German Blogger Who Traveled the World Falls in Love With Tel Aviv

Luca Permengas, a 25-year-old German blogger, has visited nearly every country in the world, exceeding 190 nations by age 23. Despite his extensive travels, Permengas has developed a particular fondness for Israel, declaring Tel Aviv his favorite city in fluent Hebrew during an interview with Kan Reshet Bet. His connection to Israel began in 2018 during his first visit, which led him to learn Hebrew, build strong social ties, and become a regular visitor. Permengas cited bureaucratic hurdles as a significant obstacle to potentially relocating to Israel, as a foreign freelancer without local employment, obtaining a work visa is complex.

Permengas, who comes from a modest background, funded his global journey, estimated at $100,000, through his own savings and income from social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. His online popularity is attributed not only to his travel content but also to his exceptional magic skills, holding nine Guinness World Records in the field. His passport includes stamps from challenging destinations such as North Korea, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.

However, Permengas admitted that his public support for Israel now makes him apprehensive about returning to certain countries. He recounted a frightening incident in Algeria, where a local influencer revealed his recent visit to Israel, resulting in approximately 2,000 death threats. Permengas described this experience as the most terrifying of his travels.