fl DAYTRIP FROM HAIFA
kibbutz ma'agan mikha'el and tel mevorah
To get to the aqueducts, take bus #921 from Hadera (20min. every 30min. NIS10) and
ask the driver to let you off at the Moshav Beit Hananya. To get to the kibbutz, get off at
the Ma'agan Mikha'el intersection. Walk I'Akm down the mad, cross a small bridge to the
entrance of the kibbutz. The main office and nature reserve are lkm past the entrance.
North of Moshav Beit Hananya, excavations are in progress at Tel Mevorah, where
several important Roman artifacts have been unearthed. Two of the marble sar-
cophagi discovered in the ruins of a Roman mausoleum are on display in the Rock-
efeller Museum in Jerusalem (see 45).
Kibbutz Ma'agan Mikha'el , one of Israel's largest, most success-
ful kibbutzim, is home to the National Preservation Society's Nature Reserve,
renowned for the diversity of birds that flock to its frogponds. Reservations must
be made in advance and are mostly for groups . Anyone, however,
can stroll around the kibbutz's Crocodile River and Roman Bridge, a light, fun hike.
NEAR HAIFA
ZIKHR0N YA'AKOV 3j?3P рлЭП да о 6
In 1882, 100 Romanians settled in Zikhron Ya'akov in response to the call of "the
House of Jacob" (a.k.a. the Rothschilds) to rise up, settle Eretz Yisrael, and make
it flourish as in Biblical days. Today, Zikhron sprawls happily among forested hills
on swamplands drained with the generous financial assistance of Baron Edmond
de Rothschild. A recent restoration of the cobblestone roads, red-roof villas and
antique building facades has made Zikhron the latest suburban hotspot; third-gen-
eration descendants of the first Aliyah (meaning a permanent return to Israel) now
live side-by-side with yuppies from the high-tech industries of nearby cities.
Zikhron Ya'akov is best visited as a day trip from Haifa, since all the accommoda-
tions are overwhelmingly pricey.
Ш ft orientation and practical information
The tourist office, the white building behind the station, offers maps, brochures,
and information about city events. To the right of the central bus station, two blocks past the concrete
arches, is the newly renovated, cobblestone section of Ha-Meyasdim St. (also called
wme Rd.). Most of the sights are along this strip, as are a number of restaurants
and art galleries. Budget travelers migrate to the falafel stands (NIS9) and the
supermarket (open Su-Th 6:30am-8pm, F 6:30am-3pm) at the bottom of the hill,
where the cobblestones end. On Fridays, the last bus out of town may be as early
as 3:30pm. Bus #872 from Tel Aviv (2hr, every 30min. NIS22.50) and bus #202
irom Haifa (40min. every nr. NISI7.30) stop at the small central bus station.
CARMEL WINERY. Zikhron Ya'akov is best known for the Carmel Mizrahi Winery,
founded 118 years ago by the Baron himself. The winery now produces a signifi-
cant share of Israel's domestic wine as well as a large stock for export. The one-
hour tour includes a look at the old wine cellars, an audio-visual presentation,
wine tasting, and a souvenir bottle. It's best to visit from August to November, the
harvest season. (Turn tight from the central bus station onto Ha-Meyasdlm St.
continue downhill for a few blocks, and turn hght onto Ha-Nadiv St. where the cobblestone ends.
The winery is at the bottom of the hill, past the post office. Open Su-Th 8:30am-3:30pm, F 9am-
lpm. NIS13, students NIS11, children NIS10. Call ahead for tours in English.)