Reportage
Tel Aviv : Victoria's City Trip
The city with oriental charm
Tel Aviv
" After criss-crossing Spring Hill, "Tel Aviv" in Hebrew, nothing beats a cold beer in front of the orange sun's plunge into the sea. The olive trees and cypresses welcome the swallows that delight me with their song. "
Israel offers such a diversity of atmospheres and landscapes that I suggest you discover not one, but three wonderful places: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and the kibbutz of Ein Geidi! Two to four days per place are ideal to immerse yourself in them. Two pieces of advice: buy shekels on the spot, there are exchange offices everywhere! Also, keep in mind that from Friday to Saturday is Shabbat: there is no public transport, many shops are closed and many hotels are full.
Tel Aviv exudes a serenity that is perfectly illustrated by the many cats that roam the streets. The Tel Avivois express their artistic fibre in such a way that every corner of the wall is dressed with slogans, green plants, mosaic frescoes, shells, graffiti. This is particularly true in the south of the Florentine district, where there is a magnificent street art spot, as well as in the area bounded by the Souk Ha Carmel and Ha Kovshim street, 2 minutes from the beach.
Immerse yourself in the Ha Carmel souk, amidst stalls of souvenirs, dates, halva with pistachios, almonds, chocolate, etc... To be pronounced "ralva", a sweet made from tahini, the Middle East's essential sesame cream. This is where you will find one of the best hummus shops in Tel Aviv, Hummus HaCarmel. Yes, a canteen of hummus!
After a good time, head to the beach of Tel Aviv, a paradise for sports enthusiasts: surfing, kite, badminton, volleyball. There are even a number of muscle-building areas with a cycle track where everyone can ride their electric mountain bike. Don't worry, you can also have yours for rent at Pole Position on Ben Yehuda street.
After criss-crossing Spring Hill, "Tel Aviv" in Hebrew, nothing beats a cold beer as the orange sun plunges into the sea along the seashore promenade in Jaffa - to be pronounced Yafo in Hebrew. The walk leads to The old men and the sea, where about fifteen typical Middle Eastern mezze is served with a thirst-quenching lemonade. It is in this district, the oldest in Tel Aviv, that the famous "Abouelafia" bakery is located, where you can find delicious Turkish delight.
Jérusalem
Only 1 hour from Tel Aviv is Jerusalem, one of the cradles of our civilizations. It can be reached by bus or collective taxi for about 5 €. The city's authenticity comes from its stone buildings. As in Tel Aviv, I enjoy a rich breakfast at the Montefiore Hotel and pappardelles with portobellos on the terrace of Café Nadi. The olive trees and cypresses welcome the swallows that delight me with their singing. Many religious communities come together on pilgrimage to Jerusalem to meditate on the holy places: the Wailing Wall, the Church of the Pater Noster on the Mount of Olives, the Old City and its maze of narrow streets leading to the Wailing Wall, the al-Aqsa Mosque, built where the Prophet Mohammed rose to heaven, according to Muslim tradition, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place of crucifixion and of Christ's tomb according to Christian tradition.
And the kibbutz of Ein Geidi
From Jerusalem, rent a car for a few days to discover the wonders that surround the Ein Gedi kibbutz, an hour and a half drive away in the Judean desert. You can watch the sunrise at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Masada Fortress with a spectacular view of the desert, the Dead Sea and Jordan in the background. The Dead Sea, which lies 400 metres below sea level and continues to dry up, is in danger of disappearing by 2050 due to human industrial activities and the diversion of the Jordan River. It is therefore time to let yourself float in this extremely salty water. The public beach is in Ein Bokek... in the middle of concrete hotel blocks. The other option is then to treat yourself to the spa of Ein Gedi for about twenty euros. Enjoy the Dead Sea water pool, sauna, hammam and outdoor swimming pool on the panoramic terrace overlooking the nature reserve and the Wadi Arugot hiking trail. It is on this trail that you can hike through the gorges and waterfalls that were once the seabed of the Dead Sea!
