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mccfan
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« on: February 12, 2012, 12:02:18 AM » |
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I'm going to a conference in northern Israel in late May. I am going a few days before the conference begins, but I will have to leave right after it ends. I can either fly through Paris, with about a 36 hour layover, allowing me a day or so to see some of Paris, or I can go straight to Israel and spend the 36 hours in Jerusalem. If I go through Paris, I will be with a group, while in Jerusalem I would be on my own. I was in Paris about 25 years ago and I have never been to Israel before. I am a bit concerned about being in Israel on my own, though that may just be because we get news of stuff blowing up there more frequently than we do from Paris. I am a little concerned that I (female) will accidentally wander into some neighborhood where females in short sleeves are anathma. And I will be arriving on a Thursday afternoon, which means that my touring time will be cut a little short by Shabbat. So, I'm asking for advice. Paris or Jerusalem? Is it easy to wander around Jerusalem on one's own without any expert help? Does anyone have any good day tours to recommend in either place? Thanks in advance.
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qrypt
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« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2012, 05:19:54 AM » |
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I would go with Jerusalem. You're much more likely to end up back in Paris on another occasion.
There's no problem at all in wandering around Jerusalem on your own -- though you will need to get a sense beforehand of the areas where you'd have unpleasant encounters with thugs if you aren't dressed to their liking. That shouldn't be hard, though -- if it's your first time there you would likely want to spend most of your time in the Old City. Even there, some degree of "modesty" is advisable (and you won't be able to enter certain places otherwise), but there aren't the same extreme expectations as in Me'ah She'arim, etc.
What day (of the week) does the conference start? If you're arriving in Jerusalem on a Thursday, it's puzzling that you would have 36 hours prior to the conference. If it starts on Sunday, then you'd probably want to spend Shabbat in Jerusalem and head up to the conference early on Sunday. This doesn't mean you'd have to sit in your hotel room on Shabbat -- on the contrary, in the Old City you'll find plenty of open places outside the Jewish Quarter, and even the Jewish Quarter is an interesting place for wandering around on Shabbat.
You might need to make a very early start on Sunday, though, depending on what time the conference starts -- but that's no problem, the buses start pretty early.
Getting from the airport to Jerusalem: don't take a taxi, it's far and it would cost a fortune -- instead, take a "sherut", a shared taxi-van that would take you to your hotel for a fixed price (make sure you ask), where the only disadvantage is that they'll drop other passengers off along the way and you might not be the first one.
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doctorcat
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« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2012, 12:19:00 PM » |
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Jerusalem. Same reasons as mentioned above. You are far more likely to see Paris another time.
Also, keep in mind that you are likely to have a long wait at border control in Tel Aviv. I was held for four hours once. So you may as well just go straight to Israel and adjust to the time change (assuming you are coming from another), deal with border control, and when you get to Jerusalem enjoy the Old City.
Enjoy!
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mouseman
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« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2012, 07:25:39 PM » |
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PM me if you want info about where to visit in Jerusalem. As for border control, it usually depends whether you raise any red flags with security or customs.
Have fun!
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eddyman
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« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2012, 09:31:12 PM » |
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I'd vote for Jerusalem too. Of course, this all depends on whether Israel is bombing Iran or not.
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ivansilvio
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« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2012, 11:50:16 AM » |
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I would vote for Jerusalem too
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crowly
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« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2012, 11:41:24 AM » |
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Jerusalem - no doubt.
And if you need a guide for those hours, or even a place to crash, PM me.
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westcoastgirl
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« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2012, 09:12:55 PM » |
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If you get your passport stamped there and plan on going to other Middle Eastern countries in the near future, keep in mind you will need a new passport.
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Mountainguy (on rejection letter thread):
This sounds very Foucauldian. "You do not apply to search committee; the search committee applies to you!!"
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merce
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« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2012, 10:32:40 PM » |
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westcoast, is it possible to ask them not to stamp the passport so you can move freely through the Middle East?
It seems I've heard that.
And having a Middle Eastern country's stamp doesn't create a hassle going into Israel or does it?
