From the very first day of our trip to Israel (May 5-18, 2017) we will discover Israel is a land of contrasts. We will see the very new and the very old. Upon departure from Ben Gurion airport we will travel the modern road system into Tel-Aviv. Our first stop in Tel-Aviv is the Palmach Museum on the campus of Tel-Aviv University.
Along the way we will see the scenery of “Eretz Yisrael” (the land of Israel). Eretz Yisrael enjoys a semi-tropical climate which allows the people of the land to plant a variety of flowering trees and bushes.
While most of the land is arid, the Hebrew people work hard to create beauty wherever they can. The flowering trees and bushes seen in this blog are on the campus of Eretz Israel Museum which is on the campus of Tel-Aviv University. We will pass this location on our way to the Palmach Museum.
Contained at the corner of the Museum is what remains of an early archaeological dig, known as Tel Quasile. The original excavation promoted by Lady Hester Stanhope took place in 1948.
Tel Quasile is the remains of a port city located on the banks of the Yarkon River. The city was located a few miles away from the Mediterranean Sea in order to protect it from waves and from raiders who might attack the city.
Today the ruins contain mostly foundations, but there is signage that gives an explanation about the purposes the buildings held. Among the ruins there are various displays, as well as more recent buildings. One of the displays is an olive press where the visitor can see various methods used to draw oil from this valuable fruit.
The museum contains many displays and buildings that show the history of Eretz Yisrael. Displays show agricultural tools, as well as glass making and other crafts.
There is also a building with an exhibit that tells the history of how the Rothschild family of Europe supported farming within the Plain of Sharon. These enterprises drew settlers and gave rise to the modern nation of Israel.
We will discover at the Palmach Museum how the settlers who came to Eretz Yisrael in order to farm the land were forced to protect themselves against Palestinians who desired to eradicate the intruders.
Eretz Yisrael Museum is located in a very beautiful setting on the north side of Tel-Aviv.
Just south of the University we will pass through Yarkon River Park on our way into Tel-Aviv. This park is called the Central Park of Tel-Aviv and contains many recreational fields, walking trails and a zoo.
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