Walking Jaffa

Sunday, December 29th

9 am. After an improvised breakfast, we set off through the streets of Jaffa. We have some time before our Free Walking Tour starts, so we stroll through the flea market, which we can see from our balcony. There is a colorful hustle and bustle, and we realize that everything is really being sold there. Which is not unusual in itself at a flea market, but used shampoo and shower gel bottles are a rather unusual sight even at a second-hand market. Whether the items come from a household dissolution or some people here are more dependent on every shekel - we do not know.

We continue through wonderful colorful alleys, some of which are adorned with pretty graffiti, and then arrive in a covered alley lined with jewelry stores. You can really get lost in the abundance of offerings here and could certainly find something at every stall, so we decide not to buy anything and walk on to the Clock Tower. This is where our Free Walking Tour starts.

The Clock Tower was built of limestone under Ottoman rule and is now the landmark of the city. Our tour guide now takes us through the beautiful old town and gives us background information about the originally Arabic-influenced port city, which was already mentioned in the Bible with its old port. For example, according to the Bible, the sea journey of Jonah started here, which later ended up in the belly of a fish. In addition, the house of Simon the Tanner, a cousin and disciple of Jesus, is located here.

Under the bright sunshine, we finish our tour at the Wishing Bridge, where you have a beautiful view of the sea. On the railing of the bridge, the pictures of all zodiac signs are attached at regular intervals in bronze. An old legend says (for whatever reason) that a wish is fulfilled when you touch your zodiac sign with both hands and look at the sea. According to our tour guide, 60% of these wishes do come true.

So we make our 60% wish and then lie down for a while on the green hill next to the Wishing Bridge, where we doze in the sun and let the warm rays of the sun shine on our faces. Afterwards, we take a look at the beautiful St. Peter's Church, which is located right by the sea, and then make our way along the coast to Tel Aviv. The coastline is very well developed and clean, and the foaming sea to our left looks very good next to Tel Aviv's impressive skyline. Soon we arrive at our destination: Tel Aviv's market.

After enjoying a lunch first, I then stroll with Hanni and Sophia through the endlessly long market. Compared to all the other markets we have seen so far, which all sell similar products, one thing stands out here: the vegetables. Flawless, colorful, splendid vegetables. But there is also everything else your heart desires here. I will probably miss such markets the most when I return to Germany.

The sun is already nearing the horizon and coloring Tel Aviv's skyline in a warm orange, so we decide to make our way back to see the sunset over the sea. We manage to do it just in time. Luckily. Over the roaring waves, we have a beautiful spectacle of colors that only ends when the stars start to sparkle in the pitch-black sky. We pass by the Chanukah menorah in front of the Clock Tower (today, on the last day of the Chanukah festival, all arms of the menorah are lit) and then make our way back to our bunker apartment. Afterwards, we meet with Sophia's parents in one of Jaffa's lively sweet alleys for a drink. It is our last evening together with everyone. Tomorrow, Sophia, Hanni, and I will take a day trip to the West Bank, to Ramallah.