Presented by Birte Edwards, Tour Guide in Israel
Early 2011 saw the beginnings of what has been termed “The Arab Spring” (no comments).
In July 2011 Israel’s hot summer began in Tel Aviv. Not the physical heat, but Israel’s equivalent to the Arab Spring. Equivalent? Only in one way – the desire for change. Everything else was different.
I know I as a guide has always claimed how exciting it is to visit Israel, and particularly Jerusalem. I never get tired of showing off this amazing city. And as I do I constantly see things, I’ve never noticed before. And now I have proof.
JerusalemOne of the most popular travel websites, Trip Advisor, recently set up a list of top 10 culture and sightseeing destinations. No, sorry to say, Jerusalem did not make number uno, but a proud number seven.
The list was compiled following a survey on the site.
This is what they have to say about Jerusalem:
Religious pilgrims have been traveling to Jerusalem for centuries, yet you don’t have to share their zeal in order to appreciate this city’s profound cultural and historical significance. Plan on seeing the major sights, but also leave plenty of time to walk through the streets and simply immerse yourself in the daily life of such an ancient and revered place.
On a personal note, I must tell you that Jerusalem has developed its own very special after hours life. More and more young, secular people are returning to Jerusalem, and creating something new and exciting. [Read more...]
Often the shopping malls create special events, and on Friday mornings it is often a food market. Since weekends in Israel are Friday-Saturday, Friday morning is a great time to hold special events, such as food markets. Shoppers can either have breakfast, lunch or brunch or even better buy food for taking home, so they don’t have to cook over the weekend.
Friday morning a couple of weeks ago the Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv hosted a food market. From the look of it most shoppers were happy and content, and even more so when they got the surprise of their lives.
Among the shoppers were members of the Israel Philharmonics and its choir.
The noise level at such events is quite high, but the Philharmonics managed to quieten everybody when it struck up the chords and full version of Verdi’s Il Trovatore and Rigoletto.
I was not there, but saw the news broadcast in the evening. And when I saw the clip on YouTube, I knew I had to share it with others.
So let nobody tell you that Israel doesn’t have talent and initiative. Enjoy!
Tel Aviv courtesy treybarrow.com
Just last year, 2009, Tel Aviv celebrated its centennial. But that is the modern city.
Who would think of Tel Aviv as hiding old treasures? Of having people living there thousands of years ago?
During the preparation for construction of a new apartment complex in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood of Tel Aviv, remains of prehistoric buildings were uncovered. The buildings are estimated to be 7.800-8.400 years old. Artifacts estimated to be between 13.000 and 100.000 years old were also found.
They were excavated by Ayelet Dayan on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). According to Dayan these find are both “important and surprising” for understanding this period.
“For the first time, we have encountered evidence of a permanent habitation that existed in the Tel Aviv region 8,000 years ago,” she said. “The site is located on the northern bank of the Yarkon River, not far from the confluence with Nahal Ayalon. It is assumed that this fact
influenced the ancient settlers in choosing a place to live. The fertile alluvium soil along the fringes of the streams was considered a preferred location for a settlement in ancient periods.”
The building uncovered had at least three rooms, and is from the neolithic period (New Stone Age), a time when man was beginning to move from a nomadic life style of hunting and gathering to a settled life style, based on agriculture.
Among the artifacts found were flint tools such as sickle blades and flakes, the left-overs from tool production. Other finds are a basalt bowl and animal bones and teeth, including hippopotamus teeth.
Blessed be modern development for bringing another important archaeological site to light.
I have not been able to find pictures of the reported finds to show you.
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