The architecture of Jaffa

Tel Aviv is known as the fun-loving party city of Israel but in fact, it is a city that is rich in history, albeit relatively modern history. Therefore, I happen to enjoy walking tours of Tel Aviv since that is a good way to learn about the history of the country.

Paule Rakower (White City Tours) gives a tour of the architectural styles outside the old city of Jaffa from the Ottoman period, through the British mandate and concluding with modern day Israel. This is the second tour of Paule's that I have attended. Some people may find her style to be a bit dry but I find her to be a wealth of information. For approximately two hours, we walked right outside the walls of Old Jaffa and looked at various architectural styles. I am not an architectural buff but I found the information fascinating and Paule always adds in some interesting historical facts and stories. Also Jaffa is undergoing a lot of restoration and renovation and has a great vibe. Besides the flea market, there are all sorts of interesting shops, boutiques and cafes (see my entry about Yaffo Caffe on 11/16/08 for a great kosher Jaffa cafe).

E-mail Paule Rakower at krpaule@hotmail.com and ask to be put on the distribution list regarding her tours. The tours are 60 shekels per person and run for approximately two hours.