Before the Tour Began: Exploring Netanya

Our first full day in Israel completely changed my expectations.

Before traveling to Israel, I had a picture in my mind of what it would look like. If you've never been, you may have the same picture in your mind.

I imagined rocky hills, dry desert landscapes, and shades of brown stretching to the horizon. Most of the images I'd seen over the years came from Bible stories, documentaries, or photographs of ancient ruins. I knew Israel would be beautiful, but I expected that beauty to come from its history rather than its scenery.

Our first full day in Netanya changed that perception completely.

Instead of desert, we found brilliant turquoise water, dramatic cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, colorful flowers, beautifully landscaped gardens, and one breathtaking view after another. Before we ever visited our first biblical site, Israel introduced itself through its natural beauty.

A Day Without an Agenda

One of the greatest gifts of arriving a day before our guided tour was having time to simply slow down.

After more than twenty-four hours of travel, there was no bus waiting for us, no historical sites to visit, and no schedule telling us where to be next. We had an entire day to explore at our own pace and soak in our surroundings before the adventure officially began.

Sometimes those unplanned days become the most memorable.

Falling in Love with the Mediterranean

Netanya stretches for about eight miles along Israel's Mediterranean coast, with beautifully maintained beaches and one of the country's longest seaside promenades.

We spent much of the day wandering along the promenade, stopping every few minutes because another view caught our attention.

The Mediterranean seemed to change color with every passing hour.

In the morning, it shimmered in brilliant shades of turquoise. As the sun climbed higher, the water deepened into rich blues before eventually reflecting the warm oranges and golds of sunset.

No photograph could fully capture how beautiful it was.

Beauty in the Details

The biggest surprise wasn't just how beautiful Netanya was. It was realizing that the picture of Israel I'd carried in my mind for years was only one small part of the story.

I've never been able to keep a plant alive for very long, so I definitely didn't inherit my mother's green thumb. She has always been the gardener in our family. As we wandered through Netanya, I found myself noticing the gardens through her eyes. 

Flowering hibiscus bloomed beside the walking paths. Sculpted succulent gardens lined the sidewalks. Palm trees swayed in the Mediterranean breeze alongside unusual evergreens and colorful plantings that looked as though they had been carefully designed to frame the sea beyond.

Knowing Mom, I have no doubt she appreciated those details even more than I did. Together, they made every walk feel like strolling through a botanical garden overlooking the Mediterranean.

Simply Wandering

There wasn't a checklist for the day.

We walked.

We admired the coastline, stopped whenever something caught our eye, and simply
enjoyed being there, whether it was another sweeping view of the sea, an interesting tree, or a beautifully landscaped garden. I probably took far more pictures than anyone needed, but every turn seemed to reveal another view worth remembering.

It gave us the chance to experience modern Israel before immersing ourselves in its ancient history.

I don't remember exactly how many miles we walked or every street we wandered down. What I remember most is how peaceful it felt to simply be there.

Our First Taste of Israel

That evening, we gathered at the hotel for dinner and met many of the people who would become our traveling companions over the next several days.

It was also our first real introduction to Mediterranean cuisine.

Simple grilled vegetables. Perfectly seasoned meats. Fresh salads. Warm pita. And the hummus.

Oh, the hummus. 

I thought I knew hummus before this trip. I was wrong. Creamy, fresh, and full of flavor. It wouldn't be the last bowl of hummus we'd happily devour during the trip.

As conversations began around the dinner table, the excitement grew. Tomorrow we would finally begin exploring the places we'd dreamed about for years.  

A Sunset We'll Never Forget

After dinner, we stepped back onto our balcony just in time to watch the sun slowly sink into the Mediterranean.

The sky transformed into layers of gold, orange, and soft pink while the sea reflected every color.

It was one of those rare moments when conversation simply stopped. No one wanted to interrupt what we were watching.

There couldn't have been a more perfect ending to our first full day in Israel.

Ready for the Journey Ahead

By the time the sun disappeared below the horizon, our quiet day of wandering had come to an end.

We had explored a city we never expected to love.

We'd shared our first meal with new friends.

We'd watched the sun disappear into the Mediterranean.

And we'd discovered that Israel was already nothing like we'd imagined.

The next morning, the journey we'd dreamed about for years would finally begin.