Hello! Today was my first full day in Israel and I’m back in the room for a few minutes before dinner so I thought I’d check in and let you know what’s going on over here…
I got up early and did a couple miles on the treadmill first thing this morning. Then, a little strength training. I didn’t want to do anything major, just get loosened up after yesterdays LONG plane ride.
The hotel has a pretty amazing breakfast buffet. There are tons of options, but more importantly – tons of HEALTHY options. Score!
From there the group split up and I headed to the Israel Museum.
You can’t take pictures inside, but in the white building below there are some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I learned a lot today!
The next stop was the Mahane Yehuda Market. It’s a big open air market in Jerusalem. I would kind of compare it to the Ferry Building in San Francisco to give you an idea.
We barely were there two minutes when a guy at a food stand offered me a falafel to sample. Um, YES!!
We were able to taste a lot of different options at the market from pastries to hummus to dried fruit to beer.
(I am currently eating this dried watermelon in my hotel room.) The dried watermelon is good, but I suspect they dried it with sugar.
And the moment I was waiting for… HUMMUS!!! I was dying to have fresh hummus in Israel. Oh, it was everything I hoped for.
We had fresh pita and falafel to dip into the hummus. I was a very happy lil bear eating this up.
This made my day.
And in case your curious if the cats in Jerusalem eat the same as the cats in California… I researched this thoroughly.
By ‘researched’ I mean ‘followed around a few cats at the market like a complete creeper’.
Someone threw the unneeded fish heads out and some cats were having a feast!
Then, we headed to a very special place I’ll save for another post. See you in a bit!
Dried watermelon, hummus, and that falafel all look great! I will try anything once except bugs. Just say no to bugs on a stick in China.
I’m vegan, so my options are pretty limited anywhere in the world but yeah, I love to try different vegan dishes. How’s the weather over there?
Not nearly as adventurous as I would like to be! something to work on 🙂
What camera do you travel with?? I’m starting to think about buying one.
Great post – I love all the food photos!
That honeycomb at the breakfast buffet is my everything! All that food is so cool so happy you are trying everything! One of the best ways to experience a culture in my opinion 🙂
OMG that mango. I’ve been buying bags of TJs dried mango and eating them all in one sitting. Eek. Glad you’re having an awesome time!
The food looks amazing! Enjoy!
I was in Israel years ago and seeing your pics and reading your post is making me so happy!!! Not to mention my mouth is watering and stomach is growling also.
My mom is a cat lover and bought cans and cans and cans of cat food. We couldn’t leave our hotel without her lil baggie of cat food, a fork and wash-ups. Bless her heart!
Enjoy!!!!!
When I was in Israel a few years ago I tried dried strawberries and now I won’t stop! I loved all the cats around, they were like squirrels, from a fellow cat lover!!!
Hope you have a great race!
Are you going to be headed to Yad Vashem, very emotional place! I teach history of the holocaust in my high school so it would be great if I could go back !
Definitely – that’s half the fun of seeing new places I think. I am curious how that watermelon was….??
Did you taste shakshuka? Ooooh and Halva?
I miss Israeli food when i see your pics
That food looks amazing! I love the honeycomb at breakfast. I would be obsessed with that. SO happy for you and your trip. I hope you kill the marathon!
Jerusalem is beautiful and all of the food looks beyond amazing!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your journey there!
I am very adventurous with my food and will probably almost always try something once. Except Liver. Nope not happening.
Keep Exploring!!
Not as adventurous as you. I remember your trip to China!!!
Glad you’re having a good time, but remember, most of that food is Palestinian, not Israeli 🙂
That buffet looks incredible! I love sampling new foods from different cultures, so I’m so jealous of all the things you’re getting to try!
Lifestyle by Joules
I always try new food when I am travel! And I never think about dipping falafel into hummus. Technically this is just chickpea with chickpea 😀 But I should try it 🙂
Yaaaaaas! It is so good! Definitely try it. Traditionally you fill a pita with falafel, and a combo of tomato, cucumber, red cabbage, herbs (parsley, cilantro) and top it with hummus. Such a delicious combo.
That food! I’ll have one of everything.
I was in Norway for a race a couple years ago and stuffed my face with all the variations of pickled and smoked fish that all my awesome hotels had for the breakfast buffet. One, because YUM and two because when in Norway, load up on as much free food as you can because that loaf of bread at the corner market is going to cost $10.