2024 was not an easy year... and probably that's why you haven't seen something very big appearing here at the blog.
The year was mainly defined by the trauma of the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack to Israel, which started a war that nobody in Israel wanted, which continues until this very moment. And I can say that the whole country is still stuck at the October 7th event and will continue there until the last of the hostages returns home.
In practical issues, the very North of the country with its forests and the mid-South (the area surrounding Gaza) with its deserts, two of Israel's most beautiful regions, were closed military areas, making them completely unavailable for any kind of leisure activity. Actually the whole North of the country was dangerous due to the Hezbollah constant shelling, so we needed to give up on motorcycle tours in these areas.
The solution that could be left for Israelis for having a vacation would be travelling abroad. But then most of the international airlines fled the country and stopped operating here until the shelling ends, out of insurance concerns among other reasons.
Anyway, there were some events that I can comment here, so let's try to summarize this year as best as I can.
The year was mainly defined by the trauma of the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack to Israel, which started a war that nobody in Israel wanted, which continues until this very moment. And I can say that the whole country is still stuck at the October 7th event and will continue there until the last of the hostages returns home.
In practical issues, the very North of the country with its forests and the mid-South (the area surrounding Gaza) with its deserts, two of Israel's most beautiful regions, were closed military areas, making them completely unavailable for any kind of leisure activity. Actually the whole North of the country was dangerous due to the Hezbollah constant shelling, so we needed to give up on motorcycle tours in these areas.
The solution that could be left for Israelis for having a vacation would be travelling abroad. But then most of the international airlines fled the country and stopped operating here until the shelling ends, out of insurance concerns among other reasons.
Anyway, there were some events that I can comment here, so let's try to summarize this year as best as I can.
First semester, a complete stop in everything
Well, during the first semester, I really couldn't post anything. The country was in complete hold, most people were working from home, and going out almost only when necessary, due to the heavy Hezbollah shelling from Lebanon that could arrive at any time in any part of the country. People in Israel, while used to these situations, were not used to the frequency and the heaviness of the shelling, so they preferred to stay home near their security rooms.
On November 2023, I gave an interview to the Brazilian TV channel Jovem Pan (for those who don't know I am Brazilian and speak Portuguese) showing them the routine of the Israelis when going to the safe room. This explains a little of what Israel was going through during the first half of 2024, except for the fact that only around 35% of the apartments in Israel have safe rooms. People living in apartments without a safe room had to go to a public shelter or to the building's stairs, an area of the building that is naturally more secure for being in the middle of the buildings and for having a stronger build.
Here is the interview. It is in Portuguese, but I believe that the images explain a lot.
Well, during the first semester, I really couldn't post anything. The country was in complete hold, most people were working from home, and going out almost only when necessary, due to the heavy Hezbollah shelling from Lebanon that could arrive at any time in any part of the country. People in Israel, while used to these situations, were not used to the frequency and the heaviness of the shelling, so they preferred to stay home near their security rooms.
On November 2023, I gave an interview to the Brazilian TV channel Jovem Pan (for those who don't know I am Brazilian and speak Portuguese) showing them the routine of the Israelis when going to the safe room. This explains a little of what Israel was going through during the first half of 2024, except for the fact that only around 35% of the apartments in Israel have safe rooms. People living in apartments without a safe room had to go to a public shelter or to the building's stairs, an area of the building that is naturally more secure for being in the middle of the buildings and for having a stronger build.
Here is the interview. It is in Portuguese, but I believe that the images explain a lot.
JUNE 2024: Becoming a grandfather
In June 2024, my older daughter gave birth to her first son, and made me and my wife grandparents for the first time. We are still enjoying and getting used to this new status, and enjoying it daily.
Pardon me if I don't publish a picture of my grandson, but since my daughter has decided not to publish herself, for reasons of privacy I will also keep the pictures away from here.
But let me say something very important: this new status of grandfather is one of the most enjoyable things in the world. I am really enjoying it! It's a new status worth for anyone!
JULY 2024: Vacation in Sicily
Well, in the middle of the first semester, my wife and me decided that we would take a vacation in Sicily, Italy, and set this vacation for the best period for me at work, the end of July. Without motorcycles this time, since the driving culture in Sicily is know to be a little wild...
You can find a whole description of the trip in another item in this blog - here is the link.
Regarding this vacation, which was very successful but had its problems, I can ask: what is the only thing that can happen which is worse than the airline that will take you to a vacation cancels all your flights because it stops flying to Israel???
Well, those who answered "The airline cancels half of your flights" are the ones who've got it right. ITA Air took us to Sicily, and 4 days before our return sent an e-mail telling us that our flight back to Tel Aviv was cancelled. After talking to them on the phone we managed to get them taking us in our pre-scheduled flight to Rome, and from there, 24 hours later than our original flight, taking us to Athens. From Athens to Tel Aviv, we needed to book our flight with IsrAir, and Israeli company that was still flying to TLV, for 24 hours after we arrived in Athens (no previous flight available). The cost of the new flight and of the hotels in Rome and Athens were NEVER refunded by ITA Air.
Except for this problem, which we turned into an opportunity to visit Rome and Athens one more time, for one day each, the trip was a success. We met for the first time the places and the culture of Sicily, which is a beautiful place to visit if you just understand where you are going to.
During this trip, I also bought my new gadget, an Insta360 X4 camera that shoots video and pictures in 360 degrees. The first video done with it was the video of this trip, which you can just under the pictures below.
You can see some pictures here in the gallery - click to see them in full size.
