Welcome to Tel Aviv!
Summer in the desert: holy smokes. I had forgotten how hot Israel can be, even on the sea coast. BUT! Look how stunning it is! Tel Aviv is a gorgeous city, and it’s the best place to start an adventure in Israel. Because we were in the UK for a few days, we missed the first day of activities with the family. We landed the following morning, and the view from the hotel was a beautiful way to begin.
After a healthy, traditional Mediterranean breakfast, we ventured out on our walking tour. Man, the city had really changed since my last visit (in 1992). I guess 25 years will do that to a city… Some it felt vaguely familiar, but I was really seeing the city for the first time (again) – and since the Kiwi had never been, it was nice to see it together with fresh eyes.
A floating orange tree
The tree is meant to symbolize the growing gap between man and nature, emphasizing the way man grows in a container distinct from the earth. This particular piece of art is hidden among the streets of old Jaffa, and it’s worth finding. It’s nearly impossible to get a photo without tourists in it, so be patient.
There’s just something about standing above the city – in the shade of a large tree – appreciating the view. Most people don’t think of modern cities when they hear about Israel, but Tel Aviv is definitely one of the most advanced and contemporary cities I’ve ever visited. Being on the sea is an advantage, obviously, but there’s so much more to it than beaches and warm weather. Do you know how many technology companies are born here? This is a hotbed for innovation and development. If the US-based airlines are gonna do a non-stop flight from Silicon Valley to Tel Aviv, you know something’s up.
Just north of Tel Aviv,in the Haifa district, is a town called Hadera. Sitting on the coast as well, this little town had grown up to be a destination in its own right. In addition to having a high-tech hub and an exploding population, it is also home to the world’s largest desalination plant. Hadera’s municipal services are shared among many of the neighboring towns, and often their resources are strained. This truck is like a Swiss Army knife of vehicles – we got a full tour of all the gadgets, cabinets, and tools it carries around. Plus, it’s height and massive engine give it enough growl to tackle high-water rescues and mountainous terrain. If you can read the print on the open door, you’ll see that this monster was donated by a very special family…. which is why we visited it. It is incredibly important to support this fire house, this team of first responders, this community. And I’m proud to be a very small part of it.