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Views on Israel: Part 1 Tel Aviv/Jaffa

It’s been a little quiet both here on the blog as well as on our Facebook page – but with good reason. As regular readers will know, I’ve been traveling throughout Israel for the past week and a half. And, as promised in the previous posting, I’ll be sharing photos and observations of the many sights, from crumbling ancient cities to vibrant street life and the colorful and bountiful produce of the land.

In just nine days I managed to pack in much of the North, Tel Aviv/Jaffa, and Jerusalem, so there’s a lot of impressions, to be posted throughout the next week – so make sure to check back!

The juxtaposition of Tel Aviv and Jaffa epitomizes the Israeli state. The modern, cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv abuts ancient Jaffa, with its meandering stone streets, Ottoman era mosques, and overflowing flea market. In the former you’re more likely to hear the pulsing sounds of dance music, while in the latter the Arabic call to prayer is heard five times a day.

Neve Tsedek, in southern Tel Aviv nicely connects the two. (Thanks to Shalom and Michal for the recommendation!) Jewish Tel Aviv’s oldest neighborhood is defined by crumbling old Ottoman area buildings, leafy narrow roads, and, more recently, art galleries and boutiques.

Looking back at Tel Aviv on the walk to Jaffa. Despite it being February, and rain lashing down elsewhere in the country, we had beautiful, sunny springtime weather. The best part? The low season means a quiet and peaceful promenade.

Come to Jaffa’s famed flea market, Shuk HaPishpishim for stalls crammed with antique Judaica, crack-lined Armenian pottery, beautiful secondhand furniture, rough-hewn metal chimes, and -as everywhere in the Tel Aviv area – up and coming furniture design and art galleries. This is the place where broken things are reincarnated. You’ll see old men tinkering over broken fans, repairing three-legged chairs, or simply sitting outside on their wares enjoying a cigarette in the sun. Dotted in between the lanes are cafés, Tripolian eateries, and hummus stands.



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