creative jewish mom

7 Best Ways to Learn a New Foreign Language for Travel

With Passover starting tomorrow night, the travel on our minds right now is how the Jewish people were delivered from slavery in Egypt, which required lots and lots of walking! Today of course with the ease of travel, seeing the world is something many people hope to do, but then again, how can one get around if you don't know the language? Learning a new language can be difficult, and even frustrating. Some languages are more complicated to learn than others. Despite the challenges, multilingualism is rapidly gaining popularity around the world, and is becoming a sought-after addition to the resume. At first glance, learning a foreign language might seem impossible. The good news is that language experts believe that basic travel communication skills can be acquired in a few weeks, and deeper knowledge in a few months. Lets find out how!

Cyclamen Bloom In The Golan Heights!

This past week we spent three nights in a lovely Moshav (agricultural community) by the name of Keshet, and wow, all the flowers in bloom made our stay even more lovely. Many of the stone walls were home to bunches of cyclamen in bloom, and while they may have been planted and are not wild, some definately did look exactly like the cyclamen I've seen growing between rocks in my area. Cyclamen in native to Israel, which is so very special! I'm in a rush to finish all the Passover prep, so enjoy my photos and if you want to know more about visiting Keshet, simply drop me a line or leave a comment. Okay, lets take a look at cyclamen and more cyclamen.......

How To Plan a Family-Friendly Vacation in San Diego

The sunny California coast is truly an amazing destination for a family vacation. With a gorgeous climate, beautiful beaches, exciting, kid-friendly attractions, and a laid-back and relaxed vibe, California really has it all. Whlle I was born and raised in Northern Calfiornia, so I'm admittedly partial to that part of the state, if I had to venture south, San Diego would be one of my top choices.

And of course, for those seeking attractions that are family-friendly, San Diego delivers. The practically perfect weather all year round, combined with tourist experiences, summer events and festivals galore that cater directly to little ones, make it a great choice for a family-friendly vacation.

So if you are planning a cruise from California and want to pack in a few great kid-friendly experiences first, or if you are looking for a destination for your summer vacation with the family, here are some of the best family-friendly options that San Diego has to offer. 

A Visit To Kerem Ben Zimra, Northern Israel

Last shabbat my husband and I had the chance to go away, just the two of us, and at long last we spent Shabbat in Kerem Ben Zimra, just a 20 or so minute drive from our home, but a special place indeed, with gorgeous sweeping views of the surrounding hills and mountains, and the real feeling of peace and quiet! My priority of course was to rent a place that had a great view for me to sketch, together with a quiet spot to enjoy the view outdoors, and I found it! All the photos I'm sharing here are from the yard of the vacation rental, and it was such a pleasure to just gaze at the gorgeous orchards, and watch the fabulous sunset. My heart longs for more, so we will certainly visit again!

My Travels To The Ukraine

In light of all the absurd and very disturbing things happening right now in the Ukraine, and the fact that it looks like my beloved city of Kyiv is about to captured by the Russians, I thought I'd point out that I have been 3 times and have shared quite a few photos of my favorite locations which I recommend reading here. The Jewish people have a 1,000 plus year history in the Ukraine, my grandfather was from Kyiv, and we remember the tragedies of many pograms that wiped out tens of thousands even before the mass massacre of the unbelievable number of 1 million jews, just in the Ukraine. I am very sad to report that that was possible because of the the great participation and willingness by many Ukranians to help the Nazis. So it is true, there are so many mixed emotions when visiting a place that has both hugely rich Jewish history, and unfathomable tragedy. Today I send my prayers to all those in the Ukraine, because human life is precious.

In case you missed the link to my posts on the Ukraine, it is right here.

