Tel Aviv Reflections

Tel Aviv has been an eye opener. Most of the preconceived notions I had were incorrect. The people we kind warm, opinionated and HELPFUL. From our hosts Serge and Michael to the folks we met in cafes, shops or on the street all made me want to stay around as these are my kind of people.

We have eaten very well from local cuisine to Iraqi food, and daily visits to the Carmel Market for a few home made meals.


The thing the made the biggest impression was that Tel Aviv is not a world class city as I had expected, it is  run down and being built up at the same time. There is debris everywhere, yet there is daily garbage pick-up. It has a small town feel from neighborhood to neighborhood. and people get along with much less than most Americans would consider acceptable... and they seem to love their lives here (all 12 people I have talked to) :-)

Paul and I took a walk to a "nice area", this two block long street Nachmani, was between Rothchild and Menachem Begin. As the typical style there were half demolished homes/apartments and half completed newer construction. Trees are so hardy, they grow out of cement, with crooks and bends that seem impossible, yet they bear fruit and flowers, in a way they are survivalists like the people.

It was quite a surprise to see a street named  Oliphant for our friends Patricia and Richard:-)