In June 2024, my older daughter gave birth to her first son, and made me and my wife grandparents for the first time. We are still enjoying and getting used to this new status, and enjoying it daily.
Pardon me if I don't publish a picture of my grandson, but since my daughter has decided not to publish herself, for reasons of privacy I will also keep the pictures away from here.
But let me say something very important: this new status of grandfather is one of the most enjoyable things in the world. I am really enjoying it! It's a new status worth for anyone!
JULY 2024: Vacation in Sicily
Well, in the middle of the first semester, my wife and me decided that we would take a vacation in Sicily, Italy, and set this vacation for the best period for me at work, the end of July. Without motorcycles this time, since the driving culture in Sicily is know to be a little wild...
You can find a whole description of the trip in another item in this blog - here is the link.
Regarding this vacation, which was very successful but had its problems, I can ask: what is the only thing that can happen which is worse than the airline that will take you to a vacation cancels all your flights because it stops flying to Israel???
Well, those who answered "The airline cancels half of your flights" are the ones who've got it right. ITA Air took us to Sicily, and 4 days before our return sent an e-mail telling us that our flight back to Tel Aviv was cancelled. After talking to them on the phone we managed to get them taking us in our pre-scheduled flight to Rome, and from there, 24 hours later than our original flight, taking us to Athens. From Athens to Tel Aviv, we needed to book our flight with IsrAir, and Israeli company that was still flying to TLV, for 24 hours after we arrived in Athens (no previous flight available). The cost of the new flight and of the hotels in Rome and Athens were NEVER refunded by ITA Air.
Except for this problem, which we turned into an opportunity to visit Rome and Athens one more time, for one day each, the trip was a success. We met for the first time the places and the culture of Sicily, which is a beautiful place to visit if you just understand where you are going to.
During this trip, I also bought my new gadget, an Insta360 X4 camera that shoots video and pictures in 360 degrees. The first video done with it was the video of this trip, which you can just under the pictures below.
You can see some pictures here in the gallery - click to see them in full size.
Second Semester: the liberation of the North
Around one month after our return from Sicily, Israel decided to fight Hezbollah back. Despite the fear of the Israeli population that this would unleash hell over the country, a series of clever operations in the beginning of this secondary war made it easier to finish it quickly and with a very clear image of who was on top. Hezbollah was neutralized in two months approximately, and a cease-fire was initiated in November.
With this, the North of the country was opened for leisure (except to the extreme North) and could be visited again.
Motorcycle tours
During this whole year, I participated only of three motorcycle tours, from September and until now, all of them with the BMW Motorcycle Club Israel.
The first one was to the area of the Carmel mountains and the Gilboa Scenic Route. A beautiful tour which you can see in the video below, my first experience with the Insta360 X4 mounted on the motorcycle:
Around one month after our return from Sicily, Israel decided to fight Hezbollah back. Despite the fear of the Israeli population that this would unleash hell over the country, a series of clever operations in the beginning of this secondary war made it easier to finish it quickly and with a very clear image of who was on top. Hezbollah was neutralized in two months approximately, and a cease-fire was initiated in November.
With this, the North of the country was opened for leisure (except to the extreme North) and could be visited again.
Motorcycle tours
During this whole year, I participated only of three motorcycle tours, from September and until now, all of them with the BMW Motorcycle Club Israel.
The first one was to the area of the Carmel mountains and the Gilboa Scenic Route. A beautiful tour which you can see in the video below, my first experience with the Insta360 X4 mounted on the motorcycle:
The second one was in the area of the Southern Negev desert, passing through different areas from Arad to the Dead Sea and the Yeruham crater. You can see a video of this beautiful tour, also filmed with the Insta360 X4, but this time already edited using a new (for me) editing software called Davinci Resolve, here below.
The third tour happened only two weeks ago, and was again to the North of the country, at the areas of the Beit Keshet Forest (Churchill Forest), the Byria Forest, and the Kinneret Lake (the Sea of Galilee). This was also a beautiful tour, and since I am more fluid now with the Insta360 X4 and with the Davinci Resolve software, I think I managed to get a very good picture of the whole event in the video below.
And what now???
Well, the year is ending in two weeks, so I don't believe that I will have too much to add until then. And it was crazy enough for me to wish for a boring two weeks now.
So let's end here with my expectations for the next year 2025. This is what I am expecting to happen:
My expectations for the next year:
And with these optimistic expectations, let's finish this article with this saying: 2024 was not a good year, at least for this region, but maybe it was a necessary year in order to stabilize the region and bring peace and progress. I hope, for all here, and for all the world as well, that 2025 will be A LOT BETTER.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to ALL !!!
Well, the year is ending in two weeks, so I don't believe that I will have too much to add until then. And it was crazy enough for me to wish for a boring two weeks now.
So let's end here with my expectations for the next year 2025. This is what I am expecting to happen:
My expectations for the next year:
- All the hostages (alive and dead ones) will return home.
- The war will end and there will be peace and quiet.
- Maybe a peace agreement will be signed with the new Syrian government
- Many, MANY motorcycle trips and short vacations within Israel
- AND !!! Motorcycle tour at the Himalayas !!! Wait for the blog post on this subject during 2025.
And with these optimistic expectations, let's finish this article with this saying: 2024 was not a good year, at least for this region, but maybe it was a necessary year in order to stabilize the region and bring peace and progress. I hope, for all here, and for all the world as well, that 2025 will be A LOT BETTER.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to ALL !!!
RSS Feed
