August 1: Haifa (Tel Aviv / Yafo)

(1) The next morning, after almost sweating to death in the closet, we drove off for a Bedouin market on our way north. Expecting great things from something with such an exotic name, we were rather dissappointed to find ourselves in what ammounted to a bad flea market. After getting hissed at by a woman carrying a large bundle on her head, we decided to get back on the road and make our way to Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean Sea. Greater Tel Aviv is actually two combined cities - Tel Aviv and old Yafo. Both are unique in their own way, offering a combination of modern luxuries and ancient traditions. (photo: www.terragalleria.com)

(2) After hanging out for a short while at the beach, swimming in the Med, we explored more of old Yafo. We were only spending the day in town, so the primary objective was seeing a few of the sights.

(3) Nice hat, stupid. I'm talking about my hat. So, here we are, sitting down for a meal in Yafo... this area is known for having great cuisine, and particularly good sea food. After spending several hours exploring the Israeli coastal metropolis, we finally set off for Haifa in the north. I remember that Haifa reminded me of San Francisco - lots of hills by the ocean. Our lodging was found at the Hotel Beth Shalom Carmel.