From Bauhaus to beach via beer

We did the Bauhaus today. Tel Aviv has a whole area known as The White City which is famous for its inter war architecture, and this was awarded World Heritage Site status in 2003. Really good tour, very funny young guide who is a graduate of architectural school. Interesting explanation of how Tel Aviv was originally a Jewish suburb of Jaffa and part of the separation of conflicted Arab and Jewish communities during the period of the British mandate. The architecture emerged from the traditions the European emigres bought with them, the climate and conditions, and a desire to create an international and more classless approach to social cohesion.

In contrast to this we later did a very tourist thing, went to the beach, rented some sun loungers, and got lazy. Not something we have done a lot of this last ten days.

There is also an art and crafts market where we bought a couple of nice pieces to take home.The woman on the stall was chatty and talking about the invasion of Scots for the football yesterday (Scotland rather shockingly lost 2-1 to Israel in Haifa). She was particularly intrigued by their kilts and we had the inevitable conversation about Celtic underwear or the lack of.

This has been the best trip ever. Period. Tel Aviv is cosmopolitan, welcoming, diverse, tolerant, vegan friendly, openly gay, full of very well cared for cats and dogs, healthy, boozy, sunny, laid back, vibrant, colourful, chilled, cultured and sexy. We thought long and hard about where to holiday for my 60th and I am so glad we came here. It really has been lovely.

We’re definitely coming back.