News

So....my news....at 21:00 the captain announced that we will not be going to Ashdod, Israel but we will stay overnight in Haifa, Israel.....hmmmmm...interesting cause the Jerusalem and Dead sea tours all are from Ashdod....now what.....simple....well....so to say....all tours will depart 2hrs earlier and they will take place as planned.....next day Haifa....as normal.....unfortunately in Haifa i could not go outside....but nevermind.....gym and some good lunch at the Garden cafe....see the positive side....lunch on the terrace in the sun with no guests.....peaceful....day progressed good....however....during the evening the situaion in Israel got worse rather than better and the tours to Tel Aviv had to be cancelled...yes....almost a given seeing that a bomb landed just south of Tel Aviv.....of course everyone was anxious to know whether tours would go to the dead sea and Jerusalem....man i hoped they would not be cancelled....could you imagine guests....i mean there is guests that did this cruise just for the Holy Land.....that would be disaster....but of course safety comes first.....well.....lets keep you out of suspense....tours the next day went as planned....and just to keep you in the loop...everything went good....but then again that you probably knew...otherwise it would have been in the news for sure.....

But now little bit more interesting....i was off until 16:30 today....Iris, my supervisor, was really nice cause she knew it was Kim's birthday so she thought i could at least enjoy the day with him.....perfecto....could have a lazy morning before deciding to go to Akko (Acre)....a small town north of Haifa....just on the other side of the bay....just about 25min by train.....and apparently an old city with some sights and good food....so we decided to make our way there.....we had just missed the 10 o'clock train....hmmm.....wait 30min or take taxi....taxi it was.....

So....so far i have not been impressed with Israel...but i have to say...Akko...quaint little city....really old....the buildings are made from the same material as in Dubrovnik...but just not well preserved and looked afer....quite sad...the city walls....loved to see them....right at the waterfront...and there was a bazaar....selling fresh fish, baklava, nut squares...clothes..etc....and you know that is my sort of thing to see....old places and markets....of course we had to buy one of those nut sweet things...so good....but def after eating you had to concentrate for at least 5min to take your tongue and attempt to get rid of all the nuts and honey sticking to your teeth....hmmmm...but def worth the effort....here is a pic of the nut sweet....

We walked along the promenade....had some espresso in between....saw the old light house....and i just love looking at architecture....interesting how most, 90%, of all doors were this turquoise colour....here are some pics..

Then...you know me....i did do a little research before going there...so we attempted to find this Templar tunnel....like 600 years old, but only discovered in 1994....it was full of rubble in1994....has water running through it and is so low that when walking through it you have to bend..nice to see....here is a pic..my mouth is closed for one main reason....i had just eaten some of tha honey nut thing...and yes....my teeth were full of sticky stuff...i think if i would have opened my mouth....you would have run a mile.....

And of course a day out without eating typical food....does not happen...we found a local spot...i say local cause was in like a side street and we could hear local language....hummous with chunks of beef meat....like kebab pieces and a haloumi salad....so....verdict....salad last time in Haifa was better...but bread and hummous def better this time.....man...food was just so good....and they had a similar dressing on the haloumi salad like last time...sweetish and warmish...but like i said Haifa salad was better...but hummous def not....of course we took a pic...and i know this will make you jealous...and just to add a little to the jealousness....the pita bread was warm....fresh....divine....

We ended up walking to the train station to catch the train back....of course through the old city....saw some of the original canons....yes...i had to sit on them....i mean of course....what a fun day out.....

As we came back to the ship and got to the room....there was a huge marzipan cake and three banana toffee pies (i described them in my last contract....short crust pastry....stuffed with custard, banana, marzipan and topped with cream and coconut sprinkles) were waiting for Kim...and as if lunch was not enough....we ate the banana toffee tarts and of course tried the marzipan cake....man i felt so sick afterwards....oh well....was worth it i guess....well now i can say it was worth it...right afterwards....i actually regretted...not during eating...just after it....when i was standing at work....damn....oh well.....good day out....so two days Haifa....next Egypt for the last time....halleluia.....so not me......goodnite from this side.....

 

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