Tel Aviv and Jaffa

We only had two nights reserved at our hostel in Jerusalem, so we scrambled around on the internet looking for both short and longer term solutions to the problem of affordable housing. Through internet searches on Craig's List and by word of mouth we found some leads on apartments in Jerusalem, as well as a hostel in Old Jaffa. Monday morning we checked out of the Jerusalem hostel and took a bus to the other side of town where we looked at two apartments. One was too small and close to a noisy busy street, but the other was just right--more on it later, once we move in on Sunday!

We then took a bus down to Tel Aviv, another bus to Jaffa, and, finally, a short walk to the hostel:

This was our room, the whole thing, by far the smallest we have ever stayed in, literally no room to turn around!


with an even smaller bathroom!


But we could escape to the roof terrace,


to see this view of the narrow streets below:


The hostel is in the midst of Jaffa's flea-market, so we enjoyed walking through the displays of junk, beautiful fabrics, and other oddities.

Jaffa has a lovely artist's colony in the old port area:

A minaret overlooking the Mediterranean:

In a different direction, the view from Jaffa of modern Tel Aviv (celebrating its hundredth birthday this year):

We strolled through the city, stopping at fruit stands for fresh juice (orange and pomegranate is our favorite), squeezed to order,

passed the harbor marina,

and watched kite surfers ride the waves as the sun set over the deep blue Mediterranean.

Back in Jaffa , at a restaurant beneath the old stone arches,

our favorite local treat.