A Bus Tour of Israel Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Red Sea

Eilat was established in 1950 and has become Israel's most important resort, offering sunshine and sandy beaches to visitors escaping colder climates, many of whom arrive directly from Europe on chartered flights. The Arava Mountains offer a dramatic back-drop.

While in Eilat we will certainly visit the aquarium with its underwater observatory. There are tons of hotels to choose from in Eilat, but we will stay at the Orchid, a Thai-style resort located close to the dolphin reef. Since this is a beach resort, I suggest you try some of the fresh denis fish for dinner.

Answer: A wild animal reserve

Kibbutz Yotvata is justifiably famous for its delicious dairy products, particularly the chocolate milk. The adjacent "Hai Bar" is a wild animal reserve dedicated to preserving local animal species that face the danger of extinction. The "Hai Bar" occupies four-thousand acres.

It is maintained by the Nature Reserves Authority. (Information for this question comes from the web page of the Hai Bar).

Answer: A crater

The "maktesh", (plural, "maktashim") is a geological formation unique to the Negev and Sinai desert. The "maktesh" is formed when a layer of soft rock, such as chalk or sandstone, is covered by a layer of heavier rock, such as limestone or dolomite. The soft rock gives way under the weight of the heavier rock, forming a large geological depression.

The largest of the makteshim, ramon, is forty kilometers long, half a kilometer deep, and varies from two to ten kilometers in width. The Israeli Nature Reserves Authority has established a visitors' center at the Ramon maktesh which includes a wide variety of exhibits, including a film and inter-active programs. Tonight we will sleep at a campground located in one of the trails in the maktesh, and will feast on Bedouin pita and coffee specially prepared for our group.

Answer: Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, or officially Tel Aviv-Jaffa, is Israel's financial and cultural capital. In addition to the symphony and the opera, you can enjoy theatre and dance performances in Tel Aviv, as well as a varied night-life. Tel Aviv was declared a United National World Heritage Site in 2003 in honor of its Bauhaus architecture. We'll have no problem finding a gourmet meal in Tel Aviv, and in keeping with our art quest, we will be staying at the Art Hotel, decorated with the works of Israeli artists. Israel in general, and Tel Aviv in particular, is known for being gay-friendly.

Answer: There is a research center within the reserve.

The Carmel Forest is only seventy-seven square miles, but it contains some special features. These include a remarkable stand of Aleppo pine, as well as archaeological finds from a quarter million years ago. However, what makes the forest unique among bioreserves is the Center for the Study of the Carmel, which was jointly established by the University of Haifa and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. According to the web page of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Center is dedicated to "education and preservation projects" in the Carmel Forest.

Since Zichron Yaakov is home to one of Israel's oldest wineries, it makes sense to have our dinner at the winery restaurant.

Answer: All the rooms are private, and the patient is offered a menu at each meal.

Well-trained health professionals, including doctors, nurses and rehabilitation and diagnostic specialists, provide a level of health care in Israel that compares favorably with other developed nations. In fact, life expectancy rates are among the eight highest in the world. Israel is a leading nation in health-related research. Israeli-made CAT scanners, for example, are exported around the world.

Health care insurance is compulsory and is provided by four different health funds, similar to HMOs in the United States.

However, most Israeli hospitals do not provide the hotel-style accommodations that one can find in some American hospitals. Private rooms are usually reserved for people who have a clinical need for a private room. And the food in Israeli hospitals, while nutritious, is pretty basic. You may be surprised, however, to find olives and salad on your breakfast tray!

Answer: Nazareth

If you followed directions, you will find yourself in the Galilee town of Nazareth. As the site of the Annunciation and the boyhood home of Jesus, it
is without a doubt one of the most important places for Christian visitors to Israel. We will visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, a Crusader -era church which dominates the Nazareth skyline. Mary's Well, another church dating to the time of the Crusaders, is the holiest site in Nazareth for the Greek Orthodox community. As well as visiting the many ancient churches in Nazareth, we will have time to wander about the market and artist galleries.
Nazareth is well-known in Israel for its restaurants, serving a typical Middle Eastern mesa with a myriad of salad and dips, followed by grilled meats.
And while there are a number of fine hotels in Nazareth, we will travel to a nearby moshav, Zippori, where we will spend the night at a lovely bed and breakfast. Bed and breakfasts, or "zimmers" as they are called in Israel, can often be found in rural communities, where they provide an interesting alternative to hotels. Zimmers range in style from simple, dormitory type arrangements to luxurious honeymoon suites for couples.

Answer: Bathing in thermal springs

The Romans were the first to enjoy the mineral-rich thermal springs at Hamat Gader, located at the south-east corner of the Sea of Galilee. We will pamper ourselves in the warm water, (42 degree Celsius) which is said to contain healing properties. A nice mud treatment and massage should complete the treat! After we've spent enough time in the spa, we can explore the Roman and Byzantine ruins found at the site. The children will enjoy the crocodile farm and the exotic bird collection.

For the perfect ending to a perfect day, we'll sup at the Thai restaurant located at the spa, and stay at the boutique hotel located on the spa ground.
By the way, the wrong answers are all activities available in Israel.

Answer: It is the first kibbutz.

The kibbutz (plural, "kibbutzim") is a communal agricultural community. The community was first established by young people who arrived in the Land of Israel from Eastern Europe, and who were influence by the revolutionary ideals of the early twentieth century. The kibbutzim have played an important role in developing both agriculture and industry in Israel, and have produced some of Israel's most important civilian and military leaders. The kibbutzim have undergone many changes in the last decade or so due to new economic realities and social expectations. Nevertheless, the kibbutz remains an important part of Israeli culture.

While Degania Aleph does not have a hotel, we may be able to have our lunch in the kibbutz dining room. And then we'll head around the Sea of Galilee to Kibbutz Ginnosaur, in order to enjoy the hospitality of a kibbutz hotel.

Answer: Jaffa

The ramparts of the Old City of Jerusalem were built in the mid-sixteenth century by the Ottoman sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent. The two-and-a-half mile wall enclosed an area of 220 acres, or one square kilometer. Packed into this small space are some of the holiest sites of the three great monotheistic faiths; the Western (or Wailing) Wall, the Via Dolorosa ending in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Al Asqa Mosque.

The ramparts are actually punctured by eight, not twelve, gates. The Jaffa Gate is the only gate on the western side of the Old City, and is the gate where General Allenby made his triumphal entrance at the end of the First World War.

In David's Citadel we can view the archaeological exhibit, as well as changing exhibits dedicated to the story of Jerusalem. Since we are visiting Jerusalem of Gold, why not go for the gold and stay at the King David Hotel, where visiting dignitaries stay? For dinner we must try the Eucalyptus restaurant, which specializes in historic Jerusalem cuisine, like stuffed figs.