anyone ever rode in Israel

stealf

HI all, going to Israel for a break (Wife's choice, my choice next year ) so am asking for any advice comments or just stories from this country, if anyone has any.... all I know is I can hire from Tel Aviv, I would like a carbon offering , a good quality bike and not a klunker I am not sure where else may have bikes to hire.
.... cheers all

Callum_62

Was in Tel Aviv on business earlier this year. There are plenty of places to hire bikes - but oddly, I could only find mountain bikes. Everyone seemed to be riding full-sus along the flat roads.

Not sure what time of the year you are going, but watch out for the humidity if you are planning any long rides. It's about 70% in Tel Aviv, and more as you head inland.

stealf

Cheers Callum_62. Going tomorrow, research has only shown mtb's, am going up to Golan Valley as welll so it may not all bre bad... am taking my camelbak as well, a friend said only ride for a few hours as the heat will get to you so was hoping for a 30-40k ride but will have to see...

ilm_zero7

I wouldnt go near israel - I value being able to travel to decent countries too much to have an Israeli stamp on my passport

baldwin471

ILM Zero7 wrote:

I wouldnt go near israel - I value being able to travel to decent countries too much to have an Israeli stamp on my passport

Hmm

karlth

Oh God don't start that one here!

Full sus on flat roads? Like the UK then.

baldwin471

karlth wrote:

Oh God don't start that one here!

Full sus on flat roads? Like the UK then.

Talking of shit roads, i was on a 2 mile stretch yesterday that didn't have a single piece of smooth tarmac on it. My arse is in tatters (And no not because of you know what )

stealf

baldwin471 wrote:

ILM Zero7 wrote:

I wouldnt go near israel - I value being able to travel to decent countries too much to have an Israeli stamp on my passport

Hmm

I am sort of scared to ask what is coming next... Where Is an Israel stamp gonna stop me from traveling to on future holidays /trips?

So I have not had any luck booking from here and I fly in 10 hours.... so will have to chance it when there.
Will lwt you know how I get on upon my return.... thats if the hanglider attacks my wife keeps telling me about don't get me first.

dorsetdom

I remember when i read Dom Jolly's book the Dark Tourist, he had two passsports, one for 'dodgy' countries like Israel and Iraq and the other for America. Reason being, he once tried to go to America and at passport control got held up for hours as he had a stamp from a country America was suspicious of.

Omar Little

I've riden a bit in Israel and Palestine. Did Jerusalem -> Bethlehem -> Massada then back along to Jericho -> Jerusalem. It was hard - hilly and very hot (unbearably hot at times, was about 45 degrees down at the dead sea) but what an experience. I was riding solo which i knew was not the most sensible of things to do considering the climate and political situation so hired a taxi for $150 and used that as a support car with a coolbox with drinks, food etc in the boot. $150 sounds an extravagence but it was money well spent, one of the best days in my life. The roads were in surprisingly good condition as alot of aid money has gone into infrastructure projects like road building

Anyway the experience was worth the stamp on the passport (which incidentally you can avoid just by asking at passport control). If the opportunity came up to visit Lebanon or Iran i can always get a 2nd passport, but i dont see it as a hardship not being able to go to Saudi, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Qatar, Sudan, Yemen and Pakistan!

BlakeysFC

Omar Little wrote:

I've riden a bit in Israel and Palestine. Did Jerusalem -> Bethlehem -> Massada then back along to Jericho -> Jerusalem. It was hard - hilly and very hot (unbearably hot at times, was about 45 degrees down at the dead sea) but what an experience. I was riding solo which i knew was not the most sensible of things to do considering the climate and political situation so hired a taxi for $150 and used that as a support car with a coolbox with drinks, food etc in the boot. $150 sounds an extravagence but it was money well spent, one of the best days in my life. The roads were in surprisingly good condition as alot of aid money has gone into infrastructure projects like road building

Anyway the experience was worth the stamp on the passport (which incidentally you can avoid just by asking at passport control). If the opportunity came up to visit Lebanon or Iran i can always get a 2nd passport, but i dont see it as a hardship not being able to go to Saudi, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Qatar, Sudan, Yemen and Pakistan!

