I didn’t set out to start a website. For years, I worked as a licensed tour guide, mostly around Jerusalem and down into the Negev, and I kept getting the same question at the end of a day: “Where should we go tomorrow that isn’t on the itinerary?” I’d scribble a few ideas on paper—an old monastery, a roadside food stand, a hiking trail with no sign—and eventually realized I had a growing stack of these notes.
Israel Unique came out of that habit. I began writing down the places I’d visit on my days off, especially the ones that didn’t fit neatly into a standard tour. Some are historical sites with strange backstories, others are small local attractions that only show up if you’re paying attention. I tend to focus on spots you can reach without much planning, the kind of places you can add to a day without turning it into a production.
Most of what I share comes from repetition. I go back to the same places in different seasons, at different times of day, sometimes just to see how they change. I also pick things up from conversations—with other guides, with shop owners, or with drivers who know roads I hadn’t noticed before. Over time, those bits and pieces turn into the posts you see here.