With its hidden alleyways, antiques stores, and huge open-air market, it's an enormous draw for tourists and locals alike. The best bargains are to be had early in the day - my friend Yifat, who's a talented jewellery designer, is often down here at 6.30 am, rummaging through boxes and it's astonishing what she's found over the years...
“In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do East Coast family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mount McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a party of moose hunters…”
So begins the extraordinary and riveting “Into the Wild” which quickly became a bestseller.
The rules were simple yet quirky. Anyone in the world who wanted to take part simply had to dress themselves in beach attire that they’d like to wear on a Tel Aviv beach, and take a picture of themselves in their own city. The picture had to include them holding up a sign with the hashtag #Takeme2telaviv and be uploaded to Instagram...
The photos below give you a glimpse into the world of young ‘Tel Avivis’ (as they’re affectionately known) and the costumes they’ve been donning today, for the first of many a party this long weekend. I could have spent all day out on the streets, but in just an hour or two I saw an array of astonishing get-ups...and here are some of my favourites...
I love Spring in Israel - not just the knowledge that warmer weather is on the way, but the endless colours and textures of the flowers that are bursting into bloom all across the country. Here are a few of my favourite shots, taken over the last few years in the Galilee, the Negev, the Jerusalem Hills and Tel Aviv...
And down in the Western Negev (particularly around Kibbutzes Ruhama, Beeri and Shukeda) you can’t fail to spot them. Delicate and graceful, in contrast to the blue and purple kalaniot that grow in the north of Israel, these desert flowers are a vivid red and turn the ordinarily green landscape into a blanket of scarlet...
The roots of the holiday can be traced back several centuries…indeed, academics argue that the original Tu BiSh’vat was an agricultural festival, celebrated to welcome spring. However, by the beginning of the 20th Century, it took on a practical meaning whenthe Jewish National Fund began putting aside a day each year where people were encouraged to plant eucalyptus trees...
This little silk pouch packs up pretty small, is lightweight and will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This is great if you’re stuck in accommodation that’s a bit cheap or dirty...you can also put it inside a rented sleeping bag or under a dusty blanket and mine is silky soft to the touch, which lets you drift comfortably off to sleep...
At 2am the following morning, we stumbled, bleary-eyed from our beds, dressed warmly then drank scalding hot tea to fortify ourselves. Soon we’d been dropped off at the path and the nine of us began walking, in silence, surgical masks over our faces to avoid swallowing ash. It was freezing and as we trekked on, I could feel myself making considerably more effort to breathe. No surprise of course - Mount Bromo stood at 2,292 metres...
I'm the kind of traveller who likes explore. Don't get me wrong, I like beach time as much as the next girl but I'm also happy to spend weeks on the road in capital cities, pounding the sidewalk, walking kilometres each day – it's the best way to see a metropolis. I also like to be active – exploring trails, taking boats out to sea, and climbing up high places to enjoy a view. So the sandals I wear have got to be both comfortable and tough...
Having travelled in some of the poorest countries in the world has made me incredibly grateful for what I have. I may not be a wealthy woman by western standards (I don't own a car, a home or earn a hefty salary) but compared to women my age in Africa, South America and Asia I'm doing well. And since I believe that we all have a responsibility in life to "give back" I was immediately drawn to the charity "Lend With Care..."
I’m not sure exactly what made me do it - perhaps it felt like a unique opportunity to jump over such extraordinary landscape, or maybe the other recent activities and experiences gave me the courage, or it could have been the support and encouragement from Phil. In the seconds before jumping, I was truly afraid, with sweating skin and pounding heart, and once out of the plane, I was calmer but had trouble breathing due to the thin air racing past me so quickly. ..
I’ve been carrying one of these since I was 21 and set off for Latin America, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve delved into it over the years - not just for myself but for others! Especially in rural area of developing countries, you have to carry certain essentials - included in mine is aspirin, broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-diarrhoea meds, antiseptic wipes and hypodermic needles (sealed). A real must-take...
When you're planning on taking a trip, finding a flight is going to be one of your major expenses, so it pays to do a bit of research before you book something. Flying super cheap as a courier (I used to fly from London to NY, delivering documents, back in the 90's, for as little as $150 round trip) is over. But don't despair, there are still ways to make sure your flight ticket doesn't break the bank. Here are some of my tips...
Looking around the CityKids Nursery School, it's clear that "hover" is not the word of the day. "We're not big fans of helicopter parenting here, either. We believe that today's child often ends up over-stimulated, a victim of the iPad-iPhone-cable TV culture. We take the view that kids should be transported back to a simpler time, and be allowed to be bored...”
Boaz Kramer has a strong handshake and, as I soon discover, a strong personality. As a CEO, that's perhaps that's a good thing, though the organization he's in charge of is hardly your run-of-the-mill corporation. Kramer is Director of the Israel Sports Centre for the Disabled (Spivak), established over 50 years ago, and offering over 20 different disciplines to both adults and children...
Mention the word "cowboy" and American prairies, rolling plains and Big Sky country usually come to mind. But think again, because there's actually a landscape thousands of miles from the rugged American West, with dramatic views, cool air and unspoiled countryside. This landscape, three hours north of Tel Aviv, is where Israel's oldest cowboy ranch sits; it too has those wide open spaces, clear night skies and – as the locals boast – some of the best steaks in the country...
