You asked, so here it is - places to stay when you visit the north!

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I get asked ALL the time about places to stay when you're visiting the north of Israel. So I'll share some places I know about today!

Please note: If you are Israeli, you will likely be asked to pay for VAT on your stay at check-in if you book using these links - it's not a scam, just be aware!

In Katzrin:

Zimmer Maayan 

Maydele's House (large villa)

I have a more comprehensive list HERE

In Tzfat:

Artist Quarter Guest House 

The Way Inn 

Ruth Rimonim Hotel 

Artist Colony Inn 

Romano Boutique Hotel (has rooms suitable for families)

Myrtle the Turtle Guesthouse

Bayit BaGalil Boutique Hotel 

EretZefat (more on the budget side than some of the others) 

These are a selection of my favorite hotels/zimmers in Tzfat. Hope you find one that works for you!

In the Galil:

Niflaot HaGalil Cabins. This place was AWESOME when we went for a short off-season getaway. Private cabins with great amenities, including private jacuzzis if you want. There's a shared large jacuzzi, sauna, pool, kitchen, outdoor BBQ/picnic area, and lots of trees and green and QUIET. Take advantage of all of it! (We cooked some food in the shared kitchen - double wrapped in the oven - instead of going out to a restaurant)

While you're in Tzfat, make sure to go to the Safed Puzzle Room - Tzfat's one and only escape room experience! Available in Hebrew or English, for groups large AND small. Reservations are required.

Hope you found this post helpful! If yes, don't forget to follow this blog by email (see the sidebar on the right) and like my FB page!

Subsidized Eye Exams and Glasses in the Galil!

Residents of the Galil, here's another chance to get a really affordable glasses.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 and Thursday, November 30, 2017, you'll have a chance to get subsidized glasses (and eye exams if needed), this time in Shlomi.  Please bring your glasses if you just need new glasses with the same prescription as your old ones, OR if you have a written script for your new prescription, bring that in order to save time. You'll be able to get a pair of glasses (standard frames + standard lenses!) for just 100 shekels! Specialty lenses are subsidized on a different scale (multifocals, for example, will cost 600nis and transition lenses for most prescriptions will cost 300nis - still a really awesome deal! My high index lenses cost an extra 200nis, the cost varies by exactly what you need), and some frames are a bit more expensive, but still affordable. Subsidies are available - ask the person in charge if you cannot afford the 100 shekel fee.

The event will take place at the Merkaz L'Kashish in Shlomi, in the Ben Gurion Neighborhood, from noon - 6pm on Wednesday and 10am -4pm on Thursday. There will also be a craft sale to benefit Merkaz L'Kashish at those times.

Please note: Glasses are not made on the spot. You will receive a text message when they are ready to be picked up, at the same place where you order them.

Hope this helps some of you out there! There's been a lot of discussion about the cost of glasses lately.

Be sure not to miss out on more ways to save money - find me on Facebook! 

I'm sure there will be similar programs in other towns - please let me know if you know of any!


P.S. I am not affiliated with the organizations sponsoring this or any similar events. I was not compensated to post this information. I received a press release, and have passed this information on as a public service. 

Subsidized Eye Exams and Glasses!

 

Residents of Northern Israel - particularly the Galilee area - it's back! Here's another chance to get a really affordable eye exam and glasses.

Next week, on Sunday and Monday, Sept 17 and 18, 2017, you'll have another chance to get subsidized eye exams and glasses, this time in Karmiel. You'll be able to get a pair of glasses (standard frames + standard lenses!) for just 100 shekels, and sunglasses for 50 shekels! Specialty lenses are subsidized on a different scale (multifocals, for example, will cost 600nis and transition lenses for most prescriptions will cost 300nis - still a really awesome deal! My high index lenses cost an extra 200nis, the cost varies by exactly what you need), and some frames are a bit more expensive, but still affordable. There is an option to have this fee or a portion of it waived in case of need, so if you cannot afford the 100nis copay, please ask for assistance while you are there.

The event will take place at the Moadon WIZO, at Rechov Sarig 20, Karmiel.

Eye exams are available from 10am - 6pm on both days. If you have glasses already (even old ones - they will help narrow down what you need even if you need an updated prescription) or a prescription for new glasses, please bring them with you to save time.

Please note: Glasses are not made on the spot. You will receive a text message when they are ready to be picked up, at the same place where you order them.

Hope this helps some of you out there! There's been a lot of discussion about the cost of glasses lately.

Be sure not to miss out on more ways to save money - find me on Facebook! 

