Israel: road trips and sea dips

Juni 01, 2017 Ninonanenun 1 Comments

or: Travel guide to Tel Aviv.

Visiting its cities, walking through its ancient alleys and narrow streets, taking dips in its clear blue oceans and gazing into its setting sun each and every single day- Israel was a lifetime experience that is hard to structure or put into words. I will try it nonetheless with this little post.


 Let's start with the facts: Israel has been on top of my travel list for years. In fact, ever since I've travelled through New Zealand in 2009 and met girl from Israel, which turned out to become a long time friend, I've been meaning to visit her in Tel Aviv. But ever so often my "travel fever", how we call it in Germany, would be diminished by the frequent news and critical voices of my parents concerning travel safety. Six years later, I thought that it was just about time to take a leap of faith and tick this travel destination off of my list. So, 1 flight return ticket, two bags and an excited Ninon later, I escaped the grey clouds of a dawning autumn to visit my friend. In the end, my worries turned out completely superfluous as I felt safe at any time and place I've stayed. [I have to say though, that it took a bit of time to get used to all those young people dressed in uniforms or even carrying machine guns]

 This post will to take you through my little journey. In response to frequent requests, I have created a little city guide of Tel Aviv, in particular. In case you are interested in more details of my trip, let me know in a comment below this blog post (English or German).

 ... TEL AVIV

 It doesn't matter if you are a foodie on the hunt for the best restaurants, café places or cocktail bars in town, a beach girl, an action lover, a shopping addict or if you are looking to discover ancient secrets of history. I promise that Tel Aviv will serve you with whatever you are looking for. I myself enjoyed walking from one neighbourhood to the other, munching on fresh fruit and shakes every other hour, sipping coffee from gifted baristas, taking long evening runs along Tel Aviv's sea shore or just sitting in the warm sand, gazing at the red light beams of a setting sun. And all the while, I started to wonder, is there even anything that this place cannot offer? Down below I have listed some of the places and stations I passed on my route through the city and I hope you will like them just as much as I did.

1. Food


 Nola: Situated right on Dizengoff Str. and encompassed by little shops selling the latest fashion, this place offers an amazing variety of breakfast dishes- from smoothies to pancakes, from homemade pastry to fresh fruits and cakes- you name it. Make sure to reserve a table at the street facing terrace in order to witness the hustling bustling outside (in a relaxed way though) while enjoying a perfectly cooked breakfast. 
[197 Dizengoff, Tel Aviv, Tel: +972 (0)3 5646100 Sunday-Saturday 7:30am-10:00pm]

Nola
Nola

Brasserie: If you are into French food, this place is for you. A little fancy and with an amazing cuisine, the Brasserie offers carefully selected dishes that will deport you right in to Parisian happiness. Definitely try one of their starters and end the evening with an ice-cold G&T and I promise you, your evening will be perfect.
[70 Ibn Gvirol st. Tel-Aviv, Tel: +972 (0)3 6967111, 7 days a week - 24 hours a day]

Da, Da and Da's: This place is situated just at the end of Rothschild Blvd, one of Tel Aviv's preferred streets for breakfast and other culinary adventures. The nicely decorated interior is breathtaking but wait 'till you taste the food. What a menu! Seriously, my visit to this place was like entering food heaven. I still remember the bliss of carefully picking up little pieces of my pancakes, which was drizzled with fresh berries, different sauces and je ne sais quoi! The bottom line: a must try.
[Rothschild Blvd 7, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, Tel: +972 3-551-1211,  open 7 days a week from 7 am to 12 pm]

Da Da & Da's
Interior: Da Da & Da's
Teder FM: Hidden in a very special courtyard (see more below), this little restaurant (or shall I say tiny food place) sells the best Pizza I've ever had. What joy it was to taste the thin crusted piece of food while enjoying a cold drink with friends and lots of other people and the night sky on top of you. I was told that the place is lead by an Israeli star chef... Explains the amazingness of the pizza, if you ask me!
[Jaffa Road, 9 Tel Aviv]

Fruit stalls: While walking through Tel Aviv you will pass little huts selling fresh fruit and fruit shakes at every other corner. Go ahead and try the natural, sweet and refreshing beverages to reenergise from long city strolls.

One of the many fruit stalls
Shine: This restaurant is the perfect address to spend a relaxed time with your friends, family or by your self- whether just grabbing a coffee or having breakfast, lunch dinner or drinks. Tasty food, friendly service, comfortable atmosphere and a great menu- what more could you want?
[Shlomo ha-Melekh St 38, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 6437827, Israel, Tel: +972 3-527-6186, open 7 days a week]

