19/08/2014
A RECENT REVIEW of INN and MY GUIDING:
“Behind the Mosaic Door”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 weeks ago
As we ascended toward the top of Safed, it seemed like the town had been put together in a very disorganized manner, with winding and one way streets reminiscent of a town in Tuscany; its houses built with little regard to any organized plan. But that is part of its charm and the Artist Colony fits right in.
We stayed at the Artist Colony Inn for 7 nights. After spending time in the Negev desert and in Jerusalem, we were wondering if perhaps 7 nights in a small inn in northern Israel was a good idea. It turned out to be a great idea! Just off a quiet street and up some old stone stairs, we found a colorful mosaic door which was the entrance to the Artist Colony Inn. We were greeted by Danny, the innkeeper, who at once seemed like the kindest gentleman I had ever met. He seemed genuinely happy to welcome us. Our room was spacious, serene, and a wonderful balance of very old with very modern. I could tell it was going to be a very special place.
As you read the other reviews, I can tell you that all of the words are true. In fact, I was hard pressed to come up with a different superlative to say this is a wonderful place run by truly wonderful people. Our room was big and comfortable with a private garden. The bathroom was big and beautiful and modern. The breakfasts were delicious and plentiful, and Susan customized them to your preference and included local dishes like shakshuka. The conversations were informative and lively. We really enjoyed talking to Danny and Susan about a number of topics including Safed and its colorful history.
We travel quite a bit and we have stayed in some pretty amazing places, but there is something about this place that makes it stand out. We came to Israel to learn about the country, the people, the different religions, and the wine industry. Yes, Israel has an excellent wine industry. We used Safed as a home base to explore Galilee, the Golan Heights, the Syrian and Lebanese borders, and the wineries in the north. Safed is easy driving distance to the Golan Heights, the Hula Valley, and the Sea of Galilee. The Artist Colony Inn is situated perfectly to get to all of these places.
We note that our stay in Israel was during the most recent trouble between Israel and Gaza and while the headlines sometimes suggest otherwise regarding safety and security, at no time did we feel anything other than totally safe. Jeff Katz (and his wife Benay) own the Artist Colony Inn. Jeff is a fantastic guide and we were fortunate to spend a day touring with him in Jerusalem and another day exploring the northern reaches near the Lebanese and Syrian borders. I can't imagine exploring that area without his expert guidance.
We would never recommend staying one night here, you must stay several nights. Spend time having a glass of wine on the deck above the courtyard and watch the sun go down over Mt. Meron because the view is stunning. Bring a light jacket after sunset even in mid July. If you miss out on the Artist Colony Inn, you will miss out on a truly beautiful experience. Even after 7 nights, we did not want to leave.
