The X-Line of bags, particularly the XL04 tank bag, was the ideal choice for the BMW R 1250 GS, not only due to its shape, which perfectly adapts to this bike without interfering with the riding (it was in fact modelled on the GS), but particularly for the very lightweight materials that are resistant to dust and water. The Tanklock system is flawless, allowing tank bags to be removed and refastened in a second. The X-Line XL03 rucksack is very practical and spacious and can be fastened to any part of the bike, becoming a useful seat cargo bag that is also waterproof and resistant, perfect for every motorcycle traveller. We even used the rucksack as hand luggage on the flight to Tel Aviv! THE GIVI BAGS USED years of history to its name. The place is very evocative and, like so many Israeli national parks, is also set up for camping. If the early bird catches the worm, then our 4 a.m. wake-up call had a different flavour, one of drowsiness but also daring. A climb of almost 3 km waited for us... on foot, for a difference in altitude of 450 metres. Our destination was the top of Masada, the city built by Herod in 37 A.C. from which we admired a breath-taking sunrise. It proved to be a very tough walk... But you can always “cheat” and take the alternative path from the west, which is only 700 metres long with little change in altitude, or you can miss the sunrise and take a cable car instead. The site we’re talking about is unique, not only for the history and engineering it conceals, with its hot springs and aqueducts, but also for the surrounding landscape, which is second to none! Tiredness left us hungry and we were tempted by the aromas coming from a typical Middle Eastern restaurant with an Indian name... At the Taj Mahal in Nevé Zohar, a wonderful Yemeni woman called Sharon was ready to delight us with countless different dishes. Before leaving the Dead Sea, we spent an afternoon relaxing, enjoying a mud bath and a plunge into the very salty mirror of water across from our hotel, where 33% salinity had us floating like a lilo and the water, in February, was as perfect as it in Italy in June! JERUSALEM The journey was coming to an end, but there was time for one last tour. We turned on our engines and headed in the direction of Ein Gedi, to visit a Kibbutz complete with botanical garden and the Ein Gedi Camp Lodge, where you can sleep in tents, bungalows or wonderful 70s air-conditioned Citroen minivans! Jerusalem awaited us, chaotic but so very interesting in terms of its cultural mix. But first, we deviated back into Palestine for a quick visit to Saint George’s Orthodox Monastery. This is another magical site to add to your list of places not to be missed. Look out for the pomegranate juice that the local boys sell around here, it’ll set your teeth on edge! We arrived in the modern part of the city of Jerusalem, very close to the historic centre. There was heavy traffic in the centre, so we left our bikes at the hotel and continued on foot. Jerusalem is no ordinary city, as you well know. It is an indescribable concentration of religions, cultures and history. The narrow roads interweave illogically, making for a fascinating labyrinth that takes you from the Christian district to the Muslim and Jewish quarters before you know it. Spices, stores, small restaurants, vendors, friars, rabbis, children, churches and mosques will all transport you into a fourth dimension. We passed places of worship like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Room of the Last Supper, reconstructed by the crusaders. We visited the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, and David’s Tomb, passing beneath the mosques’ minarets which regularly call the faithful to prayer. Jerusalem has so many historical sites and stories to tell that we really suggest you travel with an expert guide. BACK TO BASE Our journey ended in Tel Aviv, which is just an hour from Jerusalem. Along the way, don’t forget to visit the wine cellars and vineyards that further enrich this area. The production is young but very well cultivated, and this becomes clear when you experience the perfumes and flavours of the white and red wines. The Clos de Gat cellar is an example of craftsmanship, its wines having become a standout product at national and international level in the space of just twenty years. In Tel Aviv, you can relax on the beach and enjoy yourself in the evening. It’s a cosmopolitan city where you can also enjoy a dip in the Mediterranean in summer. Don’t miss the ancient city of Jaffa and the Museum of Art. The “soft” Canyon line can be used universally with most bikes, and so also with the BMW F 750 GS that we rode. The GRT715 tank bag can be released in a second with the four clips; the GRT712B waterproof cargo bag allowed us to carry everything we needed without leaving anything behind. CAPTIONS: p. 6 - THE BEACH IN TEL AVIV - THE ROAD THAT DESCENDS FROM MIPTZE RAMON TO THE RAMON CRATER p. 8 - THE LUNAR LANDSCAPE OF THE EIN AVDAT NATIONAL PARK p. 9 - THE SALINE WATERS OF THE DEAD SEAAT DUSK. THE JORDANIAN MOUNTAINS FORM THE BACKDROP - JERUSALEM, THE ROOM OF THE LAST SUPPER p. 10 - JERUSALEM IS A SYMBOL OF HOW MODERNITY HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE THOUSAND-YEAR OLD STRATUM OF THIS LAND - JERUSALEM, THE NEW CITY 14 Turismo
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