Bauhaus Style in the Middle East

Tel Aviv is home to almost 3.2 million residents and was recently rated by Lonely Planet as the 3rd "hottest city in 2011."  That means that there is something for everyone - from the beach, to cafes, to nightclubs and more.  

One of the most unique aspects of Tel Aviv - and from the cultural perspective - is the over 4,000 Bauhaus (meaning: House of Construction) style buildings spread around the city - making it the city with the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world.

As a result, Tel Aviv is also known as "The White City."

The Bauhaus architectural style follows a few ground rules that include: simplicity, clean cuts, white walls and no unnecessary decorations.  All the buildings have a smooth and simple look inspired by the idea of functionality.

Interesting to note is how this style was adapted to complement the Israeli environment and climate.  As the sun is very strong in Tel Aviv, windows were sometimes replaced with balconies, the sizes of the openings were reduced, though their frequency was not, and often construction was such that it increased the shaded areas without decreasing the circulation of air.

According to the Bauhaus Center in Tel Aviv, "The social-cultural ideology behind the Bauhaus Style fit like a glove to the socialist-Zionist movement and to the striving of this movement to create a new world. White houses, in every sense—form, style, material, functionality, color—grew from the sands without a past, towards a future."

Take an hour or so with your guide to walk around Tel Aviv looking for the different Bauhaus buildings.  You will learn about this special style of architecture that was developed by German architects in the 1930's, and resulted in shaping the architectural approach of the city. 

In the Fast Lane, Biking in Tel Aviv

November 18, 2011
By RONI CARYN RABIN

New York Times

Read the full article on the New York Times website.

We were biking through the Jaffa flea market in southern Tel Aviv when we found ourselves in a narrow alley, threading our way past vintage clothing, stacks of Oriental rugs and a life-size neon likeness of Marilyn Monroe.

It was the eve of a holiday and the sidewalks were crowded with shoppers — uniformed soldiers on leave, families with children darting about. My 14-year-old had just missed knocking over a vendor selling jewelry. Then my friend Judy shrieked: a driver who had parked on the sidewalk started reversing out of his spot — just as three of our seven kids, riding on the sidewalk, approached on their bikes.

I was beginning to wonder whether this expedition was a wise idea, but an hour later, as we glided through downtown Tel Aviv on a broad, shaded sidewalk, I couldn’t imagine seeing this bustling, seaside metropolis any other way. We had quickly learned that a car is an albatross in traffic-snarled Tel Aviv. And for tourists, biking offers a more intimate glimpse of real life here.

For those who aren’t particularly athletic, the city is almost uniformly flat: You’re not likely to get anything approaching a cardiovascular workout if you stay in the city limits. But this is urban biking, and it takes some getting used to. While the city takes biking seriously — it recently implemented a self-service bike rental system similar to the Vélib’ system in Paris — the bike paths, which are either on double-wide sidewalks or on shaded lanes that run down the middle of the street, are a work in progress.

The system tends to break down along narrower streets and alleyways. In general, biking here involves a lot of stops and starts, all the better for close-up people watching or taking a break at a sidewalk cafe for a cafe hafuch, Israel’s creamy version of a latte that is unmatched anywhere, as far as I’m concerned.

On a recent visit, my family and I rented bicycles at a shop near our hotel, and over the course of three days, cycled along the beach, through residential areas and the business and cultural center. We also cycled north of the city on a trail that hugs the Mediterranean, stopping to sample artisanal cheeses and baked goods at the farmers’ market by the old port just north of the city, and then biked along Hayarkon Park’s 3.5 miles of jogging trails.

The morning we took the coastal route to Jaffa, the beach was quiet. There were no signs of the plastic chaise longues that had covered the sand the day before. We rode along the broad Tayelet boardwalk, the sound of our tires startling the pigeons off the walkway. On the vast public beach, the sand had been shaped into gentle scalloped peaks by the night winds. Two surfers in wetsuits were already wading into the blue Mediterranean with their boards.

The May Family Shares Their Experience With Routes Travel

To taste just a bit of what Routes Travel offers, we asked the May family who joined us this summer about their experience while in Israel.  They were looking for a program that offered a perfect mix of adventure and leisure during their vacation and from the moment they stepped off the plane, they were greeted by Routes Travel representatives and their journey began!

On Day 1 ...  

After meeting their guide in the lobby of their hotel, they drove south to Mitzpeh Ramon.  Waiting for them there, was a warm welcome at the Beresheet Hotel (newest hotel in Israel situated on the EDGE of the Ramon Crater).  They dropped off their luggage and quickly made their way into the crater where they started a 2-hour ATV Adventure through the Crater.
 
What is the Ramon Crater and what makes it so special?

The Ramon Crater is the most interesting landscape in the Negev desert.  It is the largest erosion crater in the world:  It spans 40 km, its width is 9 km and its depth approximately 300 meter.
 
"The Ramon Crater was beautiful!  We were so happy to spend a couple of days there – we didn’t want to leave!  Given the limited number of days we had, Routes Travel planned our time in the area perfectly and we loved the ATV Adventure through the crater.  It was definitely a highlight.  Our guide was very knowledgeable and was able to share insights about everything we were seeing and experiencing along the way."
 



On Day 3 ... 

From Mitzpeh Ramon, the May's ventured north to Jerusalem where even though they had spent time in the past, they felt as though they learned so many new things from their excellent Routes Travel guide.
 
"Our guide was exceptional.  He walked us through the Old City and with patience as he taught us about the history that exists there.  He offered new insights and explanations that we’d not learned before.  After the Old City, we continued on to Yad Vashem where he was well-versed in the Holocaust and was able to lead us through the museum with sensitivity and care."



When asked what the best parts of their trip were, the May's replied, “It was clear to us from the beginning that Routes Travel would take care of everything.  We didn’t have to worry about any small detail being forgotten.  We received the highest level of customer service we could have expected and had a Routes Travel point of contact person in Israel from the start.  As a result we were able to relax and enjoy our vacation.  They listened to our input and blended outdoor activities with hiking and some slower days of walking and exploring.  We can’t wait to return and see other places that we didn’t have time for this time around!”

The Lowest Point on Earth

Have you ever wondered what it's like to float without exerting any energy?  Or have you ever considered what it means to be at the lowest point on Earth?  Have you ever had skin so soft that it feels as though you just spent the last week at a spa? If so (or even if you're just curious), we have just the place for you!  

A close 1.5 hour drive from Jerusalem, tourists and locals alike visit the Dead Sea for some rest and relaxation (literally).  The Dead Sea is quite long -- it's full a 42 mile coastline and in 2010 alone, it hosted almost 1.8 million people.  Thanks to a recent PR campaign, the number of annual visitors will surely rise, however the water level of the Dead Sea continues to drop - at a rate of 3.3 feet per  year.  Additionally, the lake's surface area has been reduced by one third since the 1960s and in 2007, it measured just 246 sq miles compared to 366 sq miles some four decades earlier.

The Dead Sea is famous for being one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world - and therefore - an excellent natural medical treatment for the skin.  It also produces the famous Dead Sea MUD which is seen shmeared on people in photographs all around the world!

So on your next vacation to Israel, be sure to visit and float in the Dead Sea.  It's an experience that is not to be missed!!