Steinbergs in Israel - quick Eilat roundup

Y'know there isn't that much to write about Eilat. It was more of a personal break for us all because we've been running around like headless chooks a little. We spent a really lovely 4 nights at the Hilton Queen of Sheba hotel. It is magnificent, with every amenity we needed - i.e. bed, food, pool, kids club, sun.
The only tiyul we did was to the underwater observatory. i think the biggest thrill there was seeing the massive sea turtles - extraodinary. Otherwise, we walked the promenade and outdoor markets, sat & swam by the pool, and.... Nuthin.
Shabbat dinner was a real treat and an interesting experience at the hotel. Everyone got wine and chalot, and as the people filtered into the large dining room you could see everybody doing their own kiddush. If you ever get the opportunity, i recommend partaking in a 'communal' shabbat dinner in one of these big fancy hotels - it's not your average dinner. Everyone says 'shabbat shalom' as you walk past each other at the various shabbas-dic buffets. Very nice, special and heimisha.

On Sunday we left Eilat and drove to Tel Aviv - the 'big smoke'. En route we drove through Timna Valley which was quite fascinating and probably would've been better if we'd had a whole day to explore. Also, the Ramon Crater was suitably impressive, especially when you walk out onto the deck that hangs over the edge of the cliff face - oy vey.

Today, Tues 8th, we had a good time walking through the Carmel and Nahalat Binyamin Markets. Bought the girls some 'Israeli t-shirts' we'd been promising them and also bought a couple of magnificent stained glass mezuzas. We also drove through Yafo and the Yafo Shuq, but didn't stop to explore. The Yafo shuq looks hilarious - a real flea market of antiques and bric-a-brac and crap. In fact they have everything including the kitchen sink (and lots of them too).

We're just taking it easy now in our last few days in Israel. We're pretty much over shopping and shuq's and ruins, and museum's and nature reserve's, etc etc. I think we're really starting to gear up for our 12 nights in Paris (next Tues) and then, dare i say, home.

Love us

ps. the temporary Aussie number 9015-9718 is now disconnected.

Latest update from the Steinbergs In Israel...
Web photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/steinbergpicasa
Blog online: http://steinbergsinisrael.blogspot.com
GoogleMaps Steinberg Israel Tour: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=101845790702321945414.00046ae3bb9b8c8d66f12
Skype Paul username: 'paulsteinberg'
Skype Steinberg Family username: 'prsteinberg'
Tel Aviv address: Dizengoff Suites, cnr Gordon&Dizengoff.
Telephone: +972-(0)52-3396805 (in Israel)
Time: Melbourne Aust (AEST) minus -9 hours (e.g. Melb 10am=J'lem 1am)
------------------------------------------------------