Mediterranean Miami
Found In Tel Aviv
RUTH ROVNER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
I
sightseeing. In fact, one of the at-
tractions of Tel Aviv, the unoffi-
cial cultural capital of Israel, is
that it offers the stimulation of
arts and culture and cafes — plus
the pleasures of the beach.
It's not beach for those seeking
a secluded, tranquil getaway.
With crowds of people sun-
bathing, talking, walking, with
mingled sounds of balls hitting
the racquet, children shouting
gleefully as they try out the wa-
ter and lifeguards shouting or-
ders from their megaphones, the
Tel Aviv beach is no place for a
PHOTO BY RU TH ROVNER
t had been a long day of trav-
el, but finally, I'd arrived at
the hotel and was settled in
my room.
I opened the sliding door and
stepped out on the balcony — and
all the pressures of the day dis-
solved. I inhaled the sweet scent
of salt air, saw a night sky illu-
minated by a full moon over the
Mediterranean, heard the soft
lapping of waves.
Here in a beachfront hotel in
Tel Aviv, the noises of the city
were remote; the calming pres-
ence of the sea was dominant.
.
,0 6:82S„
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Beachside eateries in Tel Aviv.
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78
"QUALITY FOR A LIFETIME"
•INIMIS 01.4
And it was the seaside ambiance
that I particularly wanted to en-
joy on this visit.
Of course, Tel Aviv is hardly a
serene beach retreat. Instead, it's
a busy, bustling city, often pro-
moted as "the city that never
sleeps."
But it's also a city by the sea.
With high-rise hotels lining the
beachfront, an assortment of
cafes and restaurants by the wa-
ter, a two mile promenade, ma-
rina and protected beaches
extending from the Hilton all the
way to Old Jaffa, Tel Aviv is vir-
tually a Miami on the Mediter-
ranean.
That's why, on this visit, I de-
cided to enjoy Tel Aviv as a beach
resort. On earlier trips, I had
been so busy visiting its varied
attractions — the Museum of the
Diaspora, the Museum of Art,
Old Jaffa, and more — that I
hardly had time to set foot on the
beach in this city that was built
from sand dunes.
This time, I gave equal time to
the beach. Trying out three dif-
ferent beachfront hotels, I hap-
pily spent six days swimming,
relaxing on pool decks, sitting on
balconies overlooking the water
— and even managing to do some
quiet escape into solitude.
But it's definitely one of the
most animated and colorful
beaches anywhere. It's ideal for
people-watching and for an initi-
ation into the vitality that is the
essence of Tel Aviv. Its residents
seem to be as lively and energetic
on the beach as off.
The Tel Aviv beach also offers
convenience: beach chairs and
umbrellas to rent — essential in
the heat of the tropical sun —
outdoor showers at each separate
beach, well-trained lifeguards.
It's also-a beach that is never
deserted. When the lifeguards go
off duty at the end of the day,
technically the beach is closed,
meaning there's no more pro-
tected swimming. But people use
the beach round the clock, from
fitness enthusiasts who do push-
ups at dawn to couples strolling
at midnight, or groups spreading
out blankets to enjoy picnics late
in the evening.
Off the beach, the two-mile
promenade is another attraction,
a non-stop display of wares of all
sorts, impromptu entertainment
and a vast cross-section of Tel
Avivans who stroll the prome-
nade at all hours.
It's also possible to enjoy Tel