ISRAEL! Welcome to Tel Aviv!
Shalom! After a long flight from New York, a fantastic group of Turning Point USA employees, contributors and influencers finally landed in the city of Tel Aviv! I am going to take you through our first day in beautiful country of Israel.
Waking up in the morning we had an incredible spread for breakfast. In Israel, they often serve cheese and fish for breakfast. Fun fact: pasta and pizza are also considered breakfast food there!
We then spent the morning exploring Jaffa, an ancient port city that lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Jaffa has 15 levels of history layered on, the oldest spot in the town — where the gate to the city is located — dates back 5000 years. This is where the story of Jonah takes place in the Bible. Jaffa is also where St. Peter’s Cathedral is located.
Speaking of St. Peter, tilapia is found in abundance in the Mediterranean sea, so here it’s called “St. Peter’s Fish.”
After roaming around Jaffa we spent the afternoon in the Carmel Market, (also referred to as a “shook”). This is where you get to bargain with shop owners to try and get the best prices. The shook was filled with so many vibrant and lively colors. Lining the streets was fresh fruit, spices, clothes, meat, fish, fresh desserts, and more. Anything you could think of is sold there!
My favorite part about being at the market was talking to the local Israelites and hearing their stories. I met a man who owned a shoe store at the market (I had to buy a pair of sandals, of course) and he told me how proud he is of his country. His shoe store is a 3rd generation family shop. He also expressed how he loves America and how his son currently lives here.
Stay tuned for more updates about our trip to Israel!