36 hours isn't really enough to justify going through the trouble of waiting for luggage and going through customs then taking the bus or RER into Paris. If you are going from the US you will probably be jet lagged and so a little discombobulated for the day you arrive. The second day could be fun but not enough to really do anything more than see Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Then you'll have to leave the city three hours before your flight. Now, I know people who have arrived at Charles De Gaulle and come into the city to meet for coffee or lunch only to get back on the metro to get on another flight in the evening.
Perhaps you are like them: more accustomed to living on the edge, doing wild and crazy itineraries.
Me, I'd be worried there would be a strike after I got into Paris and I wouldn't be able to get back to the airport.
Or one of my flights would be delayed and I'd end up missing the conference.
Or my bags would be lost Paris to Jerusalem and I wouldn't have those extra 36 hours for them to arrive.
Yes, I'm the one who still goes to the airport the full 2 hours early for international flights.
But, in JFK last week I was very happy to have the time. The lines were insane!
I'd go with getting to your destination and doing mini excursions there.
But maybe that's just my scaredy cattedness.
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westcoastgirl
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« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2012, 09:35:21 AM » |
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westcoast, is it possible to ask them not to stamp the passport so you can move freely through the Middle East?
It seems I've heard that.
And having a Middle Eastern country's stamp doesn't create a hassle going into Israel or does it?
36 hours isn't really enough to justify going through the trouble of waiting for luggage and going through customs then taking the bus or RER into Paris. If you are going from the US you will probably be jet lagged and so a little discombobulated for the day you arrive. The second day could be fun but not enough to really do anything more than see Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Then you'll have to leave the city three hours before your flight. Now, I know people who have arrived at Charles De Gaulle and come into the city to meet for coffee or lunch only to get back on the metro to get on another flight in the evening.
Perhaps you are like them: more accustomed to living on the edge, doing wild and crazy itineraries.
Me, I'd be worried there would be a strike after I got into Paris and I wouldn't be able to get back to the airport.
Or one of my flights would be delayed and I'd end up missing the conference.
Or my bags would be lost Paris to Jerusalem and I wouldn't have those extra 36 hours for them to arrive.
Yes, I'm the one who still goes to the airport the full 2 hours early for international flights.
But, in JFK last week I was very happy to have the time. The lines were insane!
I'd go with getting to your destination and doing mini excursions there.
But maybe that's just my scaredy cattedness.
You can ask them to stamp on a separate piece of paper. Usually, they will comply, but I've heard of situations where this has failed. I will find out if this applies the other way around. I want to say, "no" off the cuff, but I'll check (both ways). I haven't been to the region in a sad six years. I'd also echo the other posters and say Jerusalem, hands down. |
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Mountainguy (on rejection letter thread):
This sounds very Foucauldian. "You do not apply to search committee; the search committee applies to you!!"
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anisogamy
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« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2012, 10:01:26 AM » |
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I would go with Paris, but I've never been to either and have a stronger interest in Paris to begin with. Plus it isn't as though you won't be spending time in Israel otherwise on the trip, and going through Customs doesn't really bother me.
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notaprof
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« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2012, 12:33:12 PM » |
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You could just go to Arkansas and visit both Jerusalem and Paris and they are only about 2 hours apart. You could also fit in a visit to Stuttgart and England easily within a 36 hour period.
I would vote for going early to Jerusalem. Enjoy the trip whatever you decide.
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preventburnout
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« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2012, 12:09:52 AM » |
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I would definitely choose Jerusalem too. There are many tourists there and you'll be just like one of them that no one will take notice that you are alone. I think people there will be able to help as well just don't hesitate to ask questions with confidence. Just dress decently and I know you'll be fine. Have a safe trip.
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maocat7
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« Reply #13 on: April 11, 2012, 08:17:33 PM » |
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I've been both places and think Jerusalem would far more interesting. You would have to go to the Old City for sure. Tours are probably available to and from Ben Gurion and may be the best way to see the most things. It is doable depending on the security situation. Traveling by oneself isn't too bad in Israel, but may raise some eyebrows compared to France.
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alpha_bet
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« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2012, 02:47:07 PM » |
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Do we need another vote for Jerusalem? Well, just in case, it has mine. It's the most beautiful city I've ever seen And that's coming from someone who lived in Paris for a decade and took thrown rocks on the back in Jerusalem (bless my leather jacket) when wandering into the wrong neighborhood.
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