June 9: back in Tel Aviv

We had plans today to use the car to go to the Ayalon Institute in Rehovot (where they literally had an undergound bullet factory in the war of Independence) and to visit Caesaria since we missed it yesterday.

But the lure of the Tel Aviv overcame us - the pace here is slow, relaxed, beach- and pedestrian-oriented. Nobody wanted to get back into the car. 

This is the view looking north from our window to the marina and beyond, to the port.

This is the view looking south, toward Jaffa.

We walked to the bike rental place on Ben Yehuda in hopes of renting a tandem bike again. It was closed for Shabbat. 

On the way back, we let Joshie buy an inner tube for playing in the sea. 

Josh, Cris and I went to the beach. Josh and I played for hours in the waves. The beach was crowded but it was still absolutely wonderful. The Tel Aviv beach is paradise. The sand is soft underfoot. The water stays shallow for a long way. The waves are fun to play in, but small and manageable. The water is warm. The beach seating is comfortable and convenient. Everyone is in a good mood. 

The inner tube was a big success. 

After the beach, we lounged around the room for a bit, eating some delicious babka we bought in Safed. So Safed wasn't a complete loss - the babka was very good. 

Then we walked to our favorite juice stand again, about a mile away at the end of Rothschild. The juice was very very good, but not was awesome as when our favorite guy is there. On the way, we stopped at Max Brenner (the chocolate cafe) and had real food accompanied by delicious chocolatey drinks. 

I don't understand the economics of real estate in Tel Aviv. There are buildings which have apparently been abndoned during construction, or left unmaintained for 60 years, right next to beautifully maintained buildings. Both have prime locations facing the sea, close to the sea. Why don't people buy these places, fix them up and sell them or rent them? 

This is a seemingly abandoned building on HaYarkon street in the foreground, just next to the modern Orchid hotel. 

Draft FCB has an office on Rothschild street

My team at EA is currently doing business with their San Francisco office. 

I didn't stop in to visit, but I might next time I'm in Tel Aviv. 

This pretty, yellow building is just off Shenkin street. They restored the yellow part traditionally, then built it up taller, with a somewhat non-obtrusive gray modern section. It's a great way to get more rental value for their renovation dollars, and still keep the historic character of the building. 

The rounded wooden shutters of this renovated Bauhaus building are apparently the sign of an expensive and historically accurate renovation. 

Ted, Cris and Josh walked home. Sam and I rented bikes from the stand and biked back Rothschild is great for biking. The other streets that are marked as having bike lanes are not as great -- bike lanes built into sidewalks, with pedestrians wandering slowly through them. But it was a fun ride back anyway. 

Then... more lounging about, with everyone getting onto their devices for some screen time, and played some cards, and drank some wine. 

Sam and I went to the Tachana again that night to walk around. There is another of the public pianos there. 

I bought Josh an early birthday present at the Israel design store there - comfy headphones with skulls and crossbones on them. 

Ted and I walked a bit north on the promenade and came across this great scene... on the plaza between a hotel and the beach, about 200 people had gathered to dance. There were men and women, old and young. Many seemed to know the steps. Israelis seem to mingle inter-generationally much more than Americans do. It's one of the things I love about the country.