I'm sure there will be similar programs in other towns - please let me know if you know of any!


P.S. I am not affiliated with the organizations sponsoring this or any similar events. I was not compensated to post this information. I received a press release, and have passed this information on as a public service. 

Subsidized Eye Exams are Back!

UPDATE:

I just received a message from someone who went to this event, and was told his glasses would cost 600nis, not 100nis.

I'm not sure what's going on there, so if anyone else has had similar experiences at these events, please be in touch!

I would not want to mislead anyone. I personally am not affiliated with these organizations - I simply posted info from a press release I received.

So if you've gone to one of these events, please let me know what your experience there was! 

UPDATE: When I inquired, one of the organizers told me that multifocal lenses cost 600nis, because they are such expensive lenses to begin with. This is still a HUGE subsidy. (It is possible that some other specialty lenses would also fall into the 600nis category, I didn't get all the details.)

Residents of Northern Israel - it's back! Here's another chance to get a really affordable eye exam and glasses if you missed it last time.

This week, on Thursday, June 15, 2017, you'll have another chance to get subsidized eye exams and glasses, this time in Yishuv Bar Yochia. You'll be able to get a pair of glasses (frames + lenses!) for just 100 shekels, and sunglasses for 50 shekels! There is an option to have this fee waived in case of need. Please send a text to 050-326-7501 to request a waiver.

The event will take place at the Matnas at the entrance to Bar Yochai.

Eye exams are available from 11am - 7pm. If you have glasses already (even old ones - they will help narrow down what you need even if you need an updated prescription) or a prescription for new glasses, please bring them with you to save time.

Hope this helps some of you out there! There's been a lot of discussion about the cost of glasses lately.

I'm sure there will be similar programs in other towns - please let me know if you know of any!

Be sure not to miss out on more ways to save money - find me on Facebook! 

Please note: I am not affiliated with the organizations sponsoring this or any similar events. I was not compensated to post this information. I received a press release, and have passed this information on as a public service.

Discount Eye Exams and Glasses - AGAIN!

Residents of Far Northern Israel - it's back! Here's another chance to get a really affordable eye exam and glasses if you missed it last week.

Tomorrow - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - you have another chance to get subsidized eye exams and glasses, once again in Chatzor Haglilit. You'll be able to get a pair of glasses - frames + lenses for just 100 shekels! There is an option to have this fee waived in case of need. Please send a text to 050-326-7501 to request a waiver.

The event will take place at Mercaz Ohel Moshe (this is a Matnas) on Rehov HaHistadrut in Chatzor. This event is sponsored by "Pitchon Lev" and "Ezra Ba'Re'iyah".

Eye exams are available from 10am - 8pm. If you have glasses already (even old ones - they will help narrow down what you need even if you need an updated prescription) or a prescription for new glasses, please bring them with you to save time.

Hope this helps some of you out there! There's been a lot of discussion about the cost of glasses lately.
 
I'm sure there will be similar programs in other towns - please let me know if you know of any!

Asparagus hunting!

By now, my kids know quite well that if we go hiking (or tiyuling) in February, I am most likely going to start searching for the elusive favorite plant of foragers, asparagus.

Yes, you can forage asparagus, especially in the Galil. I haven't found any in the Golan yet, but I have found plenty in a variety of places in the Galil.

staring into an asparagus patch

It takes a lot of looking. I stared at a particularly large patch of asparagus for a good 30 seconds before discerning those new small shoots that are still edible!

Asparagus is really only edible if you find shoots that are young. If you wait too long, they get woody and tasteless and even thorny. Not so good.
But if you catch them at the right time - you'll find gorgeous shoots of varying thicknesses, that are very tasty!

In my experience, asparagus patches that are right next to the beaten path are nearly always picked clean of new shoots by the time I find them, but if you're willing to go off the path even just a few feet, you can find some!

we found asparagus!

You'll recognize an asparagus patch by it's thorny overgrowth. Asparagus shoots that are not picked when young will keep growing and will send out offshoots which will open up into a very fine thorny foliage. So look for those. And then peer closer to the ground, at the edges or in the middle, if it's growing around a tree, and look for those gorgeous asparagus shoots!





Once you've found them, you'll know they are still tasty because you can just simply break them off with nearly no effort.

My kids tend to get annoyed with me, though, as my asparagus hunting seriously slows down our outings. But, well, they will just have to put up with it once a year in February!

I hope you find some too!

p.s. if you like the "bandana visors" my daughter and I are wearing the picture above, I still have some for sale. Please email me at ester@kosherfrugal.com for color availability and pricing information!