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Gdansk is a beautiful old city in northern Poland, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Walking the town, you can literally feel the wheels of history spinning on. For centuries Gdansk was in the middle of a few dramatic historical events. Two of them took place in the 20th century: the first shots of WWII and the rise of Solidarity – the movement that overthrew communism in eastern Europe. A visit to Gdansk is a first-rate cultural and historical experience. Therefore, it must definitely be a part of your future touristic plans. We landed in the evening, placed the luggage at the hotel, and made our first round in the Long Market, an equivalent to other cities' Old Town. This place must be visited at least twice: in the daytime and at night. After dinner in the expansive and highly overrated restaurant called Piwna47, We took a ride on the Amber Sky attraction – a ferry wheel in the middle of the city, which ended our first day. The second day was dedicated to two guided tours, run by Free Walkative Tour. The morning tour gave us the whole background story, the history of Gdansk, and its main sites, while the second tour focused on the fall of communism and the story of the Solidarity movement. Both trips were very enriching, giving us a high starting point for city exploring. We closed the day visiting the WWII museum - an impressive building hosting a vibrant exhibition on the war. The museum suggests the visitors clear three hours for visiting the museum – and they are right. I can testify that I know a lot about WWII and the Holocaust. However, after two hours (we came late and they had to close), I felt I missed a lot and really needed this extra hour. The next day we took an Uber ride to Westerplatte – where the first battle of WWII took place, a symbol of the courage of the Polish soldiers. They had no chance of standing against the power and cruelty of the Nazi forces. By the way, Uber is very efficient and chip in Poland. From there, we headed to Sopot – a lovely but way overrated Vacation town north of Gdansk. We walked at the beautiful main street and visited the wooden pier and thought that despite what the tour guides and blogs say – this is not an essential visit. Unless you want to spend some time on the sandy beach. In this case, it's worth a visit. Back to Gdansk – my wife Liat needed to go to her conference, and I went to see the St. Mary church. Due to its enormous size, the Basilica is imposing from the outside but much less from the inside. I have seen many fabulous churches in Poland – with tons of decorations and artifacts in every corner – but this one wasn't even close to most of them. I climbed the Basilica tower to catch the view of the city – just to figure out I'm not in good shape. More than 400 stares left me breathless. But it was worth it, with a marvelous 360-degrees view of the entire city. On the morning of the 4th day, I visited two museums in the Main Town: The Old Main Town Hall - with the magnificent red ceiling and the Amber Museum. Amber is a symbol in Gdansk, though the city was vibrant with this stone, and its craftsmen became very famous for dealing with it. The Amber Museum is hosted in the old Prison Tower. So there is also an exhibition about tortures of the early days. After a little Polish lunch of soup and Pirogie, I took a one-hour bus to Shtuthof – a former Nazi concentration and extermination camp. Nowadays, the compound serves as a museum with original barracks, gas chambers, and crematorium. A sad and horrifying place to visit - but in my opinion, every human being must visit a Nazi concentration camp – to learn and see what people can do to others. We had two beautiful sites for our final day. We started the day by walking at Oliwa Park. And then we went to visit the fantastic Solidarity Museum – perhaps the most beautiful and unique museum I have ever seen. We have been there for three fascinating hours. We learned about the Communist era, the strikes against the Communist Party in Poland, and the rising of the Solidarity movement. It was a fantastic end to our visit to Gdansk.

Eilat is well-known, and rightfully so for its beautiful beaches. The water is crystal clear, you can see the fish swimming gently near you. So here are recommendations for our favorite beaches: Dolphin Reef: The combination of dolphins in the water, the peacocks that walk around free, the clear water, and the palm trees form an incredible oasis. There is a bar intended for people over 18 years old (in other words - no children are allowed in…) with a great view of the reef. There is also a spa where you can book (in advance) messages in the water. Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve The color of the water is amazing - genuine turquoise. I felt as if I am swimming in an Instagram filter...On the beach, you can rent diving and snorkeling equipment and enjoy the amazing colors of the fish. Kisuski Beach This is a great beach for youngsters and adults that enjoy water sports. Here you can find all kinds of water sports: jet ski, crazy shark, Kayaks, Saps and more. Enjoy🤗 For more places in Eilat and near Eilat press here

There are many restaurants and cafes in Eilat. Here are two of our favorites: Breitman Bakery - a great bakery where they bake excellent sourdough bread, pastries and serve amazing sandwiches. In the morning you will probably stand in a long line of people - it is worth it. Papi meat restaurant - A new and excellent meat restaurant has been built on the ruins of the mythical El Gaucho. Keep in mind that you must book a place in advance and that the restaurant asks for a credit card number and charges 50 NIS if you don’t show up. Enjoy🤗 For more places in Eilat and near Eilat press here

