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Asia, Travel
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April 13, 2017

Finding the best of Jerusalem

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I arrived to Jerusalem with eyes wide open with excitement for my first visit to a country I had only heard so much about.

The city itself is very segregated, divided up into 4 quarters (Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian) and I was curious about how this influenced the feel of the city. Would it be unpleasant at times? Would it feel dangerous navigating any one area as a foreigner?

I only had 4 days to spend in Jerusalem, so I made sure leave sleep for when I got home and focus on seeing and learning as much as I could in my short time there. Here are some of the best ways I was able to do that:

Food Tour

I have always found that the best way to get to know a culture, a country, it’s through its food. Which is why it is the first tour I signed up for, and I did so using an app called BiteMojo. It’s a new service, now available in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Berlin (with more cities coming soon) offering a series of different food experiences, all self-guided, to get you into some of the city’s best food and drinking spots, some off-the-beaten path. With this app (I signed up for the Food Tour between East and West Jerusalem), I got to walk all around Old Jerusalem, and experience different spots, some very trendy, others a bit more casual. The bites were so delicious and filling, and some of the spots I got to connect with locals and talk about travel and their interests, and even their favorite bites in town. I absolutely loved this app for the opportunity it offered in connecting with locals and in helping me to experience the diverse tastes and sites throughout Jerusalem. The app isn’t just about food. There were a few cultural stops as well highlighted along the way. I highly recommend it. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes and go hungry. Because it is self-guided, you can go at your own pace with the help of the app’s map.

Hummus at Hummus Ikermawi. OwnerMuhammad Fakhry Ikermawi is the sweetest and a wonderful person to chat with while you are there!

Treats from El’Am’In Bakery.

Wine at the rooftop of the Notre Dame.

A must for beer lovers: Biratenu.

Art Tour

Another fabulous way to immerse yourself in a country’s culture is through the arts. Through Jerusalem Art Tours I got to explore the neighborhood of Nachlaot, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Jerusalem. Our group even had a chance to visit the home and gallery of a local artist, as well as studios where artists from all faiths and backgrounds came together in one place to create art, and galleries where artists are constantly finding ways to courageously express their views and opinions, even if at times these are challenged by the local government. Our guide Caron is an artist herself and she was able to beautifully share how art is transforming not only her city but those in it.

Pub Tour

Bar hopping isn’t normally my thing, but since experiencing as much as I could in the short time I was there was my goal, I jumped into the fun offered through Abraham Hostels and their Jerusalem Pub Crawl. The hostel was definitely the place to be to meet travelers from all over the world and joining them to taste some of Jerusalem’s best watering holes. By the end of it I had plenty of drinks, had danced a few songs, and had laughed so much I almost lost my voice. Totally worth it.

Several pubs and many drinks later.

Just walking around

I never once felt like I was in danger in Jerusalem. It’s a small enough city to navigate by foot, but there is also a tram and plenty of taxis (make sure that your driver has the meter running, otherwise expect unpredictable charges for rides).

Jerusalem is such a great city to walk, and their trams are a wonderful, inexpensive option.

I loved exploring the Mahane Yehuda Market both during the day and then again at night, which is a completely different experience.

The market by day.

The market by night.

I enjoyed walking through the tunnels around the walls of Old Jerusalem – the colorful Muslim Quarters being my favorite part.

Walking up the Tower of David and taking in the views of the city and the people below was a highlight.

I walked away with fond memories of conversations with store and restaurant owners, with locals helping me to find my way, with friendly faces at the local pub, with local artists who shared stories about their life in this ever evolving city.

The city is quite beautiful and deserves more praise than it often gets. Eclectic and full of energy. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I arrived, or that I would leave it feeling as fond of it as I am.

You may arrive to Jerusalem with your own ideas and your own beliefs. Whatever they may be, I recommend making room for listening and learning and exploring, to opening yourself up to conversations and new friendships, and to making sure that the walls and quarters and whatever other divisions that exist don’t stand in the way of your journey and sense of exploration. Politically, there are a lot of things that I personally don’t agree with. As a non-religious person, I appreciated the influence of religion in the city, as it relates to the arts, history, and the nuances of the city, but other than that, I felt no real affinity to this aspect of it. But, Jerusalem is more than its politics, and despite being known as the Holy City, it is more than its religious beliefs – though they dominate much of the discourse. I found the best of Jerusalem not in its parts, or segregated communities, but rather in what it is in its entirety. In the people that I met and conversed with. In the artists and activists who see potential for change and growth and unity. And in those who dedicate themselves to sharing the stories of the people who live there…not just a few, but all. To me, the best of Jerusalem is in the diversity. It is what makes this city vibrant, exciting, and interesting. And the more those diverse voices and ideas and beliefs continue to flourish, regardless of any opposition they may face, the better Jerusalem will be.

Read more about my time in Palestine.

 

 

All photographs are property of the publisher and may not be used without consent.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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2 Comments
  • Therie
    April 21, 2017

    Great to know that one of my dream destinations is wanderer-friendly! I could definitely see myself exploring Jerusalem for hours and hours! Thanks for sharing, your photos are really lovely!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Therie
      April 21, 2017

      Thank you! And yes, exploring for hours is definitely something that you will do!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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