Penny Carter

Serial Traveller

Prepping for Your Day Trip

If you only have one day in a city then you need to plan it well. First of all, find the best way in, whether that is by bus, coach, train, or even tram! Whatever is the best combination of quick, reliable, regular, and economical, essentially. Then, plan your day and all the travel inbetween. Set time limits for each venue you visit, making allowances for the need to sit down and rest, use the loo, stop for a drink, and so on. As for this last point, make sure you have a bottle of water on you. This is extremely important, as you can easily get dehydrated when travelling around. The Tube in London, as one example, is very warm and stuffy! Also pack some snacks, in case of delays, as well as essentials such as phone charger, battery pack, paper map, travel details written down, etc.

5 interesting facts you may not know about Jerusalem

Jerusalem is located in western Asia on a plateau between the Dead and the Mediterranean Sea. Archeologists say that it is one of the world’s oldest cities.Jerusalem is the origin of three major religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. And both Palestine and Israel claim Jerusalem as their capital city. Below are some facts about Jerusalem that you may not be aware of.

1. Jerusalem is the home of the world’s oldest olive trees
It is impressive to know that some of the olive trees in Jerusalem are over 800 years old. This is an exciting fact since, according to history, Jerusalem has been conquered over 40 times, and more than 100 battles have been fought in Jerusalem according to Timeline for the History of Jerusalem. The olive tree signifies different values such as stability and tranquility. Additionally, the tree symbolizes the link between earth and man. The olive tree branch is also one of the symbols in the Jerusalem flag.

2. Jerusalem was home to dinosaurs
It is known that dinosaurs’ tracks were discovered in Jerusalem. A paleontologist found the tracks in a village known as Beit Zayit. The discovery happened in 1962. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, over 200 tracks were discovered and have been extensively used in the study of dinosaurs. The tracks are displayed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Beit Zayit is the only place that proves that dinosaurs ever existed in the Middle East.

3. Historical sites are everywhere in Jerusalem
Anytime you walk around Jerusalem, you will come across a historical site. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, it is estimated that Jerusalem has over 2,000 historical sites. In addition, over 50 square miles are occupied by extraordinary archeological sites. Some of the most iconic archeological sites in Jerusalem include:
The old city of Jerusalem: the city was established by King David and built by King Solomon over 3000 years ago. New archeological discoveries are continuously discovered from this site.The Masada National park: some of the discoveries from this site include one of the world’s oldest synagogues, gigantic cisterns, and ritual baths.The Qumran National park: almost all the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered from this site. The site is made of rocky caves, but tourists are not allowed to enter. The good thing is that you can learn about the caves in a museum at the site.Other archeological sites are: Beit Guvrin- Maresha National park, Caesarea National Park, and Herodian national park.These archeological sites provide insights into history that cannot be discovered anywhere in the world.

4. A wall surrounded Jerusalem city
Jerusalem was surrounded by a wall. The primary function of this wall was protection, since Jerusalem was small and vulnerable to attacks from neighboring communities. The length of the Wall was 4,000 meters, with an average height of 12 meters, and 2.5 meters thick. Around the Wall, there were 34 watchtowers and a total of 7 gates, and two of them were later reopened by Archeologists. The gates allowed passage of people in and out of the Wall, which was made of limestone. Together with the old city of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem walls were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Wall is now a place of prayers and pilgrimage and is the most sacred place among the Jewish community. Currently, anybody can pass through the gates of the Wall regardless of their religion, nationality, and cultural background.

6. It is possible to see Bethlehem from Jerusalem
This is an exciting phenomenon since Bethlehem and Jerusalem are two different towns. Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem. It is obvious to assume that some quite significant distance separates the two towns. However, this is not the case. The distance between the two towns is around 10km. Bethlehem is the biblical birthplace of Jesus and hence a famous pilgrimage site for most Christians. If you decide to walk across the two towns, make sure you don’t do it under the summer heat. Also, keep in mind that you will have to pass through a security crossing checkpoint. It is evident that Jerusalem has a rich cultural and historical background hence a trip to Jerusalem should be coupled with a visit to the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, one of the top art and archaeology museums in the world. And if you don’t have time to go or just to have a memory of your visit, the Judaica Webstore is what you’re looking for, an online store that deals with high-quality products from Israel. The store works with major Israeli art and design firms.

One Day in London

If for some reason a day trip to London becomes possible, or you just want to visit the city - perhaps you never have! - then knowing about the key sites of historical and cultural interest is vital.

It can be quite overwhelming buzzing around from highlight to hotspot, hence booking yourself one of the many hotels by the hour offered on daybreakhotels.com is certainly worth doing. A days hotel, or hotel by the hour, allows you to make the most of a time limited trip - to nap, rest, and refresh yourself in between bouts of sightseeing, allowing you, once recharged, to see so much more. It’s much cheaper than an overnight hotel and the timing of your stay can be arranged to suit you. It’s an especially good choice for day trips.

In any case, here are the must-see sights in London, if you have one day to spend there.

1. The Tower of London
This infamous tower has held prisoners such as Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, as well as many other lords and ladies. Be dazzled by the Crown Jewels, then frightened by the awful executioner’s block!

2. Tower Bridge
Not far from the Tower is this iconic Bridge. It is a combined bascule and suspension bridge and was built between 1886 and 1894. Inside are a glass floor and exhibitions, which are fascinating.

3. The South Bank and London Eye
Cross over Tower Bridge and you’ll find yourself on the south bank. Here, the London Eye sits, and spins. Grab yourself a seat and see London from the air! It offers an unmissable, majestic view.

4. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
From the Eye, you’ll see Big Ben across the river. Simply traverse the one of several bridges, and you are there. This is the centre of government and main UK seat of power. Tours inside are possible, if planned in advance; however, the view from the outside is also extremely impressive.

5. Westminster Abbey
Next to the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey. The tomb of Elizabeth I is in here, and it is very fancy. There are also tombs of many other royals and nobles, plus plaques and memorials to famous writers and, in ‘poet’s corner’, poets such as Shakespeare, John Keats, and Dylan Thomas.

6. Buckingham Palace
No trip to London would be complete without a look at Buckingham Palace! Whether you’re a royalist or not, the changing of the guard is certainly an impressive vision to behold.

After all this, get to your day hotel for a rest… And then we recommend an evening out at a good old fashioned London pub to round off your day. This is the perfect single day’s itinerary for London! What’s more, all of this can be done on foot which, along with your hotel by the hour, will save you lots of money, which you can then spend on beer, fish, and chips.