Sunday, December 21, 2014

Friday; A tour by bicycle


Corrine and her son, Ran, came over by bike on Friday.  We rented bikes for the remaining time we are in Tel Aviv.  This is a city on the go- and so many people on bikes- motorized and not.  The city is mostly flat and is easy for walking and for biking.  People on bikes ride mostly on the sidewalks – and not on the street.  You take your life in your hands on the street- but, also on the sidewalk!  The bikes are heavy, wide tires, very stable.  So, as you approach a group of people, you can put one foot, and that sort of help guides you along the sidewalk, weaving- literally- between people, people and children, people with market carts, with strollers, with dogs on leashes, with other bikes!  The bikes all have little bells to alert the people as you approach- but, everyone ignores them and you!  In addition, sidewalks might suddenly become very narrow; streets are also very narrow, and may be one –way.  There are many times on narrow streets that there is barely enough room for cars to go down the road with cars parked on both sides of the road- heads up! – if you are on a bike- there is no way you can be in the street.

Corinne wanted to give us a tour of some of her favorite neighborhoods and sights of the city.  Weekend/Shabbat starts on Thursday night- so on Friday- especially a Friday afternoon- during Hanukah, most people are on holiday and their weekend is in full swing.  Israeli’s love to be outside, being with family, and if they aren’t in the many parks throughout the country (and the City) they walk the streets together and take long leisurely meals.  We rode on many of the famous streets lined with homes designed with Bauhaus architecture for which Tel Aviv is so famous.  The city is not so old- built in the last 100 years in the 1920s, the style is Bauhaus- and Tel Aviv is called the White City.  Many buildings have been restored and well cared for; many areas are under renovation.  One of the famous streets is Rothschild. (pronounced Roth -shield) this boulevard has a bike path- but, that is laughable since everyone is walking on the bike path in the middle of the boulevard.
 
These are photos of the Symphony Hall  in Tel Aviv;  before we leave, Randall, Maura and I will hear Murray Peraiea conduct the symphony and play piano- Bach and Hayden concert. Children play in a sand box in front of the hall. 

A view from another angle in front of the hall;  this is a water pool- beautiful architecture. 
We ride up Rothschild and see so many examples of Bauhaus buildings. 

 
 
We approach a group of people and can hear South American instruments; it turns out the group is practicing a Brazilian form of dance/martial arts.  This is very popular in Israel; Corinne practiced Capoeira for many years; the movement is artistic and extremely athletic.  The dancer/artists don’t hurt each other- but their movements are spectacular and they move to the music.  People circle and clap and sing along.  Corinne recognizes some of the people who were from the group in which she participated in earlier years.  Ran rides on a back seat on Corinne’s bike- and she wears a back-pack and carries a basket full of fun things for him.  He loves being on the bike and she is remarkable as she commandeers the streets with her son in tow.

 
 
 
We continue along and ride into Neve Tzedek- a small neighborhood further south; here the streets are narrow and the area is quieter.  What a sweet and old neighborhood.  Eventually, we come to a recently revitalized train station near the tayelet just north of the old port city of Jaffa.  The area,  now houses a farmer’s market- and food stands and boutique shops;  this is fun and we can find lunch here- from dim sum to Bedouin food; and the farmer’s market is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables.  Fresh figs and strawberries are the stars- and the berries are the size of California strawberries with the flavor of Michigan  Juneberries.  These are what California berries “wannabe”!


 
We love riding the bikes around town.  This is the way to go. Getting accustomed to the foot traffic and car traffic somehow wasn’t that difficult once I got over my initial fear.  As we wend our way home north on the tayelet, we have a bit more room to maneuver.  We are home in just a few minutes.

We say good-bye to Corinne and Ran; we have been invited to join them on Saturday for brunch at their home.  She gives us directions and the address. 

Later, we walk up Ben Yehuda north of Gordon to a well-regarded small family-owned Italian restaurant- Ernesto’s.  Restaurants here don’t get going until at least 10- and since it is Shabbat; many are closed.  Tel Aviv is a city that comes alive late at night.  We walk to dinner at 9:30 and the streets are quiet, but, by the time we are walking home, the streets are packed with people going out after Friday night dinner. 
Another wonderful day-  and night! 

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