Niel and Sandra's excellent adventure - Our first day

 Hey Pharm Phans. Here are some of the photos from our first trip to Israel. For such a small country, there is so much to see.
We took a gripload of pictures, so rather than dish them all out at once (and kill Google's servers), we're going to publish them as a series. This way we can savor the moments and remember the good stuff.

 

DAY 1

 

Here is our Space/Time capsule. Flown by former Israeli military, so you know it's safe!

 

 

El Al's slogan is, "It's not just an airline, it's Israel", well brother, they ain't kiddin'. From the crying babies to the Chasidic guys that would pray their afternoon/evening/morning prayers at the front, middle, and back of the plane, we got a 15 hour crash course (on the most crowded flight), so we were ready for ANYTHING!!!

 

 

Yay! We arrived in Tel Aviv. If you see the picture below, as a L.A. City Girl, I felt right at home looking outside my hotel window. No culture shock here!

 

Here is the loverly hotel that we stayed at during our entire visit. Here is my review on TripAdvisor - http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293984-d3245562-r235956879-Central_Hotel-Tel_Aviv_Tel_Aviv_District.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

 

A quick check-in at the lobby with the hotel staff. Everyone is super nice at the hotel. We became quick friends with Yehuda, the night manager. He always chatted with us when we'd roll in late at night.

 

Covered patio

 

 

Covered outside dining area. Many a great meal will be had in this place

 

 

Our cozy room for the next 27 days. I love the stripy wall paper.

 

 

We're showered and smelling a lot like flowers, so let's hit the town!

 

 

First stop is the Kabbalah Center International in Tel Aviv where we checked on the latest schedule of events and said "Hi" in general. Here is Niel in the bookstore. It's beautiful and a great place to hang out and read.

 

 

A quick picture with HaRav Berg.

 

 

Then off to sample the local cuisine. Here we're eating Schnitzel! Diggin' all the pickled root veggies. More of that later :p

 

 

 

Our digestive walk was also intended to keep us awake through the jetlag. Plus, it was our first night in Israel, how could we sleep?

Most nights we walked along Shlomo Lahat Promenade because the energy at the beach is great. No matter how late or how shady the neighborhood were, it always felt safe.

 

Taking a break in front of the famous Hotel Dan

 

Some of that groovy Bauhaus architecture. There's tons of it throughout Tel Aviv...I know, I know, I have "Bela Lugosi's Dead" stuck in my head too.

Stuff around town

 

I was excited as I thought Israel was a Packers fan...

Alas it was just gym equipment from this open air gym at the beach.

Some evening promenade beach dancers get in a last call before Rosh Hashanah starts and the whole place shuts down for a couple of days. Enjoy! 

 

 

 

Even the Holy Land has some vice in it. It's a recurring theme throughout this trip. When I think I've seen the holiest thing, something from the "flip" side will remind me it exists too. So with that, we close our first day with a reminder that even the holiest of people like to "get down". Good night Ya'll (^_^)