During the descent on Tel Aviv, you get an amazing landscape of the city. The houses are a mix of Arab and Western style. Some got flat rooftops – some are the typical European rooftops. Different ones next to each other.
Arriving at Tel Aviv airport, it might be you want to change your money. If they give you 200shekels, tell them to give you smaller bills, its gonna give you difficulties buying a train ticket.
Getting the directions is pretty easy, everybody speaks English. One thing I noticed first were the many girls and guys in army dress. Very unusual for me. Going the first stations by train on a sunny spring afternoon gives you a good first picture of the shape of the city.
Tel Aviv is known for its nightlife though the public transport just goes until around midnight which might make you invest in a taxi. One of the first places I went to was the Carmel Market.
There are many people but the longer you go on the less it gets.
Amazing food. I stopped by at one place and just saw how one of the cooks was giving a red soup to another person sitting there. I asked, whats that. I understood his answer as pumpkin soup with meat. Well, let’s go for it! I got a pumpkin soup. But no meat. Read reddish in it. Surprise. But it was a delicious combination especially with the white bread and pesto.
23C, sunshine and a little breeze. Perfect weather for exploring a city. After the lunch, I had to get one of those fruit juices.
They make them fresh and are one of the most refreshing drinks out there.
Suddenly, 2 guys who were also ordering a drink there, caught me making q picture of the fruits. It turned out they are the Canadians. But so short our conversation was, so quickly they were gone. Heading on alone.
One of the shops – guess what it’s about 😉
And what suddenly came up shortly after the market in front of me was amazing. A huge park along the coast. People jogging, cycling, enjoying a picking, doing yoga, lieing in the sun, kids playing, even someone riding a horse passed by.
Sitting on a little mountain, there was a guy playing the guitar. Relaxing sounds. How difficult it can be for us to really slow down these days. Just enjoy the moment.
Israel is an amazing mix between Europe and Arab world. The shops and food are more Arabic style.
The way when busses leave is very Arab/African too – simply when they are full. Except short distances – they have a schedule. One notices the high technology importance – apps and QR codes nearly everywhere – up to the point that you can even see where your ordered taxi is at the moment.
Short note: on Friday from around 4pm onwards, the public transport stops working – and only starts again on Shabbat afternoon/evening. Also, most shops are closed and streets are really empty. So what can you do on such a day?
Take a taxi to Herzliya – go to the beach and see the marina. Have a nice walk around and lunch on the beach. For February, the water is still pretty cold but you’ll see a lot of people sailing and especially kids don’t seem to feel any cold.
And from there, head on to Jerusalem:
Take the bus 501 to DerekhNamir/Jabotinsky to Tel Aviv, then change into the bus 480 to Jerusalem. Just ask – people will show you the way. I got the ticket right in front of the bus, though I was lucky as only 2 places were left. One in the back and one in the front. Next to one of a young guy in a military uniform. And a huge gun in his hands. Well, guess it’s gonna be a safe bus ride!
The life of a ... 