So … the principal reason for our trip to Israel … and by extension, Tuscany, and Provence. THE WEDDING. It was the celebration of a special nephew of Hirsh’s. It was also the most unconventional wedding we’ve been to. The setting was a vineyard originally established by Baron de Rothschild (actually, Abraham Edmond Benjamin…
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Israeli farming technology is unbelievably sophisticated. Watering of crops is done via drip techniques which, in many cases, is computerised and is often remotely controlled by phone. Below, at top left, the soil is being sterilised under plastic to rid it of bacteria that has accumulated after crops and plantings.            In this desert…
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Palm trees, palm trees, everywhere You don’t come to Israel for its beauty. You come here to get your eyes opened. Where we are in the south, the country is flat and arid. Other than the dusty tree groves and assiduously tilled farmlands, it’s baked earth and trimmed palm trees. As you drive around, there…
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One of hobbyist wine-maker Amnon Honig’s most anticipated (and celebrated) occasions is when Hirsh comes to town! Hirsh has been informally tasting, commenting and giving helpful suggestions and direction on Amnon’s cabernet sauvignon vintages since 2003 (!). He even sends Hirsh his latest vintages by mail — with disastrous consequences). They’ve always arrived smashed to…
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Among the many things the Israelis are particularly noted for is the respect they afford, and the efforts they go to, to care for their people. Education and culture are foremost in importance, as is the nurturing and support of the sick and ageing population. In the smallest of communities, there are schools, community centres,…
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During our stay on a Moshav in the Negev Desert, we’re very fortunate to be staying in a wonderfully creative home. Plenty of artistic talent running in Hirsh’s entire family! I feel compelled to share some of it …                   Painted butterflies in the bathroom … flitting around the shower door, up the…
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I’ve always told friends that Israel is an industrious nation … forward thinking, tough and resilient, immensely hard-working. So, on our first morning here, what did we do? We went out into the fields and got working. Up early before the sun gets too fierce (and we thought Tuscany was hot!), the task of the…
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So … where, really, are we? Looking at the long, thin wedge that is Israel, we’re on a Moshav located at the start of the southernmost third of the country. We’re kind of in line with Be’er Sheva, at the topmost edge of the Negev Desert, and laterally sort of mid-point between Be’er Sheva and…
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Well … I’m now writing from Israel … The stats: close to 2,700 (driven) kilometres later (loud applause, Hershey!), the final stretch of which was a 700 km, 10-hour drive from Valensole to Orbetello, Italy, 1½ hours away from Roma airport. It was a looonng, slow, Saturday of coping with wild, uncontrolled, non-indicating drivers and…
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