2023-2024 Archive

Although I have had the chance to travel to quite a few countries, I have not yet toured all of Europe. I would like to give my opinion on certain destinations where I’ve had the chance to go in Europe. My ranking is then based on four countries. There are still plenty that I would like to visit, but here I will give my opinion based on my experience.

In 4th place, I would put the Côte d’Azur, also known as the French Riviera. It is located in the south-east region of France and extends from Toulon to Monaco. What I like most about this area is the turquoise color of the water. The Côte d'Azur also includes several large famous French cities, such as Nice and Cannes. Cannes is known for its famous film festival which welcomes some of the biggest international actors every year in the spring. I really like these two cities. The only drawbacks are that they are rather expensive cities and that the beaches are pebble beaches and not sandy beaches. In addition, they are often crowded because many tourists go there. However, if you want to discover the French Mediterranean coast and are ready to pay the price, you will definitely not be disappointed. If you are just passing through, I’d advise you to stop there, even if only for the day, because these cities are worth it. While you're there, you can continue on to Monaco, a small principality near the Italian border, which is well worth the detour. Once again, it is a place frequented mainly by the wealthy, but also rich in history and with very beautiful landscapes.

In 3rd place would be Spain. I’ve been there several times. The first time was in 2014, on the island of Fuerteventura, a Canary island. I would honestly say it's one of my favorite destinations, although it's not actually in Europe. I was nine years old at the time, and I remember when we first arrived, I was expecting a tropical island with greenery and palm trees everywhere. I was disappointed at first when I saw that it was mainly desert. But I ended up seeing some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, with white sand and clear waters. It is magical. Then in 2018, I visited Tossa de Mar, a Spanish town on the east coast near Barcelona. I also really liked this place. I went in the spring, so there weren't a lot of people, which is ideal because I can say that the weather was already hot at that time. What I remember about this place is its beautiful beaches, with restaurants nearby with delicious food and small souvenir shops. Close to Barcelona (1h25 by car) you can take a trip there, even if only for a day. It's worth it.

In 2nd, I would place Italy. I really like this country, especially for its food. I've had the chance to go there twice. The first time was during a school trip to the Emilia-Romagna region. I visited several cities such as Parma and Bologna, but my favorite was Ferrara. I didn't know this city before going there but it's a real architectural, historical and cultural treasure. If you are looking for a cultural trip more than a relaxing vacation, this is a good region. Then, last summer I went to Rome for three days. Honestly, I was not disappointed. There are so many things to discover and visit such as the ruins of the Roman City or the Vatican City. The restaurants there are excellent, but be careful of the tourist traps. However, I would advise you to organize your stay well and avoid the summertime, as there are a lot of tourists and it is very, very hot. I think going in the spring is a better idea if you really want to enjoy your experience. There are still many parts of Italy that I would like to visit, such as Sicily or Tuscany.

At number 1, I would place Portugal. It’s truly my favorite country. The food there is delicious, high quality, and very affordable. There are so many different specialties to try, including Pasteis de Nata, my favorite. My grandparents are from Portugal, which is why I've had the chance to go there several times. They come from a town called Guimaraes, located in the northern region of the country, an hour from Porto. I love this city, rich in history, with a large castle and a magnificent chapel. Ten minutes by car, and higher in altitude, is a small village with a few restaurants and a superb view of the entire city, where you can watch the most beautiful sunsets. Porto is also a city that I really like. It is less well-known than Lisbon, the capital, but it is definitely worth the visit. The streets are really colorful and have typical architecture of the country. Once again, there is so much to visit that it is impossible to get bored. When I went to Lisbon in 2017, I really fell in love with this city, and when I returned there last year, my perception changed a little, probably due to the fact that I have a lot of love for Porto. However, Lisbon remains a very beautiful city and is worth visiting. If you have the opportunity to go up to Sao Jorge Castle, I'd advise you to stop there. You will have a breathtaking view of the entire city. Then, a 1h15 drive from Lisbon is Fatima, a city which is also a place of pilgrimage for Catholics. I had the chance to go there a couple of times and I really recommend stopping there, whether you are religious or not. There you can find the sanctuary of Fatima with the Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, and the modern church of Igreja da Santíssima Trindade. It is a magnificent place and open to all. Finally, if you plan to go to Portugal for its beaches, I will recommend the southern beaches, near Lisbon for example. It is here that you can find very beautiful coves with turquoise waters and beaches with fine sand. The northern beaches are larger, but the water is very cold and it is very windy at certain times. However the food is very good, with delicious seafood products.

