I love watching television’s “The Amazing Race.” If I knew how to drive stick-shift, or how to herd ducks in Vietnam, I’d sign up for next season in a heartbeat. So, when I had the opportunity to participate in my very own race throughout Israel’s Western Galilee region, I couldn’t wait to get started.
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The team gets ready for the race in Tiberias. // © Deanna Ting 2009 |
I was in Israel attending the 14th annual Go Galilee conference with a group of more than 250 travel agents, tour operators and journalists, exploring this less-visited area of the Holy Land. By the time we were ready to embark on our self-drive car rally around Galilee on the last day of the conference, I had assumed I’d already seen most of what it had to offer but, like many an “Amazing Race” contestant, I was flatly wrong.
The rally got off to a good start, at least. Our team had received a packet of clues and we were already on our way to the first leg of the race by 7:30 a.m.
Before I even recount any more of my adventure, I think it’s important to note that the car rally wasn’t really designed as a race. There weren’t any actual winners or losers, even if my teammates and I considered ourselves to be top contenders for a nonexistent prize. Some teams were on the same route as we were, while others had entirely different itineraries — from wine tasting to goat milking. Nonetheless, we tackled this rally as though it was the actual “Amazing Race” and, looking back on it, I can’t say we didn’t encounter a few roadblocks and detours along the way — but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Beach Bound
Because our clues were limited strictly to straightforward, easy-to-follow driving instructions, we had no idea where exactly we were headed to for each leg of the race. (Luckily for myself and my team, I was not the appointed driver.) We were elated, however, to discover that our first stop would be Achziv Beach (www.parks.org.il), located on the Northwestern shores of Israel, near Nahariya.
Our group was the first to reach the beach, arriving even before our appointed tour guides. This gave us time to take in our surroundings, breathe in some fresh ocean air and dip our toes into the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean.
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We’re number one! // © Deanna Ting 2009 |
When our guides arrived, our ears perked up when they told us we were officially the first team to arrive — we even took a photo to chronicle our achievement. Soon after, more teams came and, after the guides readied our Zodiac boat, we were off, cruising on the Mediterranean toward the border between Israel and Lebanon.
It was an exhilarating (and short) ride — not without a few bumps and splashes of water — but the view of outlying islands off the coast was amazing. Returning back to the beach, however, was another story.
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Drenched after an impromptu dip in the Mediterranean //© Deanna Ting |
In my haste to exit the boat and trudge onto our next challenge, I slipped out of it completely, falling into the ocean, along with my camera bag. From the waist down, I was completely soaked and, of course, I hadn’t worn a swimsuit because I had no idea our rally would take us to the sea. Fortunately, my camera made it out all right, but I didn’t have time to dwell on my current state of sogginess — this was a race, after all.
Because we had such a large lead time, we were even able to go on an additional excursion to tour a nearby kibbutz and nature reserve in a Land Rover 4x4. Even though I felt slightly uncomfortable (“moist” would be the operative word), I looked forward to our expedition.
Detour: On the Road
For our second destination, we headed north from Achziv Beach toward the border between Israel and Lebanon. Misreading the directions, we made a wrong turn just before reaching our destination, and wound up in a kibbutz. After asking for directions and circling the kibbutz for about 15 minutes, we finally figured out what road we were supposed to take. Our poor navigating skills cost us some precious time, however, as we made it to Rosh Hanikra (www.rosh-hanikra.com) in last place.
Pit Stop: Rosh Hanikra
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Racing to catch up with the other teams at Rosh Hanikra // © Deanna Ting 2009 |
We were a little bummed but still soldiered on, even running to catch up with the rest of the group. Thankfully, since this wasn’t the actual “Amazing Race,” Rosh Hanikra wasn’t an Elimination Station. We boarded a cable car that took us down to the entrance of the grottoes, to watch a short film about the famed natural site. The grottoes of Rosh Hanikra, we learned, were formed from waves and rain water that have slowly shaped the bedrock over thousands of years. After exploring the grottoes, we finally had a real Pit Stop — taking time to savor a delicious lunch buffet.
Roadblock: Land of the Lost
After lunch, we dashed to the car, hoping to make up for last time and reach our third destination in first place, not last. But, as we soon discovered, it seemed that we had lost our sheet of directions. We couldn’t find it anywhere inside the car. What happened to our sheet is still an unsolved mystery — some thought it was sabotage, while I thought we probably lost it when we asked for directions. So, we did what any savvy “Amazing Race” contestants would do: We begged the team parked closest to us for directions.
Trusty pen and paper in hand, my friend scribbled down the directions for our next stop but failed to get the directions for our last and final stop. Why? After our team of Good Samaritans gave us directions for the next leg, they abruptly turned on their ignition and left the parking lot. I guess we weren’t the only ones who thought this was “The Amazing Race.”
Making it to the Museums
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A moving exhibition at the Yad LaYeled children’s Holocaust museum // © Deanna Ting 2009 |
Now, we were headed south, arriving at the Ghetto Fighters’ House (
www.ghf.org) and the Yad LaYeled Children’s Museum. The Ghetto Fighters’ House is the world’s first Holocaust museum and was built in 1949. In 1995, a children’s museum, Yad LaYeled, was opened adjacent to the main museum.
This leg of the race was less about making it to the finish line and more about understanding an integral part of Jewish and Israeli history — something I think all visitors to Israel should have a chance to experience. Here, we toured the interactive children’s museum, along with dozens of Israeli Defense Forces recruits.
On to Victory
Later, we ventured outside the museum, headed to our final destination. This time, yet again, we relied on some benevolent competitors for directions to our last stop.
Driving onward, we all felt exhausted but fulfilled. We’d seen so much of the Western Galilee and gone on so many adventures and now, we knew the finish line was near.
Soon enough, we found ourselves at the last stop, a gigantic shopping center in Akko. It was a rather hilarious drive to the final parking lot, too, since we spotted a fellow group of Go Galilee attendees indulging in some retail therapy, instead of staying on course. But, finally, we made it to the finish line — in first place.
We cheered as we exited the car, happily handing over the keys to representatives from Hertz. And, I think, even though we knew this was not “The Amazing Race,” each of us wished we would be awarded some sort of prize for making such good time.
But the good times and memories of our journey would have to do … and they certainly live up to that reward.
The Details
Go Galilee 2009
www.go-galilee2009.org
Agents who would like to arrange a similar self-drive excursion for their clients should contact Go Galilee representative Ya’acov Dovev at [email protected].
