Well I ended up taking my bag with me to Haifa. It really wasn't that much of an issue other than the super-intimidating railway officer person putting it on the overhead rack for me At the upper terrace to the Baha'i Gardens the guard said to leave my bag there and he would keep an eye on it, turned out he was from New Jersey! All told, I had a wonderful day (even though I did get lost on the buses a bit), and now I'm settling in back at TLV with a salad from Burgeranch and a diet coke with the rest of my scotch poured in A ticketing agent said I could try checking my bag when the counters open at 3am so I may do that, otherwise I know I can check it at 6:40.

Not sure what you mean about the Cachaca but indeed thank you Taglit, this was probably the most amazing experience in my entire life.

-J.