Hillsides Filled With Echium Pininana In Devil's Slide

As we were about to enter the Devil's Slide trail in Pacifica, CA, which I posted about here, I could not believe my eyes......... hillsides filled with tall cone like plants that truly looked like something only seen in Dr, Suess's imagination, not actually in real life! Wow, wow wow, it truly felt like I'd landed on another planet! Upon closer inspection, I did realize that this plant had quite a few similarities to my beloved Pride of Madeira which is also a coastal plant that does equally well in Northern Israel. Pride of Madeira is called Echium Candicans, namely in the Echium family, and when I got home and researched this plant, voila, Echium Pininana, so they are cousins. What can I say, hoping to capture this amazing plant dotting the hillsides in a painting or illustration and maybe I'll find some to enjoy in Israel sometime! Enjoy this little introduction to Echium Pininana!

Devil's Slide Trail In Pacifica, California

On our week long stay in Pacifica, California at the end of July there were so many unique coastal experiences and stunning vistas, and one of those was a walk on Devil's Slide, the walking/biking/multi-use trail that actually used to be a section of Highway 1! The thing is, a highway should never have been built in that spot as the hillsides are too unstable, and consequently the highway was closed too frequently leaving many folks without a way in or out. Eventually after many many years and lots of community and political discussion, Highway 1 was rerouted via a tunnel, and the old portion of road was turned into a multi-use 1.3 mile trail, just 7 years ago, with access from both the beginning and the end. And friends, this is a wonderful spot to visit, with stunning views, though try to go during the week so you can park in the parking lot (or so the website advises) and have the place virtually all to yourself, as we did! Ready, lets take a walk on Devil's Slide!

The Birds Of Sharp Park Beach, Pacifica

Sharp Park Beach in Pacifica, California, that I wrote about here, had so many delights and I felt so blessed to have it just a five minute walk from our vacation rental. To enjoy this huge flock of birds, who by the way are not your average sea gull, you have to walk down to the southern end of the beach, prepare your camera, and then approach the flock resting on the beach. Hey, birds need to get up once in a while also, right? Plus the thrill of so many birds flying overhead is not to be missed! This is such a stunning beach that is so accessible and quite close to San Francisco. Not a beach for swimming or sun bathing, but rather for enjoying the dramatic surf and the sand under your feet! And if you are lucky, you'll get some sun, not a guarantee by any means even in July or August! Okay, lets take a little walk down the beach to check out those birds!

The Mori Point Trail, Pacifica

I grew up in the San Franciso Bay Area, and even lived in San Francisco for a few years, but somehow never made it to Pacifica! Maybe it was just too close to home? And oh my, were we ever missing out on stunning Northern California coastline, and sandy beaches just 25 minutes or so from San Francisco and only 15 minutes from the airport! Pacifica is highly under rated, and I would surely visit again to spend more time exploring the trails and just simply walking on the beach. While it was late July, there was not a sunbather to be found, because the coastline here is cold and often foggy, and even surfers wear wet suits. The Mori Point trail, just a five minute walk from our rental was truly a delight, including a stunning cliff top view that varied depending on the day and the ever present fog! Come along, lets explore Mori Point!  (We started to trail next to the parking lot on Beach Blvd. where Beach Blvd. meets Clarendon. Beach Blvd is one way so you have to go around to get to the parking lot.)

 

Sharp Park Beach Pacifica

When I was planning our two week family get together in the SF Bay Area, I was looking for a coastal location with the kind of rugged and stunning beaches I remember from my childhood. And guess what, a mere 25 minutes drive from San Francisco, and only a 10 minute drive from the airport, I found just that, in the town of Pacifica! Pacifica is a gem that somehow does not get the attention it deserves, but maybe that is good for us, as one can still enjoy empty beaches and quiet in a location that is so very close to San Francisco! Honestly, I was so very very surprised by this location, and would gladly return! While our rental was not on the water, nor did it have much of a view, it was just a 5 minute walk from the beach, and some wonderful and doable hikes that are truly stunning. Okay, lets first take a look at that beach I mentioned, Sharp Park Beach, shall we?