ריקה

For those who don't know – this is a unique settlement in the Western Galilee, with several dozen houses spread over an area the size of Tel Aviv, overlooking the slopes of the Galilee Mountains to the sea. The vast spaces between the houses are filled with wild nature, olive groves, terraces and the atmosphere is quiet. Did I mention Greece?

I turn onto a dirt road that winds up a beautiful hill, passing isolated houses, and just as the sea view opens up I arrive at an impressive two-story stone house. If the setting is Greece, the house is Tuscany. “We used to live in this house,” my uncle – the smiling host – tells me, and I think that anyone who gives up a place like this and still smiles must be a special person...

The house is the central building in the complex, and when I enter I discover a beautiful lobby with a long knights' table, seating areas, a small bar and a grand piano(!!!). The rustic design includes unique furniture and design items that continue the Tuscan line, and are specially imported by my uncle. Near the lobby you can also find an intimate and, of course, designed treatment room.

"You haven't seen the kitchen yet!" my uncle calls out to me enthusiastically, showing me a large professional kitchen. It turns out that food is an integral part of the place. The house chef has a magnificent resume of prestigious restaurants, and the breakfasts (served in the lobby) are also joined by gourmet meals in the evenings (by reservation in advance and for a separate fee).
With all due respect to the lobby, I would have preferred to eat the meal outside - on the large deck (an olive tree grows from it!) that surrounds a beautiful stone swimming pool, among beautiful terraces and a sea view.

There are 6 suites here, and almost all of them are different. Two are located on the second floor of the main house and offer private balconies with views, three more are in a separate building with a large stone plaza in front of it, and a wooden cabin is located separately and enjoys a private pool.

Without going into the details of each suite (they are listed separately), I will only say that you will not find televisions here, and that the buildings are an exceptional demonstration of integration into the environment and excellent design that includes unique furniture (note the bathtubs!!!), color matching, and quality materials. In all the suites I find a fireplace and an espresso machine (but not a kitchen), but what surprises me every time is the bathroom. In one suite it is white and luxurious, in another it is decorated with colorful tiles, and in a third a large rock "invades" it as part of the wall.

As I make my way back to Israel, I'm surprised to find that no one stops me to stamp my passport. I take one last sip of the rare peace and atmosphere of this place and prepare to land. If only there was a duty-free here, it would really be perfect...