A day off for Josh means that I get to drag him along for day trips. We began the day in the small port city of Jaffa, which is just south of Tel Aviv. We arrived before the crowds and managed to find an easy parking spot. We were warned ahead of time that Tel Aviv is terrible to park in, but we of course thought that we were above that and challenged ourself. We won the first challenge, but stay tuned. We fell in love with the small town. The cobblestone walkway through the port, lined with art galleries, and the view of bustling Tel Aviv in the distance. The old clock tower and the small streets covered with boutiques and flea markets. The peaceful cafe vibe and the depth of art museums. A morning in Jaffa was not enough, and we will soon be back to explore this little gem a bit more.
Next up was Shuk HaCarmel. A quick little skip across the way from Jaffa, but quicker by feet than by car. Tel Aviv is crazy. One way streets, construction. This was a Monday midday and it was almost as if no one was working and everyone was out enjoying the city. Craziness. DO NOT try to park in Tel Aviv. We finally found a spot after much trial and error. Well worth the craziness. Shuk HaCarmel is a bustling market with everything and anything. Fresh meat and fish, dried fruit and nuts, spices, fresh fruit galore. Kebab stalls, pita on every corner, baklava, olives, you name it. We found a hip little cafe called Bar Ochel that was fabulous. Kebab with roasted veggies, roasted cauliflower with tahini, and fresh bread with endless spreads. Traditional Israeli food in its definition.
Tel Aviv may not be the city to drive in, but it sure seems like a great city for walking. In the heart of downtown runs a popular street with a bike path and a walking path right down the middle. It flooded with electric scooters, picnics, cafes, hammocks, bikes, and the occasional humanitarian efforts. Perfectly shaded as it leads you from one end of the city near Shuk to the other at the Marina and Gordon Beach.
After another almost unsuccessful parking attempt and a near breakdown we made it to an old friends apartment in the heart of the city. From there we headed to dinner at Port Sa’id, a casual Israeli restaurant opened by the famous chef Eyal Shani. We learned that popular chefs in Israel are celebrities, and Israeli’s take their food very seriously. Eyal Shani did not disappoint. Roasted eggplant in tahini, baked potato and creme fraiche, delicious lima beans, butchers cut with root vegetables, and fresh baked break. Definitely a spot to try if even in Tel Aviv, but get there early. Tahini is everything in Israeli cooking. And it is literally put on EVERYTHING. I cannot complain because the tahini here is out of this world.
Tel Aviv is a great city, with excitement on every corner. Although Haifa is definitely a bit more my speed. More relaxed, easier to park, not quite as scary to bike around, and far more outdoorsy. Tel Aviv was a wonderful day trip and I am excited to spend more time there in the future. but next time I will take the train, I refuse to drive there again.
Travels With Charlie 