I've always wanted to go to Israel, but have always said I'll visit Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia before doing so because of all the stamp/passport problems, I know you can get round this by getting a second passport but I have no clue how I'd go about doing this.

desweller

BlakeysFC wrote:

Omar Little wrote:

I've riden a bit in Israel and Palestine. Did Jerusalem -> Bethlehem -> Massada then back along to Jericho -> Jerusalem. It was hard - hilly and very hot (unbearably hot at times, was about 45 degrees down at the dead sea) but what an experience. I was riding solo which i knew was not the most sensible of things to do considering the climate and political situation so hired a taxi for $150 and used that as a support car with a coolbox with drinks, food etc in the boot. $150 sounds an extravagence but it was money well spent, one of the best days in my life. The roads were in surprisingly good condition as alot of aid money has gone into infrastructure projects like road building

Anyway the experience was worth the stamp on the passport (which incidentally you can avoid just by asking at passport control). If the opportunity came up to visit Lebanon or Iran i can always get a 2nd passport, but i dont see it as a hardship not being able to go to Saudi, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Qatar, Sudan, Yemen and Pakistan!

I've always wanted to go to Israel, but have always said I'll visit Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia before doing so because of all the stamp/passport problems, I know you can get round this by getting a second passport but I have no clue how I'd go about doing this.

The only way I know of is to get an endorsement of your application for a second passport from your employer. E.g. if you are due to travel on business, but need to submit your passport for a visa application at the same time, your employer can write an explanatory letter (on headed notepaper) to include with your application.

LiamW

ILM Zero7 wrote:

I wouldnt go near israel - I value being able to travel to decent countries too much to have an Israeli stamp on my passport

+1 on this.

LiamW

I've always wanted to go to Israel, but have always said I'll visit Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia before doing so because of all the stamp/passport problems, I know you can get round this by getting a second passport but I have no clue how I'd go about doing this.

The good thing about being from Belfast is that we can have 2 passports if we wish. Not that i've ever taken advantage of having a British one, but the option is there if i wanted it.

thegreatdivide

dorsetdom wrote:

I remember when i read Dom Jolly's book the Dark Tourist, he had two passsports, one for 'dodgy' countries like Israel and Iraq and the other for America. Reason being, he once tried to go to America and at passport control got held up for hours as he had a stamp from a country America was suspicious of.

My uncle used to sell tank parts to various Middle Eastern countries in the 70's and 80's and needed several passports :shock:

Omar Little

BlakeysFC wrote:

I've always wanted to go to Israel, but have always said I'll visit Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia before doing so because of all the stamp/passport problems, I know you can get round this by getting a second passport but I have no clue how I'd go about doing this.

At passport control you can ask for them not to stamp it - they give you a form that is stamped instead (which you need to keep with your passport).

You can get into Jordan with an Israeli stamp - however if you intend going into Jordan over the land crossing from Israel then Jordan stamp the passport (with the name of the border crossing) so that could cause problems in other countries even if you dont get the Israel stamp.

I'm not religious but i am pretty widely travelled and i've yet to experience anything in the world that matches the the old town in Jerusalem (never mind the other sights). If you have the chance to go then take it, dont worry about not being able to visit elsewhere....It is sort of like turning down a chance of a blow job off Angelina Jolie because it might ruin your chances with Anne Widdecombe.

karlth

Thank you for that image. It's bad enough knowing I'm closer in age to the aforementioned tory MP than that cute new receptionist without thinking about blow-jobs.

stealf

Omar Little: .It is sort of like turning down a chance of a blow job off Angelina Jolie because it might ruin your chances with Anne Widdecombe. : The funniest line I have read for a while... very funny...

Anyway back to the cycling: cycled for a day up in the Golan Vallley. \, Kafar Blum and arounf\d the hills either side of the Jordon River... Pretty much the best riding experience I have ever had. scenery is amazing and staying in the hotel gotr me into the Spa after so all the better, Borowwed a Kona off a friend (quite old hardtail but ok for showing off. Really want to go back for a road session bnow though as the mountialns also provided some wonderful switchbacks.
Unfortunately I had the passport stamped so will find out where I won't be able to go at the thin end of passport control....
Sent from Tel Aviv after a day on the beach - Back home to the UK tomorrow....

desweller

Dude - stick your photos and writeup and what-have-you on crazyguyonabike.com. Your trip sounds fabulous,

hipshot

Jesus. On a donkey.

Back in the day admittedly.