs later in the heat ... the Monastery |
Return to Aqaba: Evelyn swimming |
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Enjoying the last dinner in luxury, view from the restaurant table |
Bye bye ... the Gulf of Aqaba taken from the air |
