Contrary to what some people might think, there's a tremendous variety to life as a tour guide, and no day is the same. But there is always room for the unexpected. Last week, while guiding for Smartrip, I had the pleasure of being in attendance as a fantastic couple from the 718 renewed their marriage vows in Jaffa. Beforehand, we had a great six day tour of the country, including the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, and the Sea of Galilee. Mazel tov to David and Mirta!

Mount Carmel is home to an extraordinary diversity of religious life, including Bahais, Ahmadis, Druze, and of course Jews and Muslims. On a special day with the Van Leer Institute's Polonsky Fellows, we visited the Bahai Temple, the Ahmadi Mosque (see above picture), the Druze village of Isfiya, and the Muhraka, which commemorates Elijah's famous battle with the prophets of Baal. As well as meetings with religious and lay leaders, there was also a substantial lunch, a winnin