We had a great time in Safed, our group's base in exploring the Galilee area. Thanks to Ruthi and her husband Avi for allowing us to stay in her wonderful home! We enjoyer her healthy breakfast and even brought some when we did our day trips exploring the area. Ruthi even allowed us to pick some guavas from her guava tree in the backyard (I love guavas! -- Raul). Most importantly, conversing to local folks like Ruthi and Avi about Israel, its culture and its people allowed us to learn a lot. You cannot do that in hasty, organized tours where everything is in a hurry and does not allow too much interaction with local people, more so since packaged tours make you stay in big-box hotels where your interaction is mostly with you fellow tourists. Thank you very much, Ruthi and Avi.