Tel Aviv

My bus seatmate, from Jerusalem, really made sure that I went to the right bus that goes directly to my hotel. Another Israeli told me places that I must see in Tel Aviv. The locals were gorgeous—women and men in bikinis, short shorts, and sexy outfits. A cab driver, whom I thought was a living Albert Einstein, let me take his photo and smiled.

Tel Aviv is a beach city; the shore is their park, and it is where friends, families and visitors hang out together in their bikinis and burqas. People sleep there, read books under the sun, and play beach volleyball. In Tel Aviv, staring at people is a good pastime. The long shoreline is separated into public beaches; there are stations that cater to gays and to religious (ultra-Orthodox) people.

The Old Jaffa is the most charming place in the city; it’s an old Arab town with old mosques, old churches and old synagogues all together in one place. Muslims, Jews and Christians live side-by-side, trading and living together without tension. The Jaffa harbor, in Greek mythology, was where Andromeda was tied by the sea monster on a huge rock and saved by the Greek hero Perseus. I tried to locate that rock, but even locals didn’t know its location, so I stayed in a coffee shop by the shore, only splashed by a water jet ski.

I and friends melted when a huge sun looked like a planet coming down, while we were busy chilling in a street bar. We had fun, and we really had weird music that was repeatedly played: “Ya Habibi, Tel Aviv!” Not to mention, good food—schnitzel, couscous and a lot more!

I love this city – Enjoy the photos!

Albert Einstein!

Me & friends after a tiring bumming day @ the beach

Ultra-orthodox couple

Arab family

The coffee shop where I stayed while trying to locate the Andromeda rock.

My favorite person in the world, Sandra

The old streets of Jaffa

Tel Aviv street

I had a great laugh with the Philippine Ambassador to Israel

The crazy sunset in Tel Aviv is one of the best!

With David singing ya Habibi