CYCLING IN ISRAEL

Israel's cycling scene is experiencing a renaissance. An increasing number of Israelis - approximately 200,000 - are now biking to work, to their favorite cafes on the weekends, or to trendy off-road destinations. The eco-friendly mode of transportation has become so popular that the Tourism Industry is going to spend millions of dollars on cycyling infrastructure and trails. The most popular type of cycling is flat or mild-incline, with preferred routes winding through forests and on single-track trails.
DIVING IN ISRAEL

The bay of Eliat, Israel's southernmost city, is a major attraction for divers worldwide, thanks to some of the best diving in the world. The Red Sea, the world's northernmost tropical sea, is a rich and diverse ecosystem. More than 1200 species of fish have been recorded, and around ten percent of those are found nowhere else. This also includes 42 species of deepwater fish.

ARCHAEOLOGY OF ISRAEL

Israel's unique position as the holy land to all three major religions, and the land of the Bible has created a great interest in the land's history and archeology. The number of archeological digs that took place in Israel in more than 60 years of independence is higher than in any other country in the world. Hundreds of projects have involved the participation of professional archaeologists from Israel and around the world. Many tourists, especially those with organized groups, participate in a day of digging, which enables them to physically connect with their history and roots.

A NEW ISRAEL FILM

A new documentary film invites viewers to see a different Israel than they may know from news reports, a land of amazing landscapes and multitudes of plants and wildlife. The film follows three mammals in their respective geographic habitats through a year of seasons change. Each of the animals - the wolves of Golan Heights, the swamp cats of the Sea of Galilee, and the ibexes of the desert, opens a window onto the beauty of Israel's landscape.

Click link to view the film's trailer...
A SUMMERY RECIPE

The Israeli summer, with it's high temperatures, welcomes light, easy to make dishes, which do not require long cooking in steamy kitchens. The following recipe is a great example of a nice, summery dish. Enjoy!

Roasted Garlic with Goat Cheese Appetizer
3/4 cup sour cream
16-20 whole heads of garlic
1/2 cup butter
pepper to taste
1 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 pound semi-hard goat's cheese
6 spring onions, trimmed and chopped fine
16-20 slices country style bread
olive oil (optional)

With the point of a knife make an incision in each garlic bulb about 1.5 inches from the top. Removed the first layer of skin from the tops so that the points of the cloves are showing.

Recipe continued...

Grease a baking dish and arrange the bulbs in the dish. Dot the bulbs with butter, using 1/2 TBSP for ea. bulb. Sprinkle with pepper. Pour the wine and stock into the baking dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 45 mins. Remove the foil and bake for 15 mins. longer. Remove from oven.

Place all but 3 TBSP of the sour cream in a bowl and add the cheese, mash together with a fork. Add remaining cream if necessary, and continue beating with a fork until the mixture has the texture of a thick puree. Add chopped spring onions, mix well.

To serve: place 1 slice of bread and 1 garlic bulb on each plate, and place the remaining garlic on a serving plate. Pass the cheese mixture separately. Spread the cheese on the bread; then, using a fork, press the garlic flesh out of each clove and spread it on top. The garlic may then be sprinkled with olive oil, if desired. Serve with a dry, red wine. Serves 8 or more.