I’ve always wanted to do some sort of epic Amazing Race style challenge in a foreign country. Thanks to Israel ScaVentures, who was a sponsor and hosted attendees for a hunt during the recent TBEX Jerusalem conference, that bucket list item is now checked.
If you have followed my trips to Israel on my Instagram account, you are probably well aware of my love affair with the Mahane Yehuda market.
I just adore this market, and after several shopping trips and several hours spent haggling and perusing the stalls, I am very comfortable shopping there. Oh how I miss it now that I am home and so far from my beloved baked goods and fresh produce. Not to mention the cheese!
I wasn’t always so confident shopping there. Mahane Yehuda is pretty daunting to the average uninitiated westerner. It’s crowded. There are unfamiliar products and everyone seems to be yelling and shoving and in a rush. Throw in a language barrier and thoroughly confusing labyrinth-like layout and it’s easy to see why some tourists might be overwhelmed and often end up feeling a little shy and nervous. Should you taste the halvah from this guy? (Answer: YES. Always taste the halvah)
This is where I start recalling every episode of The Amazing Race that I have ever watched. On The Amazing Race there is no time for stressing out and being tentative. The winners win (and have the most thrilling adventures) by jumping in, with both feet, straight into the deep end.
Israel ScaVentures gives you that shove and is there to rescue you if you flail.
Our whole family participated in the competitive “Shuk Dash” scavenger hunt at Mahane Yehuda organized by Israel ScaVentures. Six of us teamed up and received our challenges – a whole deck of things to find, taste, gather intel on, and take photos of before the time was up.
It wasn’t long before our competitive nature kicked in and we started checking things off the list.
Photo with a fish? No Problem.
Migraine cure from the all natural doctor? We got it.
Find three things from the menu from the Anthony Bourdain style no-parts-wasted meat restaurant? Well, you might not want to send in your pregnant vegetarian team member for this one…
I’d tell you more, but I don’t want to give too much away. This is a very competitive game and I just want to say, the only reason we did not win was because the other team were all native Hebrew speakers. I’m sure of that! It was a close race.
In the hour we spent racing around the market on a mission we tasted dozens of items. We heard personal stories and tips from shoppers and shopkeepers. We found the most popular coffee shops, nearly got a haircut and we haggled like pros. We all, young and old, had a blast.
Doing this activity forced us to do more than getting our feet wet. By the time we left the market, everyone felt at home there. We couldn’t wait to go back and shop some more.
If you only have an hour to see Mahane Yehuda, you’ll have a blast with Israel ScaVentures Shuk Dash. If you have two hours, or plan on coming back, you will be so glad you got to know the Mahane Yehuda market via this Amazing Race style activity in Jerusalem.
Check out the Israel ScaVentures website, or the Fun in Jerusalem Blog’s scavenger hunt info page for more info about this adventure and several other family-friendly custom crafted adventures.
Read some more about my love for the many flavors of Mahane Yehuda here.
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