Sorek Cave

Sorek Cave is the only showcave in Israel. It was discovered during quarry works. Around the cave numerous limestone quarries produce limestone for cement and for the typical natural stone faces of the Jerusalem houses. Several years ago the popular major of Jerusalem made a law, that all new buildings in Jerusalem must have a natural stone facade. Since then, the limestone industry in Israel booms. However, the quarry around Sorek Cave is now a nature preserve and mining is stopped.

 

 Sorek Cave is famous for its beautiful formations. Stalactites and stalagmites, but also many other forms of speleothems, especially calcite crystals, helictites and cave coral, make it well worth a visit.

The dripstone walls are very impressing. A dripstone wall is not a type of speleothem, but a specialty of Sorek Cave, how stalagmites formed here. Cracks in the ceiling were leads to the calcite rich water. Along those cracks, the water emerged at many points and formed stalagmites and stalactites. They grew together forming pillars, all lined up in one row, following the crack. Today those rows of pilars form massive flowstone walls, ten or fifteen meters high, 30 or 40 meters long and only half a metre thick. They cut the large hall into smaller chambers. 

The uniqueness of the cave made a very carefull development necessary. So it took nine years, until it was finally opened to the public. The light system of the cave and the wooden walkways are designed to save the beauty of the cave. The entrance and the exit have double doors to prevent warm air from outside to get into the cave. Because of the formations' delicacy, photography is only permitted one morning a week (Fridays).

The light system is computer controlled, the brightness is very low, just a sort of emergency lighting. But when the tour reaches a point, the guide starts a program and the light highlights the most impressing formations. This system, designed to reduce the needed light and the amount of heat it produces, is extraordinary. However, the temperature of the cave, which was 19°C when the cave was discovered, is now at 24°C. Without all those precautions it would be much higher, but still the temperature is much too high and the natural processes in the cave are disturbed.

Medical care center in Israel

Herzliya medical center (HMC) leading private medical center facility in Israel and the middle east. Every year patients come from 51 countries for treatment. We serve diplomats, UN forces personnel, tourists and others. The international dept has a multi lingual team speaking 11 languages to provide patients service in their mother tounge.

So I finally had to go to the doctor over here and it was really nice at the HMC.

There were Dried fruits and nuts on the waiting room coffee table. Everyone from reception, lab clerks and doctor spoke English.

It was a little crazy navigating the complex.
Step 1 register and wait at international center
Step 2 at appt time go to building next door third floor where u have another waiting area while u wait to be seen by the doctor
Step 3 drs exam room and office were combined. I instinctively walked into the room and sat down on the exam table. Where the dr told me no come over here and have a seat at my desk lets talk about what brings you here today. Then I went to the exam table. He gave me a prescription and requested lab work.
Step 4 return to the international dept step 1 where they review info from dr and give u additional paperwork. One document allowed me to go to the pharmacy down the street to get my medicine. The other was processing paperwork for the lab.
Step 5 went to the lab.. Someone was at the window so I sat down in one of the waiting room chairs. Then chica bean from Boston comes in and walks up to the window. I wanted to scream hey!! Remember HIPA! Sit your butt down I am next! But I learned my lesson and just stood up in line waiting for her to be done.. As I had to ward off additional people.. NOo fool me once but not again!! Get behind me!! ;)
Step 6
Went to the center of town in search of pharmacy.. Saw a pharmacy and hoped that was the right one. And it was.. Gave them my paperwork and they gave me my meds. No charge. I think they work with the medical center to bill to my insurance. We will see..

So all in all not that bad.. Much better than medical care in Mexico. (duh I know still it was the only out of us experience I could draw from)

Israeli Heating

Consists of one heater/airconditioning unit for our apartment.  Its located above the window about 6 inches from the ceiling in our living room.  So if you stand at the one small spot in our living room where the heat is concentrated its nice.. Otherwise we heat the ceiling and higher areas of our apt. 

I have found though that drying clothes in the dryer tends to warm more of the apartment than the "heater"..  Good news.. We have clean clothes! ;)