Shine

2. Neighbourhoods


 Jaffa: It was when I visited Jaffa that I realized how old, how ancient this city actually is. People have been living on the top of this hill for thousands of years. Visiting Jaffa thus felt like a deep dive into Israeli culture and history. Now, the little walkways of this place are seamed by little boutiques, coffee places and restaurants. While you are there, make sure to sit down and try the amazing the Hummus of Abu Hassan and visit the flea market, which enriches the neighbourhood with its small stalls and bustling market atmosphere. Once you completed your tour through the neighbourhood, there is a little beach which is perfect to sit down and think about what you just discovered while watching one of the beautiful sunsets.
[1 Dolphin St. (on the hill) // 14 Shivtai Israel St.// 18 Shivtai Israel Street,
Tel: +972 (0)3 6820387, +972 (0)3 6828355, Sunday-Friday 7:45am-2:45pm (or until the humus is finished)]
A typical restaurant in Jaffa
Jaffa
Florentine: I discovered Florentine on a bike during several evening visits. I really fell for this neighbourhood. With its shabby chic atmosphere and its artsy exhibitions and galleries, there is something so ...honest about this place. The buildings of Florentine are not brushed up and there is no fancy hancy fuss about it. I think it is what the neighbours make out of Florentine. With their little balconies and flowers everywhere you can really feel a creative vibe brimming through the streets.  Go see for yourself, but preferably not on a bike as I did, as visiting the little coffee places and art boutiques is just too tempting.

 Neve Tzedek: This neighbourhood is the embodiment of the adjective picturesque. With its oriental architecture, the quaint, narrow streets, the little boutiques and courtyards, there is just no corner, no inch of Neve Tzedek that is not photogenic. As one of the oldest Jewish parts of Tel Aviv this place will make you fall in love with the city all over again. So plan a day to discover this beautiful piece of town, an Oasis in the middle of a modern capital, and make sure to pack your camera.
Neve Tzedek
Neve Tzedek
Neve Tzedek
Neve Tzedek
Carmel Market: This market is packed with traditional spices, fresh veggies, teas, snacks and everything else that can be called food or beyond. Sandwiched between rather quiet and unremarkable streets, this huge open air market will blow you away with its scents, tastes and noises. Let yourself be engulfed by the crowds converging on stalls and treat yourself with enough picnic supplies before heading to the nearby beach. 

Carmel Market
Tel Avivs Beach: There is something about this beach that I haven't experienced before in a city beach. Maybe it is the sheer size and the 14km length, maybe the fine white sand and the crystal clear water, maybe it is the happy vibe that made me feel like I was anywhere but in a huge city. Make sure to take a swim in the warm waters, walk along the never ending promenade, watch the boats dangling up and down in the little harbour or just listen to the joyful sounds of the Drumming beach. If you have not felt any sort of holiday mood, yet, this will help you for sure.

Promenade to Jaffa


3. Ramdon things to do


 Studio Naim. Did you ever want to learn GaGa dancing, are you looking for a good workout or are you seeking to refresh you soul and heart with a little yoga session? Go and visit Studio Naim. Its colourful interior and the happy mood of its visitors will infect you with that positive Yogi spirit and prepare you for an amazing day in the city.
[Website, Shalma Rd 46, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 66073, Israel]
Teder.  Teder is situated right in the center of Florentin. Neither a night club nor a bar this place is quite extraordinary. This little courtyard is hunched between 2 story apartments and filled with live. It is where people join in the evening to have a cold drink and talk while listening to music or one of the amazing live concerts hosted in this place. While I was there, I watched an orchestra concert and became witness of a unique atmosphere under a sky of stars and light bulbs.
[Jaffa Road, 9 Tel Aviv]
Teder
Go for a run/bicycle ride along the sea side. Or if you don't feel like racing, take your walking shoes and walk along the never ending stretches of white sand and the harbour. There is so much to see and (maybe you even make it all the way to Jaffa) and the time will fly by in an instance. And after your little workout a natural shower/bath is waiting just in front of your feet.
A little swimming pool at the sea
Crystal clear water
Join a Zoola. Take a car or bus to the mediterranean sea and become witness of an amazing ritual: Gathering at the beach for one afternoon up to several days is a common way for Israelis to spend their free time with friends (amazingly, camping is permitted on any of the long and white beaches along Israels coast). Huddle up under a shade giving awning, sip from a cold drink and talk to your friends in between sea dips. Once it is dark, cuddle around the fire side and enjoy freshly prepped snacks and the soft sounds of a guitar. 

Zoola
Zoola at night time
Mediterranean sea

 It is obvious that there is so much more to discover, as I have only covered a little stretch of land. As this post has already swamped its planned size, the other stops of my trips are described in pictures. Again, if you are interested in anything in particular, let me know in the comments. But lets stop for a moment and look at the photographs.

 DEAD SEA


Drive to the dead sea
Desert everywhere!
What a view
Driving along the dead sea

I think I do not need to place the cliché type of floating-in-the-dead-sea picture here. But just to confirm: Diving is impossible!

 JERUSALEM

Ancient walls enclosing the old town
Beautiful synagogues, churches and mosques everywhere you go
Let yourself get lost while walking through the narrow streets of Jerusalem's old town
Holy!
At some stage the battery of my camera died, otherwise I would have captured every one of those beautiful alleys..
I enjoyed to just sit and watch people passing by while taking a rest
I just love this picture
I might have to say at this stage that all the photographs were taken with an ordinary iphone 6 camera as my real camera broke down just at the beginning of my trip. So please excuse the quality..

 That was it for now. I hope I was able to gave you a glimpse of an impression and maybe even set a spark in some of you to visit Israel yourself.

 Thank you for reading,
Ninon

I am Ninon - a traveller with a big heart for food, music and the unknown. I am living in Berlin, enjoying the heartbeat of this city, sipping coffee and working as a social entrepreneur.

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