April 8th, 2024 will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the United States until 2044. This means that the Moon will be blocking the Sun from the Earth's view, causing the sky to darken until it looks like night. Depending on the weather, you might be able to see this happening if you have the correct equipment. There is specialized eye protection to watch the eclipse, and usually without it you should not attempt to look at the Sun. However, this is the only type of eclipse where viewers can momentarily look at the Sun when the Moon completely covers it without the eclipse glasses.

The eclipse will be visible in a variety of places such as across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and will begin over the South Pacific Ocean. After crossing Mexico, it will enter Texas and travel over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, according to NASA. Starting in Texas at 1:40pm and exiting through Maine at 3:34pm, it will then go through southern Ontario,Canada, through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Islands, and Cape Breton, exiting at 5:16pm. 

There are several different animations and videos you can view that will show the progression of the eclipse through its path, like on NASA’s website and the Great American Eclipse website. On the Great American Eclipse website, they show the totality of the eclipse over each state. Totality means the amount of obscurity the eclipse is covering. 

Many are very excited about this eclipse because the Moon will be covering the Sun for approximately 4 ½ minutes, which is almost two minutes longer than the Great American Eclipse of 2017.  The Sun will be close to a solar maximum this year, meaning the Sun is at the peak of its roughly 11-year activity cycle. Scientists are very excited about this year's eclipse and are planning to make use of this opportunity. In 2017, they flew WB-57F jet planes that carried specific instruments to observe the eclipse, which they will be repeating this year with new instruments that will provide more information. Since it is a solar maximum, this will provide them with more to observe, according to Science News. These instruments with improved cameras and spectrometers can offer more detailed pictures of the eclipse.  

This is an exciting, unique opportunity, and some are traveling from far and wide to be able to experience this because it will be the first total solar eclipse in a long time. For anyone who won’t be able to see this eclipse, this may not be their last opportunity. The next one will happen in approximately 20 years and the path of totality will be through Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

Hanukkah is one of the best known Jewish holidays. The eight day long winter festival celebrates and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE. The First Temple of Jerusalem, also known as the Temple of Solomon, was built by King Solomon (circa 990–931 BCE) on the spot where G-d created Adam, the first man. This Temple was the core of the Jewish people living in ancient Israel and the kingdom of Judah. But the building was destroyed four hundred years later. The Temple was destroyed in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, when he conquered Jerusalem. This was a hugely significant event in Jewish history and is considered one of the most solemn events in Jewish history, which is big considering there are many solemn events. The destruction of Solomon's Temple, along with the second, is mourned early during the festival Tisha B’av. Even at the most joyous events (like a traditional Jewish wedding) commemorates the Temples - that's why at weddings the groom steps on glass, to allow everyone a moment of reflection.

The Temple was reclaimed in a time where the Greeks were trying to forcefully assimilate Jews to Greek culture and way of life through vicious colonization and abuse. Against all odds, a small army of Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the most powerful armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of the Jewish G-d. This was a massive move against systemic colonization and oppression as the Indigenous people of the land (the Jews) reclaimed their holiest site. At this temple there was a large menorah - a seven-branched candelabrum - and the Jews decided to light it as a sign of reclamation of the Temple. However, there was only enough oil to keep the menorah light for a single day, since the Greeks had destroyed the rest of the holy oil. Miraculously, the small amount of oil was able to keep the menorah lit for eight days and nights throughout the war. The Jewish people were able to overcome the Greeks, and this great event of Jewish resilience has been celebrated ever since. Today, there is little left of the Second Temple due to a Roman invasion in 70 CE, however, there is one wall left in Jerusalem called the Western Wall, which is the holiest site in Judaism and the most protected space in Israel. 

Contrary to popular belief, Hanukkah is actually not the most significant holiday in the Hebrew calendar. Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Torah (Tanakh) or other Jewish text, but is rather a community event that has grown in popularity in the past few centuries. It is not considered a high holiday like Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but it is still the best known Jewish holiday to most non-Jews. This is because of how Christian-centric our country and world is. Even people who have never been to church celebrate Christmas. In the month of December it is impossible to escape the constant reminder of how culturally Christian our country is. This can lead to Jewish people (particularly children) feeling excluded or different during this time of the year. On top of that, most of the Christmas-celebrating world sees Hanukkah as the ‘Jewish Christmas’, since it usually falls a few weeks before Christmas. We see this when big chain stores like Target or Walmart sell “Jewish Christmas trees'' - aka just a blue plastic tree, along with endless Jewish caricatures displayed as “representation.” This strips Hannukah of its unique history. This also impacts how other Jewish holidays are approached - it is incredibly common to see a menorah on display during another holiday season like Passover or Purim, where a menorah is not a part of the celebration. It's like putting out a Christmas tree on a shelf full of Easter eggs.  

Chag Sameach, Happy Hanukkah, and Am Yisrael Chai!