If it's not Scottish, it's crap!

Today I submitted a small 400-word article about a company. I was rewarded (in advance) handsomely for it.

I'm not saying I would write favorable articles if bribed (read: if you are interested in bribery rates, click here), but I certainly won't decline a night at a five-star resort on Lake Kineret.

PR people: "Laura, you want to come stay at a five-star hotel, get a professional massage, eat gourmet food and wine to your heart's content, and not pay a pretty penny for it?"

Laura: "Sure."

(Journalist's instincts: "Yeah, normally I'd kick in right now with questions like: What's it really going to cost? and Is this completely kosher? but I could really use the massage.)

Lap of Luxury

Who: A group of business journalists from all major Israeli newspapers, around 20 women, 1 man.
What: Bused to Lake Kineret for a luxurious stay at a fabulous hotel.
Where: Scot's Hotel, Lake Kineret.
When: Arrived Monday afternoon, left late Tuesday morning.
Why: Not available.

Check out the Scot's Hotel here, run by the Scottish church. It used to be a hospital, but was transformed into a island of calm on the edge of town in Tiberias. I got a half-hour massage in my suite, complete with oils and aromas, then headed off to the non-kosher meal (I managed to kashrut it to my own standard).

Menu:
Nine-grain bread. Raw ahi tuna seasoned generously with garlic and parsley. Little fried breaded things filled with mushroom concoction. Ravioli with cream sauce. Red wine from the private Yarden collection. After the milky stuff (and washing my mouth out) I had spit-fire lamb shanks.