Tuesday October 15, 2019

TEL AVIV, Israel – After the initial day here, the first thing I noticed is harmony. Granted, I’m not on the West Bank, only one night here and not in any other “hot spot.” My observation is, at best, pseudo-scientific.

That’s from wandering through the noted Camel Market and walking the streets. Vendors in the marketplace appear from several nationalities and food vendors peddle fare from Various countries. Islamic women share the same walkways without fear or discrimination.

After getting a feel for the Israeli marketplace, we purchased a bus ticket at a pharmacy counter and popped on the number 18, our new favorite bus. Off we went to Old Joffa, considered the oldest port in the world. Earliest civilization here dates back to 7,000 B. C. and, politically, changed hands several times over time.

Along the waterfront, we found additional evidence of an ecumenical environment. Mosques and churches dot the landscape and markers help identify their importance.

Taking the bus to old town, we noticed the familiarity between the beaches of Tel Aviv and the coast of California. People out jogging, walking, ride bikes and palm trees decorate the landscape. We stopped for lunch at an outdoor fish-and-chips and noticed his fresh the fish.

By this time, a hot, Mediterranean sun drifted behind an increasingly mean sky and the humidity became oppressive. With rain on the way, we ducked into a Catholic Church and took cover.

Now the weather soupy and quite uncomfortable, we went back on the 18 and found the Tel Aviv art museum. Impressive with the collections, we saw several Picasso’s, Monet’s, Pierre Bonnard’s and tons more from masters. We closed ghetto museum at 9 and went in search of dinner.

We took the 18 bus back to our neighborhood and found a kabab place snd walked away stuffed to the gills.

On god way back, we picked a bottle of water for tomorrow and I grabbed my favorite dessert, a Magum ice cream bar.

More walks by today. 14,500 steps and six and one-half miles.

PICTURES – Images from Old Jaffa and the art museum

The bathroom

E

Monday October 14, 2019

TEL AVIV, Israel – When planning your own trip and absent from the comfort of tour directors, expect challenges and road blocks never thought possible.

Our flight from Istanbul to here was smooth, uneventful and without stress. From our hotel, we took a mini bus to a central bus location and caught a modern tour bus to the airport. Total cost was about $20 and if we took a cab from the hotel to the airport, the cost may been, we’re guessing, several times that amount.

We have an air bnb in Tel Aviv and arriving here, the challenge was finding the property. With GPS and communication from the property owner, we usually find our way. From basic instructions, we were told to take a train to central Tel Aviv and then a few options. We could get a cab, a municipal bus or a Gett, which is a rude-share program similar to Uber.

We decided to call Gett and with some difficulty, the driver found the property.

Of the air bnb properties we’ve rented, the property here in Tel Aviv is clearly the most disappointing. Seemed like the property owner never cleans this place and my laptop could not find the WiFi network. I ended up writing today’s blog on my iPhone.

We are so dismayed about the property that we reached out to the owner of the property in Jerusalem and asked to add four nights. She agreed and now we have nearly two weeks there.

Tomorrow. Tuesday, we’ll chill out here and recover. At this point, I think we’ll visit Petra in Jordan this Sunday and Monday and recognize travel there will be time-consuming. Plus, we both need visas for Jordan but these can be secured at the border.

After arriving at the Tel Aviv property. we a found a mini mart and picked up up a few things. Waynette made some pasta and sauce and we finally had a semblance of dinner at 1 am

Approaching 2 on Tuesday morning, we’ve had enough for today. Still managed 11,000 steps and 5,5 miles.

PICTURES – welcome to Israel and images from from our Tel Aviv property