Tuesday, 3 January 2017

The Best of 2016 - Part II

1. Nahal Taninim Nature Reserve  2. Lohamei Hagetaot  3. Ein Afek Nature Reserve  4. Making the Desert Bloom  5. The Monument to the Negev Fighters Brigade  6. The Yehi'am Fortress  7. Be'ersheva  8. The Sharon Coast National Park  9. Cyclamen Hill  10. Tel Aviv's First City Hall

Happy New Year! When I started writing this blog back in 2008 I initially kept it as a blog purely about my papercut art. However, I soon found out that people were interested in reading a little more about me and my life here in Israel. Whilst I still don't write every single detail about myself here, I have opened up to you about my Jewish faith and many of the holidays we celebrate, and I have written about some of the beautiful places I have been fortunate to visit in Israel.
In a week's time I will be marking 22 years in Israel. It is incredible to think that I have spent almost half of my life here. Over the years I have enjoyed seeing and exploring my country, particularly when the kids were younger (they are now teens and less interested in coming out with Mum and Dad). We have been north, we have been south, east and west - though that's not so hard really since the country is so small! Along the way I have developed a knack for searching out off the beaten track places, so much so that rarely a week goes by without me getting a call or WhatsApp message from a friend asking for suggestions about what to do and where to go! I must admit, I quite enjoy my role as an unofficial tour guide.
2016 saw us visiting Be'ersheva in the South and the western Upper Galilee in the North. We went to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, spent a few days on a kibbutz and stayed closer to home to see the Rakefot (Persian Cyclamen) bloom. I have blogged about all of these places and more, but thought it would be fun to pick my top 10 of 2016. So, in no particular order, please click on the names above and enjoy exploring Israel with me!

* This post has been shared on Sunday PleasureBlue Monday, Mosaic MondayMonday's MusingsWordless Wednesday (on Tuesday), Seasons, Our World Tuesday, The Good. The Random. The Fun.Travel TuesdayTuesdays with a Twist, Outdoor Wednesday, Travel Photo Thursday and City Tripping.

17 comments:

NCSue said...

I didn't see any of the sites you listed here when I was in Israel. I'd love to go back to your beautiful country some day.
Thank you for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/01/church-of-primacy-of-peter.html

Happy New Year!

Tamar SB said...

I am SO overdue for a trip to Israel!

Miss Val's Creations said...

It is such an amazing country rich with history where you are! How wonderful that it is small enough to travel all over. I would love to explore all of the US but it is just too large. We started our blogs around the same time. At first mine was just about my business but then it evolved over the years to my online journal. It is fun having the online space to preserve memories that you and your children and look back on. :)

Hootin Anni said...

What a charming way to review the year, 2016! I enjoyed it a great deal.

Forest Dream Weaver said...

The light where you are always looks amazing - Happy 2017!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you have done the card making for 8 years - no wonder you are so so adept at it! And...you have been blogging longer than I have:)
Have tried 3 times to come to Israel (one time, a war broke out at the border of Lebanon) - so, I still hope to make it one day:)
The love for your country is evident, and I am praying that the latest news (situation) will fall flat. Many thanks for sharing your interesting posts with ALL SEASONS every week and all the best to you and your family in this New Year!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

How beautiful each image is...very special to you I am sure. Happy New Year~

krishna said...

that's so nice..

Happy new year...

Maggie said...

It's good to look back and appreciate once again all of the places that we've seen, travel makes us all just that little bit more interesting! Good to have your company for Mosaic Monday this week.

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

How lucky you are to live in such a wonderful country!

Thank you for your kind comment on my post yesterday. The nicest photos were taken in Italy. :)

Ruth said...

Nice photos! Especially the water ones! Would love to explore Israel one day. Finger cross I can make it soon. #WordlessWednesday

Cathy (MummyTravels) said...

It's amazing how much there is to discover in a relatively small country. I still haven't explored as much of Israel as I'd like, mostly sticking to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv areas, plus some of the countryside in between where I have family, but one day I'd like to discover a lot more. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Israel is definitely on my bucket list of dream destinations I'd like to visit. I would probably take a tour to see as many highlights as I can. Your greeting cards are very pretty!

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

Because Jeanne at Backyard Neighbor has no Internet for the foreseeable future, I invite you to post your “blues” at Blue Monday 2. Links only, no previews, but we’ll have a lot of fun until Jeanne can get back online. Hope to see you soon!

Ela said...

Your country is really beautiful !! I have a dream to visit Jerusalem, someday !!
Happy New Year !!

restlessjo said...

22 years! That's a long time. Sounds like you've put it to good use. :)

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

I’ve had trouble with the Blue Monday 2 blog. It is not accepting links. So, until Jeanne of Backyard Neighbor is able to return, please post your Blue Monday links at Magical Mystical Teacher each Monday. The first link is here:
https://magicalmysticalteacher.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/blue-monday/