We had an informative trip around Haifa last March 2, 2004. Our first stop-over was the Technion’s Coler-California Visitors Center. Technion, Israel's Institute of Technology which opened in 1924 is Israel first university.
The three-storey Coler-California Visitors Center has the most modern communications that make the visitor's time truly a rich learning experience.
On arrival our group was shown a three screen multimedia presentation that not only illustrated the vital links between education, research and industry, but also highlighted the inextricable link about Israel’s history and that of the Technion.
Of course I had my pictures taken in front of the 3D topographical map of Israel. They also, have an interactive information kiosk where you can learn about Technion and about the donors that supported the visitors center. There is also an interactive exhibit that permits the visitor to select from Technions special offerings, by touching its number (e.g. Education on Science and Technology)a dynamic presentation of it will appear on the screen.
However the most unforgettable
experience was going through a simulation of a space travel when we entered a room labeled with Air Space Ltd at the entrance. Although the marvelous experience was cut short because our tour guide decided that we should go to cover all that is in our itinerary, I still wouldn't readily forget it. For one, it taught me not to be a slow poke. Only six person were accomodated at a time and although I was in the line being the sixth, somehow someone get-in infront of me without the patiece of lining up. It happened twice, the second time it happened when I'm already inside the demo room. The one behind me was not aware maybe that only six persons could be accomodated just went past me just when I was going to sit down, I hesitated because Ellinor, the Technion student who gave us the orientation was saying something about there being no earphone in the first seat at the back so I had to move on to the next. Surprises of all surprises, the person behind me just went ahead and sit where I should be sitting. It would have been okay if I had the demo in full but since I haven't I promised myself that next time I would be the first in the line.
While on our way to Bahai, we were also shown the Hadar where we could buy some reasonably priced souvenirs. I personally think that it is better that we didn't go down to explore, since I didn't spend anything. I also had my picture taken in Bahai, the garden established when Israel was still a German colony,our second stop over.
Although I'm not a Catholic I too had my pictures taken inside Stella Maris, the home of the Carmelites.It was said that the prophet Elijah hid in a cave there, though the cave was not open to public so we have only seen the church. Some of my Catholic co-participants went back on Sunday to attend the mass there.