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A Night at the Harmony Hotel in Jerusalem

February 28, 2013 By Sandra Bornstein 2 Comments

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Cruise ships occasionally stay in a port for more than one day. Should you sleep in your cabin or splurge by spending a night in a hotel?  In most instances, I would take the conservative approach by maximizing my shipboard experience and minimizing my out-of-pocket expenses. However, when given the option to spend a night in Israel, I gladly jumped at the opportunity. Why waste time driving back and forth to the heart of Israel, when we could stay at the Harmony Hotel in Jerusalem.

Off the Coast  of Ashdod, Israel  November 2012
Off the Coast
of Ashdod, Israel
November 2012
Jacob Firsel, our private tour guide, recommended the Harmony Hotel, an Atlas Boutique Hotel. I was searching for a location that was walking distance to the Old City and was within an area that had a variety of restaurants, galleries, and shops. The Harmony Hotel fit the bill. It was located within the quaint neighborhood of Nahalat Shiva, an area that dates back to the 1860s.

Upon check-in, we learned that our Internet reservation was upgraded. Our barebones accommodation had been magically transformed to a spacious suite. Free Wi-Fi access was a definite plus after counting every second of Internet usage aboard the ship.

Harmony Hotel, Jerusalem- Evening Snack
Harmony Hotel, Jerusalem- Evening Snack

After a day of non-stop touring, it was pleasure to indulge in a pre-dinner snack. A wide variety of finger foods were a perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine.

Hamarosh- Jerusalem
Hamarosh- Jerusalem

We were content to hunt down a local falafel restaurant. The one that the hotel recommended had already sold out its daily allotment. I had left my notes regarding other options in the room. We had to punt. On nearby Ben-Yehuda Street, we wandered past a storefront filled with Israelis. We looked at a large sign at Hamarosh while we contemplated our order.

Ordering felafel at Hamarosh
Ordering felafel at Hamarosh

While most of the patrons were nibbling on shawarma, (shredded meat, with chopped vegetables, pickles and condiments inside a pita) we were content to order the vegetarian alternative- falafel and humus. Our Middle East sandwich that included freshly fried falafel balls with an assortment of vegetables was tucked inside a flavorful pita topped off with a spicy sauce. This fulfilled my desire to eat something Israeli. Ira added French fries to the mix.

After strolling up and down the peaceful pedestrian mall, we returned for a quiet evening in our room. Before checking out the next morning, we helped ourselves to the inviting Israeli breakfast buffet. We’ve never been disappointed with an Israeli breakfast. This experience did not break that trend.

Israeli breakfast buffet- Harmony Hotel, Jerusalem
Israeli breakfast buffet- Harmony Hotel, Jerusalem

By staying in Jerusalem, we were able to start our private tour without wasting any commute time. We would not hesitate to return to the Harmony Hotel the next time our travel plans take us back to Israel.

Selection of breads on buffet at Harmony Hotel
Selection of breads on buffet at Harmony Hotel

Have any of my readers stayed at the Harmony Hotel?

Sandra Bornstein is the author of MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. It is available on Amazon.

If you enjoyed reading my memoir, consider posting a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or AskDavid.com.

 

 

Filed Under: Jewish Culture, Middle East, Worldwide Travel Tagged With: Ashdod Israel, Ben-Yehuda Street, cruise ship ports, felafel in Jerusalem, Hamarosh Jerusalem, Harmony Hotel in Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Nahalat Shiva, spending night at cruise ship port

Comments

  1. desi Traveler says

    February 28, 2013 at 9:45 am

    Very interesting, glad to note that vegetarian food is available easily in Jerusalam

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  2. Customized Guided Tours In Israel says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    This post is worth everyone’s attention. Where can I find out more?

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