Cool Spring breezes at Yafo

Today’s journey started in Yafo, with a walk to the old city and then breakfast just beyond our apartment. I enjoyed the cool breezes and the quiet morning in the old city.

Viewing the Old Joppa City Square from above

After breakfast we went to meet our group at the airport. There are 90 of us on the trip, 13 from North Carolina. We will enjoy the next two weeks together. Luggage was collected, several people grabbed some lunch at the airport, then we took the bus toward the Palmach Museum.

A visit to the Palmach Museum

The Palmach Museum told the story of several soldiers who took specialized military training together, and afterwards were split apart and experienced service in different parts of the military. We saw how each part of this specialized military force contributed to Israel’s independence.

The declaration from Amos of a future Israeli State

We then went to Independence Hall, where the dream of Zionism was shared, and we were told of the birth of the state of Israel. Our guide said, “This is the place where seventy years ago the nation of Israel was born.” He showed us the UN Partition maps, and played audio clips from David ben Gurion’s speech, Rabbi Fishman-Maimon recitation of the Sheheheyanu (a Jewish blessing of thanksgiving) and the initial performance of Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem.

Close to 150 people learned about Israeli Independence

Our touring activities concluded the day back up on the hill in Old Yafo, where as a group we walked through the narrow streets and saw the old buildings (they look older than they are, but some do date back to the time period of Napoleon.)

Some older remains in Yafo with residences in the background

We also saw the gate built by the Egyptians for Pharaoh Raamses, which genuinely is very old.

The Egyptian Gate to Yafo

We then went up on the hill that overlooks Tel Aviv, and from there departed for our hotel. Tomorrow we journey to the Shefala.

A Trip to Haifa

Today’s trip started in Joppa, where we are staying. We walked over the hill to get the car, and found a couple of places to stop and get pictures. Yafo is a beautiful Mediterranean city with narrow streets, interesting houses, and great views along the coast. I have several stories in a book compiled for our tour group (and any other tour group going to Israel), Israel: Stories for Your Journey.

A Talmudic School on Street that leads to the Yafo Shoreline

This of course is near the place where Peter went in the morning to enjoy the breeze and view, and saw a sheet coming down from heaven with various kinds of unclean animals.

Cactus Flowers on the top of the hill by the beach

After breakfast, we traveled north. 

Yokenan Pass, which leads from the Via Maris to Jezreel Valley

Our objective for the day was Haifa. Our first stop was at Sarah’s apartment.

Housing in Haifa

She has a great view from her back window.

Looking North across Mount Carmel

From the top of the hill Elijah was able to watch for rain over the sea. Many people live on the hill now. This was also the place where the Giro d’Italia was run today. We saw some of the closed off streets.

Mount Carmel from the beach

The beach where we ate lunch was along the beach.

Places to eat along the beach near Haifa

And then walked down the beach to enjoy the cool water and the views.

A rocky place along the Seashore

Then we headed back to Tel-Aviv. We took a local road because there was a wreck on the main road as people were returning from Shabbat and coming to Tel-Aviv during the race.

Visiting Tel Aviv

Please take this as in invitation to join me on a 14 day trip to the Holy Land. To see the full agenda or to sign up, click the links. You will be rewarded through personal discoveries and experiences by going on this journey.

On our first day in Israel, after leaving the airport, we will drive into Tel-Aviv on Israel Highway 1. This is a popular, well-traveled highway which runs from Jericho to Jerusalem past Ben Gurion airport to Tel-Aviv..

The road system in Israel is modern and much like our road system in the United States. Roads, where possible, avoid cities and towns. People drive on the right side of the road, and speeds are comparable (signs say 100, 110 or 120 on limited access highways, but these are kph, not mph) Road signs are in Hebrew (not English). Fortunately, our bus driver will know where to go so we do not need to figure this out.

Inside the city there are a mixture of old and new buildings. Many buildings are highrises in order to house more people on the available land. On modern buildings, balconies alternate on each floor in order to allow tall Sukkot (shelters) to be constructed outside during the annual Feast of Tabernacles.

Some of the buildings are symmetrical or decorative.

We will cross the Yarkon River while we travel in Tel-Aviv. The Yarkon River forms the heart of a park which is comparable to New York City’s Riverside Park. There are walking trails along the river and a generous amount of green space has been created in one of Israel’s largest cities.

The Jewish market is called the shuk. Shops in the grocery shuk contain fresh fruits and vegetables. The picture above shows an olive stand within the market. There are also stands for fresh fruit, sandwiches, and ice cream.

While in Tel-Aviv we will visit Israel’s Independence Hall. We will learn how the country was “born in a day.” Many amazing stories will be shared about Israel’s Day of Independence while we visit the Dizengoff home and see the room pictured above.

After visiting Independence Hall we will drive to the old city of Yafo. We will see the area pictured above along our route. The clock tower was built during the Ottoman period in 1900.

Old Yafo has many unique features. The historic area dates to the 19th century.

We will see local markets along the way. I bought a menorah in this shop located in the flea market district of Yafo. The shopkeeper’s name is David.

The flea markets of Israel contain many treasures. During our trip to the Promised Land we will be able to see some of the shops on the street while touring and stop in those which are still open during night walks.

The old city of Yafo is within sight of Tel-Aviv’s modern downtown and beachfront. The old and new cities coexist together.

While in Israel we will have an opportunity to take a swim into the Mediterranean, take a plunge into the Jordan, float on the Dead Sea, swim in the cool streams of En Gedi and the Sea of Galilee, and slosh through the fountains of Jerusalem and Hezekiah’s Tunnel.