srettig24 View of Tel Aviv from a hill point in Jaffa
Tel Aviv is Israel’s cultural and commercial capital. Named “The Mediterranean Capital of Cool” by the New York Times, Tel Aviv is a city with a savvy attitude and cultural astuteness.
According to Google
The Beach
Tel Aviv has many beaches all with white fine sand and clear water. The ocean was a pleasant temperature- refreshing, but not cold. Coming from the Atlantic, I was shocked by how salty it was. It stung my eyes and nose, and my hair was stiff as a board! There are places to rent loungers and also grab a bite to eat as you can see on the left.
No doubt About it Tel Aviv is Trendy
Lux hipster paradise. That’s really all you need to know. I spent my first day in Israel window shopping and thrift shopping in Tel Aviv. There were plenty of shops to choose from. There was even a little craft fair as you can see on the right, full of different handmade goodies. On the left, you can get a feel for the young energy that Tel Aviv offers.
Carmel Market
The Carmel Market was a street with many different stalls selling different goods. Below you can see a fruit and juice stand, a spice stall, and a print stall. Tourists flock to this area, and depending on the time of day can be quite crowded. While Tel Aviv is seen as a more modern and less religious center many things are closed on Friday and Saturday like in the rest of the country. This is when Thai and Mexican food places draw in the most customers since most of their competition is closed.
Food
Guys… I’m not a foodie if you couldn’t tell. I did eat some food worth mentioning like this Sabich below. There are plenty of little places throughout Tel Aviv to get some tasty and quick bites. The Shawarma was delicious and there was plenty of fresh Hummus, Tahini, and many different salads. There is plenty of small juice stands which no doubt are in even higher demand during summer to beat the heat.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
I came to this museum to see the display of Israeli art which is focused on the idea of the four elements: fire, water, air, and earth. This exhibit also follows the nation’s history and expresses different ideas of identity and history through many different medians. The museum has a fairly large collection with several modern art exhibits including one exhibit on the famous illustrator David Polonsky. I found the exhibit: The last Photograph: Ran Tal after Micha Bar-Am, particularly thought-provoking. Ran Tal a filmmaker produced this documentary exclusively for the museum interviewing the Israel photojournalist pioneer Micha Bar-Am and his wife Orna. The documentary focuses on the impact of war photojournalism on Israeli society and the lives Bar-Am family.
Make sure you go to Jaffa
Jaffa is just down the beach from Tel Aviv. It’s maybe a 20-40 minute walk from the beach of Tel Aviv near the Carmel Market. Jaffa is one of the oldest ports in the world and has been used and reborn throughout history. It had been an active port for over 7,000 years- and is referenced in the Bible. The British had used Jaffa as a port during World War I but due to break waters and insufficient engineering it is no longer used as a port today. A new port is about 1/4 of a mile away. Old Jaffa is now a popular hot spot for tourists and I hope from these pictures you can see why.
Jaffa Flea Market is Unmatched
There were a few signs that said flea market so, of course, I had investigated- and wow was I not prepared. This was no small flea market- stretching maybe 5 square blocks and then some, this flea market had it all. There were many hipster and trendy cafes and restaurants mixed in with small stores. Some places had handmade soaps, jewelry, paper goods, and fabric. Others sold high-quality vintage lights, clothes, or electronics. Some places managed to make a “front lawn garage sale” look aesthetic. With plenty of street art and plants- this felt like my fantasy shopping experience. If you make it to Tel Aviv, make time to wander the Jaffa Flea Market.
P- thanks for the chinwags they were gold, M-thanks for the energy and spilling your drink before I had the chance to, and to L for striving to improve and sitting in the discomfort of personal growth, it’s inspirational. Lastly, the night of mushroom restaurant near YOM TOV Cafeee
