Kathmandu Bound!

I will be living, studying, and traveling in Nepal from February 2nd to June 12th (Happy Birthday Mom)! You can send me snail mail at:

Miriam Stiefel

G.P.O. Box 1846

Kathmandu

NEPAL

So far on my adventure I have taken 14 planes, and by the time I return home I will have literally traveled around the world on 20 planes. Throughout my life, I have traveled on planes, trains, boats, bikes, and automobiles, as well as horses, camels, donkeys, and lamas. I cannot wait to experience what comes next. Maybe an elephant ride?

I am leaving on a jet plane and I don’t know when I will write again… But I promise that I will keep you apprised of my whereabouts and happenings as best I can.

The Land of Milk and Honey (Israel)

Over the past two weeks I have spent time with my wonderful parents and meeting 10 relatives. We traveled the entire Northern perimeter of Israel, from the Dead Sea to the Golan Heights. While we mostly enjoyed sunny skies, we also had the pleasure of experiencing rain and wind storms in Tel Aviv. After walking the Rampart of the Old City of Jerusalem, I ate certified kosher sushi. I watched the IDF investigate and destroy someone’s misplaced briefcase, while 20 meters away a boy and his family celebrated his bar mitzvah in the streets. Through a tour of the Carmel Mountain with my cousin Michael Weinberger, I witnessed the devastation left behind by biggest fire in Israel’s recent history. The photos below tell a few of my Israel travel tales…



Who knew ordering two salads and two kababs could mean so much food!










You don’t have to be “Dead” to enjoy this Sea…















Mom and I also learned two new natural history facts:
This hyrax is a relative of the elephant, and the sweat of hippopotami is red.

Shalom from Israel!

I arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday, January 17th and have since traveled to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Masada, Rosh Pinah, and Tzfat. While I am enjoying my time in Israel, this blog post is about last week.

Last week, I traveled to Prague and Vienna with my friend Quentin. It was wonderful! I spent two nights in Vienna, three in Prague, and then two more in Vienna. A few of the highlights from Vienna include going to the Schönbrunn Palace, where people like Maria Theresa, the Habsburgs, and Marie Antoinette lived (see the first photo), Museum Hundertwasser, and the Naschmarkt. In addition, we saw an English-speaking comedy performance by a group named “The English Lovers.” In general, I had an amazing time walking around the city and spending time with my friend.


In Prague, I was very lucky to visit the grave of my Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandmother. This is not a joke! Hendel Bassevi is my great grandmother ten generations back, lived in the early 1600s, and is now buried in the famous Old Jewish Cemetery (see the second photo). She was known as the “Queen of the Jews” in Prague because of her philanthropic work. Her grave was among the biggest and most decorative in the cemetery, so she must have been very appreciated. Hendel was married to a Jacob Bassevi von Treuenberg, who was a member of the Bohemian Court, and was actually knighted for helping Emperor Ferdinand II finance the Thirty Years War.

I also explored Prague’s past from its medieval to modern history by visiting the Astronomical Clock (see the third photo), Charles Bridge, the Communist Museum, Jewish Quarter and Museums, etc... Architecturally, Prague is a very beautiful city!


Overall, I had an awesome time getting to know both Vienna and Prague. I definitely recommend visiting them both. However, I had a small luggage issue flying to Israel from Vienna on Air Baltic… Let’s just say one piece of luggage is still in Vienna and will be heading home to Seattle soon with some of my belongings because of exorbitant fees. Due to the fact that my contact lenses are on their way back to Seattle, I will be wearing my glasses for the next five months! It’s probably healthier that way anyway…

I have a week left in Israel to spend with my parents and get ready for Nepal! I am so excited, but nervous to leave the comfort of my computer and warm shower.

B’Shalom (In Peace)

New Blog New Year:

In late October my grandfather, Ernest Stiefel passed away. After his death I was at a loss of words. How could I tell you, the readers of my blog, how I felt? When I returned from my trip home for the funnel, I could not bring myself to put my feelings into a written expression. I have always considered my grandfather, whom I called Opa, to be an inspiration and hero. He was a Holocaust survivor, a community organizer, a businessman, a family man, and as cliché as it sounds, the smartest man I have ever known. While the traditional Jewish grieving period has passed, the feeling of loss continues to linger.

Throughout the past five months I have traveled to Greece, Italy, Hungary, and Austria. I have traveled within Turkey to Pamukkale, Ephesus, Selcuk, Istanbul, Trabzon, Hattusa, Antalya, etc… This morning I had to pack up all my memories and lessons learned and fit them into a mere duffle bag. The tangible and intangible cannot even begin to fit. Everything I have learned about the Turkish culture, my own culture, and myself I will now bring with me to Nepal.

As this experience comes to a close and I embark on the next, I must share what I am thankful for: I have met so many wonderful people from around the globe, who have taught me invaluable lessons. I have had amazing teachers and interesting classes, and finally finals are done! I have tried new foods and often felt the consequences… I have experienced Ankara in the summer heat, fall breeze, and winter snow. In Turkey, I have learned that the word hospitality means so much more then I ever thought it would.

Yesterday it snowed again in Ankara and whiped my slate clean. From here I go to Austria, the Czech Republic, Israel, Jordan, and then Nepal. My New Years resolution will be to write on this blog more often. However, the extent of my Internet access in Nepal is a bit unknown. While I head into more unknowns, I must recognize how much I have learned and grown here in Turkey. I know that I am well prepared to tackle any challenge that comes my way.

Güle güle Türkiye... seninle çok iyi zaman geçirdik... belki bir gün tekrar bir araya geliriz...