I was thrilled to see the Rakafot or cyclamens  and Narcissus blooming in December! In the U.S. I have only seen them grown in pots. In Israel they grow anywhere and everywhere. I initially sighted them on a hiking trail in the Carmel and then again near the Stalactite cave in the Judean Hills. 

Also featured in this Blog Post is Palmachim Beach located south of Tel Aviv and north of Ashdod. .  This is a more rustic beach with lots of shells found on a wide strip near the shore.  There is an archaeological site on the southern end of the beach on a hill.  Reefs and a sandstone hill are found on the northern end of the beach. Here you will find shells hidden in the various layers of the sandstone.