Some cities, like Tel Aviv, resonate with me right away. Tel Aviv was super fun, ultra cool, and uber cosmopolitan. Long before buying a ticket to Israel, friends and acquaintances sang Tel Aviv’s praises: I heard the inhabitants were at once laid back; I was told time and time again that the food was good and the city infused with an inherent energy. Though I’ve already told you I’m not a big partier, repeated assertions from those in the know that Tel Aviv was the hot spot for partying piqued my interest. Inevitably, then I had high hopes for Tel Aviv even before boarding the plane. Luckily, Tel Aviv didn’t disappoint.
Tel Aviv appears to have all the bells and whistles of a big city without, well, being a big city. With a population of under 500,000 and a land area of only about 20 square miles, the city is petite, as far as large metropoli go. But somehow it feels bigger. Could it be because it lies on the shores of the beautiful Mediterranean?
I don’t swim (well), but I somehow gravitate to cities on the sea. As a matter of fact, some of my favourite places in the world are situated next to or surrounded by large bodies of water (like Nice, and the Amalfi Coast in Italy, Malta, and Bali).
Tel Aviv’s long stretch of beach, adorned by palm trees was nothing less than inviting. During our three day stay we made full use of the beach at our disposal.
The city, as I mentioned above, is also known for its nightlife. While Liebling and I didn’t partake (old fogeys we are, I know), we did delight in roaming Rothschild Boulevard, one of the main throughfares in Tel Aviv’s center. Up and down the tree lined strip were a plethora of trendy restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, teeming with hip-looking young people. Late at night it’s fantastic for people watching. Liebling and I grabbed a falafel and strolled leisurely along, taking in the charged atmosphere.
I wrote previously that I basically subsisted on frozen yogurt the whole time I was in Tel Aviv, but the city has a wide range of restaurants in which one can indulge. Liebling managed to tear me away from my fro yo long enough to try the food at Cafe Noir, a chic bistro in the heart of the city. Pictures don’t lie: the chicken was every bit as succulent as it looks!
For me, Tel Aviv was as cosmopolitan as Miami or Madrid. Chic, sleek, hot, and delicious. While I had heard many good things about the city, I must say that it surprised me. In my mind’s eye, the city was dustier, grittier, more old-fashioned. All the young people out enjoying themselves, sipping lattes and eating frozen yogurts at trendy cafes along the beachfront surprised me, despite me having been told again and again that this was what to expect. For me, Israel is the land of Jesus and religion and antiquity and solemnity- Tel Aviv’s persona totally clashed with the idea I already had in mind. This is why I love to travel: my misconceptions and stereotypes were blown out of the water.
Have you been to Tel Aviv? If not, did you ever picture it looking like this?
62 Comments
You already know, but I totally love Tel Aviv! One of my favorite cities and it’s so easy to just get lost in the Tel Aviv lifestyle. Such a great atmosphere for a city!
I really really want to go back, such a “chill” atmosphere!
Did you have any trouble going to Jordan or any of the other Middle Eastern Countries after visiting Israel or is that a myth (regarding to receiving stamps in your passport)?
Getting into Jordan was a breeze actually! But I will not be able to go to a few places in the Middle East until I get a new passport- there’s an Israeli stamp in this one…
it looks so amazing. That second picture with the lamp posts, the long pavement, the grassy slope, modern buildings in the distance and the blue-green water is just so surreal. I keep staring at it, wondering if my lab would somehow transform into it. 🙂
LOL!
Aaa I want your life! You are forever travelling to these awesome places – Yh for Tel Aviv my first thought was “mountains” :S
Tel Aviv is more beach! And beautiful beach at that!
I love the pictures! It is nice seeing beach pictures. The weather here went from 70 degrees to to rain and cold overnight 🙁
Tell me about it! It’s cold here in London!
Now you’ve got me adding yet another place I want to visit! Tel Aviv looks like my kind of city: just city enough without being too concrete. Plus with all that great food, I’m there!
It’s so fun, I would go back and eat more and hang out on the beach!
One of dear friends flies to Tel Aviv often and she has raved about the city so much that I added it to my ever growing list of places to visit. Your pictures have me moving it up the list, maybe as soon as spring time.
I’ll agree when I think of Israel the first though is usual of the Wailing Wall and sites of antiquity. I agree that one of the best things about visiting a place for yourself is having those preconceived notions or other peoples impressions blow away by your own experience of the place.
Great pictures as always.
Definitely go if you can, and stay tuned for more Israel posts- I did indeed go to Jerusalem to check out the Wailing Wall…
Are you mainly interested in European travel? I keep hoping to see more of the Caribbean and sub-Saharan African among your beautiful pictures, but not much luck. 🙁
I’m based in Europe now so have been exploring here recently (as well as the Middle East and South America lol). Went to Kenya and Tanzania a few years ago but sadly that was before I really into blogging/documenting my adventures. I hope to make it back to the continent soon! 🙂
Wow..No never visited and had no clue that it would look like that.
More pics coming soon!
I’ve been dying to visit! I knew it looked like that because I have done so much wanderlusting over the city. Love the pics!!!
Thanks lady!!
I only recently found out Tel Aviv was so modern. It looks like a lot of fun!
Very fun, I want to go back!
Aaaaaah!!! So jealous! I’ve always wanted to visit Tel Aviv and I have friends who live there too. Gorgeous pictures.
Thanks!!
I actually did a search to see if you had gone to Tel Aviv tomorrow, where I’m going for the second time. I loved reading about your experience.
I still having gone to the beach, but I loved riding around the city –and to Jaffa– on the bike the hotel lent me. I live in Amsterdam, so it’s quite shocking, at first, that they insist on bikers riding on the sidewalks. And people actually look over their shoulder for you and get out of the way!
I subsisted on the fresh juice stands around the city. They each had an incredible variety of fruits (some veggies) on hand, plus extras like mint, basel, and ginger, so I was “on it” every single morning and afternoon.
(This time I go, I’m going to follow the advice from a friend and start my morning with fresh squeezed lemon juice and Israeli olive oil with a bit of water. It’s supposed to be a brilliant kidney cleanse. It’s definitely worth a try!)
One more thing…the hummus! It’s not like any I’ve tried anywhere else. And Tel Aviv is where I actually learned how to have hummus as a meal in itself–accompanied by authentic freshly baked, pickled vegetables, etc. I don’t see it as a dip for nachos anymore, that’s for sure!
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