A day in Israel

Wake early, Jamie showers while I go to get the rental car. 12 minute walk, they open at 8am.

Booked online the day before through a third party provider, Orbitz. Company itself is AVIS. Booked this one as it states VAT and collision damage waiver included. Other considerations are air con, it’s hot; and unlimited mileage, as we’ll be visiting the Dead Sea and Jerusalem on the way to Tel Aviv.

Rental car quote Eilat to Tel Aviv.
$88.80 USD$88.80 USD total. 24 hour rental.

Company insists I pay extra for mandatory insurance.
$20 USD$20 USD total.
This is compulsory in Israel and not too much.

They don’t want me to pay for the rental car now, but rather at the end of the hire. I find this unusual.

Car isn’t full-full, but one bar less. Return it the same. Cheeky way to get the customer to fill it before returning.

Drive car back and find street parking near the hotel.

Head back in for breakfast and a shower. Jamie has already been for breakfast and got caught taking extra food for later, told them she was bringing it to me in the room.

I go down for breakfast. Have to give them your room number. I tell them a different but similar number, they tell me there’s no breakfast for that room and suggest I go see reception. I pretend to go see reception and return saying my real number. They say my friend already got breakfast for me, I say no. Guy leaves to talk to someone. I help myself to some breakfast.

Shower, check out, and hit the road.

Stop at a service station on route to get water.
₪11₪11 for 4 litres.

Navigate to a particular beach of the Dead Sea we had researched online. Location on Google Maps.

Park illegally on the verge, but we won’t be long and no free parks available nearby.

It’s really hot.

We take one phone for photos, careful to keep it as salt free as possible.

Sea is hot and beach is all salt. Floating is incredible. You can float sitting up with your shoulders clear of the water.

You can’t dive under. I tried.

And the salt stings your eyes like nothing else. Luckily there are showers to rinse off.

I swim a bit more. Jamie has had enough of the heat.

We take a few more pics, before heading off.

Air con and cruising along the highway.

People continue to stare. At one point in the slow traffic kids jump in front of us and put their hands on the car. Like full celebrity. We are surrounded until someone tells them to leave.

We reach a checkpoint to enter the city. A woman stands guard with a machine gun. The car ahead of me pulls off. I go to drive through and she doesn’t indicate for me to stop. My friend yells at me to stop, saying you don’t just drive through a checkpoint when they have guns.

They want to see our passports and don’t seem to speak English. My friend has her passport with her. Mine is in the boot. I jump out to get it, but the boot is locked. I don’t know how to pop it. They are satisfied with seeing my friend’s passport only and indicate we can go.

Getting hungry, we park the car. Not on a main street and no signs around. Park for free.

We are heading to the information centre for info as we have limited time to see things. But need to eat.

Stop for food at a restaurant with outdoor seating. Not cheap, but all restaurant prices are similar and we don’t have time. They speak English.

Mediterranean pizza to share.
₪66₪66

Iced chocolate milk. Same as Jamie, as easier to split the bill, and also the best value item.
₪15₪15

Buy water rather than going back to the car.
₪8₪8 1.5 litres.

Use a free public toilet near the old town. Sites close at 5pm. Now it’s 10min to.

Go to see Jesus, then the Western Wall.

Jamie has to buy a scarf to cover her shoulders. Finds one for ₪20₪20 but see cheaper later.

There’s a grave that everybody is touching, but we don’t really know what we are looking at. We witness a procession and can’t leave during this time. There’s also a massive unmoving line to see inside Jesus’ grave.

Once we’re out, we pass a security checkpoint to enter the Jewish quarter.

I visit the Wailing Wall, men only, little hats to borrow.

Shopping and wandering, but tired and hot.

Get back to the car and discover a ₪250₪250 fine for parking.

Instead of paying it, we stick it under the windscreen wiper of the car next to us in the hope they will pay for it, or the chance that nothing will come of it. We drive on to Tel Aviv.

I time the refuelling like a master. Still have to drop Jamie to the airport and return the car in the morning, but I know how these digital gauges work.
₪200₪200

Park outside the hostel and sort out our belongings.
₪78.40₪78.40 for one night.
We talk them into letting Jamie hangout at the hostel until her midnight flight.

I walk to a small supermarket to get dinner and snacks. Spend ₪95.80₪95.80 total.

Noodles.
₪6.80₪6.80
Cheese 200g.
₪15.90₪15.90
Wraps.
₪13.90₪13.90
Chocolate.
₪14.90₪14.90
Sausage.
₪13.90₪13.90

Jamie rests. I meet people. Decide to go out to a blues bar with a solo traveller.

Get an ice block on the way.
₪3.50₪3.50

Blues bar has an entrance fee.
₪10₪10

Get one beer in a small plastic cup.
₪32₪32 probably shouldn’t have.

Eat one homemade wrap. Then drive Jamie to the airport.

Streets are very quiet now.

Total spent:  ₪412.45₪412.45