A new and fun mini water park opened in Eilat a few months ago - USplash - it has several complexes: ✅ 5 slides for adults - 3 fun and not scary, 2 more scary. Great fun ✅ Complex for toddlers with water fountains ✅ Complex for older children - a kind of playground in the water with small slides, places to climb, and a bucket of water poured on everyone every few minutes. 🌊The queue was not particularly long. There is an excellent division between the complexes. It is possible to spend an entire day running around between them. 📌 Please note - there is no pool, but you can sit in the water near the tiny facilities. You need to buy tickets through the website. In my opinion, it is most comfortable to walk around the place with rubber shoes for the water - the ascent to the warm floor slides. Enjoy🤗 For more places in Eilat and near Eilat press here

The Red Canyon- One of the most beautiful places near Eilatץ About half an hour drive from Eilat, and you are on a stunning, easy-to-walk canyon (about an hour and a half in a slow and relaxed walk) in the fantastic landscapes of the desert. After a short walk, you enter the Canyon, and the beauty of the red stones is so impressive. The descent is with the help of pegs, and it is great fun. The trail is circular - walk along the path marked in white-green, then the one marked in white-black and return to the white-green (in parts of the way back you as you go up, there are pegs to be used). Another option: Instead of doing the circular route, those who want to experience the pegs a little more can return with the white-green marking and, this time, climb with the help of the pegs. The trail is suitable for the whole family. Next to us walked families with small children (of course, it depends on the children). There is also a longer circular route of about 3 hours (which we did not do) that allows more walking in the desert paths. Those who are mainly interested in experiencing the Canyon can make do with the short route. Enjoy🤗 For more places in Eilat and near Eilat press here

Neot Smadar kibbutz in the southern Negev (about an hour from Eilat) was established in 1989 by settlers imbued with organic and ecological spiritual awareness. 📍We recommend a visit to The Arts House in the center of the kibbutz. It is a spectacular and unique building designed and built for 15 years by the kibbutz members. Roses planted in the path leading to it fill the air with an intoxicating smell. The building itself is fascinating. Every corner of it is unique and thought-provoking. In the building, there are workshops in various arts (you should check their website). 📍It is not possible to enter the kibbutz itself without coordination. For those interested, there are also rooms for rent in the kibbutz. For us, a great discovery related to the organic products they manufacture is their organic juices. Amazing. All flavors. If you want to enjoy them and other organic products - you should stop at Neot Smadar Inn. It is about one kilometer before the kibbutz (if you arrive from the center of Israel). Waze: Neot Smadar Inn Enjoy🤗 For more places near Eilat and near Eilat press here

Midreshet Ben-Gurion (aka Midreshet Sde Boker) has stunning views of the desert, history, and good food. It is a beautiful place to visit or stop in on the way to Eilat. Near the tomb of David and Paula Ben-Gurion, there is a fantastic view of the desert. Ben Gurion Shack is an important historical site with an interactive presentation on crucial moments in the history of Israel. It is fascinating for children and adults. We recommend taking sandwiches and salads from the Canaanite. This deli-cafe makes great sandwiches with excellent cheeses and sausages. You can have a picnic on the grass or in the nearby viewpoint, from which you can observe the dazzling beauty of the desert and the chamois that roam naturally and freely. You can combine the tour in Midreshet Ben-Gurion with a trip to the nearby Ovdat National Park. There you can find an easy and beautiful one-hour route to the waterfall and back. Enjoy🤗 For more places in Eilat and near Eilat press here

If you arrive in Eilat and you are looking for great short trips near the city, here is a great recommendation - The lost Lake About half an hour's drive from Eilat, you will find a magnificent spot - the lost lake - between Timna Park and Kibbutz Elifaz. Between abandoned copper quarries, a mesmerizing turquoise lake is revealed. While the quarries were active, the groundwater rose, flooded one of the quarries, and created this wonder. The combination of water and rocks is spectacular. The viewpoint can be reached by private car. If you are interested in walking down to the lake, it is about a 20-minute walk down the hill (and later a steep ascent back to the car). If you want to do it, make sure you have enough water and sunscreen because the entire trail is exposed to the sun Some say it is not recommended to swim in the water. Some say you can swim there but should be careful not to get water in your eyes or mouth because they are very salty. We preferred not to go in and just to observe the beauty from above. We recommend you combine it with a visit to the amazing Timna Park - one of the most beautiful parks in the country with spectacular desert views. Enjoy🤗 For more places in Eilat and near Eilat press here

