Destination: paradise

In Israel the absolute must-see is Jaffa, located on the Mediterranean coastline. This city is nowadays a part of Tel-Aviv and is believed to be the oldest harbor in the world, which has been in use since the Bronze Age.

To get there I started my trip in the heart of Tel-Aviv, strolling around to see some areas of the city. Wandering, I saw the diversity of Tel-Aviv — the mixture of different buildings: charming and run-down, the mixture of different people: orthodox or religious Jewish, Arabs, Armenians and a lot of tourists from many countries. During the day the city didn’t seem so bustling, even though I could feel the atmosphere of it. However, my goal was to reach the beach.

Tel Aviv seen from Jaffa

My first impression when I came to Tel-Aviv beach was: wow. The view was really stunning and it took my breath away. There was a view of deep blue water, mostly in an azure tone, with dark spots of seaweeds and almost white sand shining in the December sun. This time the beach was nearly empty, so I could feel its tranquil pace of life. However, surprisingly, I found something more attractive: Jaffa, on my left, the ancient harbor rising from the sea with blue sky as the background. It took a while to walk there, but it was worth this effort. 

Jaffa in the left corner

Jaffa is a place where different religions meet. I noticed the catholic church with the cross on the top of it and the mosque with its characteristic crescent-shaped symbol. There is a synagogue and an Armenian church too. But what struck me the most were the picturesque and romantic alleyways among old yellowish buildings, sometimes shaded, sometimes lighted by the sun.

Alleyways in the daylight

Alleyways in the night

Jaffa is an absolutely charming place and I recommend going there, especially if you are in a pensive mood, to gaze at the blue sea and, what’s more, to make a wish at the Wishing Bridge, for example to come back to Jaffa again.

Near the Wishing Bridge

The text above was written in 2011 as my homework for English classes. So it is full of sophisticated vocabulary and corrected by a teacher. Since 2011 many things have changed. I discovered other gorgeous places, which I could call “a paradise”, but Jaffa still has a place in my heart.