Beautiful Barcelona

Barcelona is Spain's second largest city, with a population of nearly two million people, and the capital of Catalonia. The city, located directly on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, has a rich history dating back at least 2,000 years when it gained prominence as a Roman town under its old name, Barcino. Catalonia's capital has a distinctly Mediterranean feel and it's revitalization for the 1992 Summer Olympics made Barcelona the place to be in Europe. A picturesque location, Europe's best-preserved Gothic Quarter, Gaudí's delightfully unique architecture and galleries with the treasures of Miró, Tápies and Picasso make Barcelona visually stunning indoors and out. Resturaunts and Tapas bars abound and the beaches are beautiful and the nightlife and music are on the cutting edge. I lived here happily in 2002 and learned Spanish here, it is the type of city in Europe that you can spend days on end walking around and taking in the absolute beauty and history which will leave a lasting impression for the rest of your life.

 

National Palace of Barcelona

 

National Palace from atop Montjuic

 

A view of Barcelona from the National Palace

 

A statue lying comfortably in front of the National Palace

 

Roman Columns at foot of National Palace

 

Fountain and Columns looking up at National Palace

 

Barcelona's Bull Fighting Stadium

Gateway to National Palace

 

Columbus Statue at Las Ramblas

 

Brendan in a cured meat store

Beautiful Gothic Quarter

 

La Sagrada Familia, Catholic Church designed by Gaudi

La Sagrada Familia

 

St. Joan Church in Gracia neighborhood

Barcelona's Ancient Synagogue Mayor built in 3rd Century in Gothic Quarter

 

So not kosher

 

Wall of Ham

Masada and The Dead Sea

On our tour of Israel's south we managed to float in the Dead Sea and walk among the ruins of Masada. Masada is a rugged natural fortress of majestic beauty in the Judaean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. It is a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction and the last stand of Jewish patriots in the face of the Roman army, in 73 A.D. It was built as a palace complex, in the classic style of the early Roman Empire, by Herod the Great, King of Judaea, (reigned 37 – 4 B.C.). The camps, fortifications and attack ramp that encircle the monument constitute the most complete Roman siege works surviving to the present day. Instead of allowing themselves to be enslaved by the Romans, most of the fervent rebel Jewish community chose mass suicide than to lose their freedom and be murdered and have their children sold into slavery. The outcome of the Jewish-Roman wars that led to the destruction of the ancient kingdom of Israel and led to the dispersion of the stateless Jewish people throughout the world from that point on for 19 centuries. There is a beautiful Museum which operates a cable car to take you up the top of the mountain while the more adventurous can hike up the Snake Path on the eastern side of the mountain takes around 30-45 minutes and is considered part of the "Masada experience," a cable car operates at the site for those who wish to avoid the physical exertion like Brendan and myself. Well, it was too warm and sunny for that hike, I'm married to a sweet Irish rose and he might have wilted in the desert sun.
Photos

Arial view of Masada

Top of Masada as seen from bottom of cable car

Famous Snake Path

 Rebel Dwellings

Rebel Dwellings

Brendan next to the dwellings

Mosaic floor of the Northern palace

Mosaic floor of bathhouse of the Northern Palace

Palace wall

Ruins

Archway of dwellings

Thermal baths

Dovecot where the rebels raised pigeons for food

Synagogue

Synagogue

Warehouses

Storage areas for food

Herods palace

Herods Palace

Herod's Palace

Herod's Palace

Roman Columns

View of Dead Sea

Brendan walking on the salt flat of the Dead Sea

Me floating in the Dead Sea

A tractor moving a huge mountain of salt at the Dead Sea works factory

Visiting The Underwater Observatory in Israel's Red Sea Town, Eilat

Israel's southernmost city of Eilat is a fabulous resort town of 85,000 people living on the Red Sea. The Red Sea is famous for its sea life and abundant coral laden beaches. Jordan and Egypt neighbor Eilat to the west and the east respectively and one of Eilat's biggest tourist attractions is it's  Underwater Observatory built in 1974. This marine park features a variety of exhibits including the Aquarium Museum, Shark Tank, Turtle and Stingray Pool, Underwater Observatories, Reef Tanks and the Oceanarium. This gives you a wonderful glimpse into the life of the Red Sea, underwater that is. If you find yourself in Eilat, this is a must see aquarium which draws thousands and thousands of tourists from all over the world.

 Photos and Videos

 

 Weird looking

 

Sea Anemone and coral

 

Goldfish with coral

 

Puffer fish

 

Sea horses 

 

 Sea Turtle

Brendan is a Shark Dentist, a dangerous profession

 

Jellyfish

 

Puffer fish

 

Stingrays and Sharks

 

Fish pooping

 

Territorial fish

 

Someone has crabs

 

School of fish swimming by

Road Trip through a Martian landscape in Israel

If you ever wanted to know what it is like to drive through Mars, if it had a well paved road and Oxygen to breath. Well go no further than Israel's Negev Desert. The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel and it comprises 55% of all the Israel's land. The whole Negev region is incredibly arid, receiving very little rain and  extreme temperatures due to its location just east of the Sahara. On our way to the resort town Eilat on the Red Sea, Brendan and I drive 200 miles from Tel-Aviv through much of the Negev. The gorgeous landscape is similar to images of the Martian landscape. Brownish yellows and reddish orange sandstones in so many colors and hues mixed with such little vegetation it really does feel like you are on another planet. The scenery is beautiful and breathtaking with vistas reminicsent of the Grand Canyon in Arizona and much of high elevated deserts of Utah. This region is filled with biblical history as many locations you are driving through were mentioned in the Bible. It does not take much imagination to understand why this area was a source of such intense religious inspiration. Just take a look at some of these outstanding photos from our drive through Israel's magnificent Negev Desert.

Photos

 

Beautiful landscape of Israel's Negev Desert

 

Gorgeous homes in Mitzpeh Ramon

 
Like driving through another planet

 

Barren ground and stoney hills

 

 Sandstone beauty

 

More sandstone beauty 

 

Canyon craziness

 

Brendan at Yotvata Kibbutz in the Negev which is famous for its dairy products.

 

I love Yotvata their milk is so fresh its like straight out the teet.

VIDEO OF NEGEV LANDSCAPE

My Internationally Renowned and Celebrated Super Model Sister Donna Feldman Unveils New Site

My litte sister a incredibly gorgeous and uber glamourous super model Donna Feldman has unveiled her new website to the public. There you can peruse the massive gallery of her body of work accumulated throughout her amazing career. From being one of the beloved trophy girls at the Oscars, soap opera actress, the face of Visa Black Card and endless covers of famous magazines the worldwide over. Check out her new site here: www.donnafeldman.net,

Want Boy Butter in Israel? Visit Sexy Shop in Tel Aviv

If you are in Tel-Aviv either as a resident or as a tourist please know that all your Boy Butter needs can be handled at our favorite Israeli sex shop appropriately called Sexy Shop. Hundreds of sexual health and wellness products line the shelves and provide Tel Aviv with an opportunity to get in touch with it's sexy side in a safe and comfortable way. But this is no ordinary sex shop, it is so much more. For only 30 shekels or $8.40 entrance fee you enter the backroom section of the store and newly renovated lower level complete with all the sexy modern convenience and backroom and video booths, plus a sleek new bar for if you need a martini or shot of tequilla before getting your sexy on : )

Location: 

Sexy Shop

150 Dizengof Street,

Tel Aviv Israel

 The adorable owner Yoav standing next to Boy Butter display.

 

Boy Butter Display

 

Sexy Shop from the outside on Dizengof Street