Liat was invited to talk at a conference about Madness at the University of Edinburgh. Cool – I wanted to travel there for a long time. When we reached the airport, it was already evening. We took the Airlink bus no. 100, just outside the airport. The bus leaves the airport every 10 minutes (15 minutes between midnight and 4 AM). We bought a round trip for 7.5 pounds, and it took us to the city center at Waverly Station. Only 8 minutes walk from our hotel, near the Royal Mile. We stopped for soup and beer at a very friendly pub on the way and reached our lovely hotel – ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge.​ After a good night's sleep, I walked Liat to the university. Usually, she wants me to navigate. So I put the conference address to Google Maps. Only when we arrived, I understood the problem – we walked in the exact opposite direction. Because it was the rush hour, Uber wasn't available on time, so we had to walk back – and more. This time Liat didn't let me lead…​ After Liat got inside the university, I searched for my first site to visit. The National Museum of Scotland was very close but open only at 10 AM, like most museums and sites in Edinburgh. But next to the museum, I saw a large open gate of an old cemetery called Greyfriar. Although some famous people are buried there, It's a dog's grave that takes most of the tourist's attention. I enjoyed the tranquility of the cemetery, and then I went on to the museum. I could have stayed at the museum all day. But Liat joined me at noon, and while we ate some soup at the museum café, she shared that a local colleague told her about a hidden underground city. We were very curious and immediately looked for it on the internet. We booked a guided tour that starts at 16:00 in the middle of the Royal Mile – the guide took us down to the vaults and tunnels under the South Bridge. It was a unique experience.​ After the tour, we went up to Edinburgh Castle (which was already closed). Next, we went down the Royal Mile, exploring the most famous street in Edinburgh. Alongside a few significant sites: Churches, Museums, Castles, City Chambers, and more, it is mainly a shopping and restaurant street. Most of the shops sell Kashmir and Whisky. ​I have started the second day visiting three free museums on the Royal Mile: The Writer's Museum, People's Story Museum, and the Museum of Edinburgh. After a quick lunch at a food truck compound with Liat, we decided to do some hiking. From Holyrood Park, we climbed to the most beautiful views of Edinburgh – Arthur's Seat. Unfortunately, we are not in perfect shape, so the climbing wasn't easy for both of us. But it was totally worth it. After we went down from the peak, we desperately looked for toilets – which we found in the Parliament building just across the street. Great place to rest after hiking to Arthur's Seat. We closed the day at the New Town – a lovely walk at the Princess Street Gardens and Rose Street.​ We decided to dedicate the third day to visit Loch Lomond. Usually, we prefer to rent a car, but they drive on the left side of the road, and it's kind of scary. So we had no other option than to take a guided tour. There are lots of tour companies, and they all make the same journeys. So we picked a trip to Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle with an excellent guide (who was also the bus driver).​ The last day was concise due to a noon flight. First, we went to Edinburgh Castle. After that, we wanted to drink a coffee at the café where J. K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter – The Elephant House. Unfortunately, it was very crowded and without air conditioning. So we decided to sit in the café just next to it - one of the justified decisions we made on this trip. So let me sum my experience of Edinburgh with some valuable tips: Walk the Royal Mile. Visit at least one castle. Visit the National Museum of Scotland – look for Dolly. Drink Whiskey and eat Haggis. Walk the lively streets of The New Town and the Princess Street Gardens. Visit the vaults and tunnels under the South Bridge. If you're healthy – go to Arthur's Seat. Just don't forget to take enough water with you. Edinburgh is a great city. Have fun exploring it!

St. Giles Cathedral is an impressive Gothic cathedral built as a Catholic cathedral in the 14th to 16th century, on the ruins of a former temple from the 12th century. After the Scottish Reformation (1560), it became Presbyterian. The entry is free (You'll have to pay for taking pictures), and it's in the middle of the Royal Mile, so I think it worth getting in for a few minutes.

Due to the unique geological structure of Edinburgh, the city had to build two bridges to expand: The South Bridge and The North Bridge. Under the South Bridge, people established businesses, workshops, and tenements inside the arches supporting the bridge from below. However, because of the terrible sanitary terms, the city council decided to evacuate the place. So all the legitimate traders went out and were replaced by criminals and shady businesses that took their place: gambling, prostitution, bodies trade, etc. We took a tour of one of these places with a company called Mercat Tours. Their guide was excellent, and the site is fascinating. I'm sure some other companies have a similar plan, and they are all located on the Royal Mile. The meeting point for the tour we took is at the Mercat Cross. It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our trip.

Luss is a tiny touristic village on the west bank of Loch Lomond. One street with some shops. Take a walk on the Loch Lomond bank and walk through the picturesque houses.