Jaffo and Tel Aviv

  I got to spend some time in Jaffo over the past few weeks. Jaffo is an ancient port city attached to Tel Aviv. It has a heterogeneous population, unlike many places in Israel. There are many interesting points in Jaffo. To the left is the clock tower in one of the main squares of Jaffo.

 My good friend Melissa took us to an amazing restaurant in Jaffo. The hummus was delicious and was accompanied by a dozen variations of salads, tahina,  and eggplant. We were served pita, lemonade, falafel, and a variety of meat kebabs. Even though Melissa and I split a meal and shared the hummus, salads, and pita with our friend Adam, there was an impossible amount of food!

 













The meal was followed by hot tea with nana (mint) and baklava.  The restaurant is in a cavernous stone building, split into many sections to create a feeling intimacy.

 
  This is the wishing bridge in Old Jaffo. The railing is lined with seals of each of the Zodiac signs. Supposedly, if you touch your Zodiac's seal, look out at the sea, and make a wish, it will come true. We'll see!

A view of Tel Aviv from Jaffo.

 













The streets of Jaffo are narrow and cobbled. We passed many unique art boutiques and one floating tree...

 
We got to step through these ornate doors to glance around a mosque as we walked from Jaffo toward Tel Aviv.

The world mat-cot museum in Tel Aviv. Mat-cot is a popular sport to play on the beach here. (Perhaps it is familiar from its feature in an opening scene of "You don't mess with the Zohan"... or not.)

We ate lunch at the shuk in Tel Aviv. We wandering through the bustling covered market, browsing stalls that sell trinkets, electronic accessories, produce, clothing, Judaica, pastries, and more. A few of us ventured to haggle... but were unsuccessful. Maybe next time!