... in summer evenings

I like summer sunsets over Hayarkon river so very much, that I made them a theme for a project for a photography class I once took. (Here's the photo gallery of the sunsets I shoot back then.) It doesn't matter how often I see them, they never cease to fill me with awe. It's also always cooler in the park by the river - just a perfect place for summer evening walk, or a run, or a bicycle ride.

I'm a bit busy these days and not giving this blog as much attention as I would want to, but if you want to see some glimpses of Tel Aviv, you are welcome to my "quick Tumblr blog", that I get to update pretty often!

Hope you are having a very happy summer! Take a look at Our World Tuesday for more summer pictures from all over the planet.

... because of sunsets over the Mediterranean

I'm in a bit of a hurry this weekend, but still I managed to go for a sunset watching bicycle ride last evening. And was I glad that I did! Tel Aviv port and the promenade are getting crowded these warm May weekend evenings (what a contrast from this winter evening!), but still not as crowded as it gets in the summer. The breeze is nice and calm, and the sunset is breathtaking. Posting this quick capture for Sky Watch Friday and Weekend Reflections. Have a great weekend everyone!

... at sunset, when it rains (Tel Aviv port)

In my last post, I wrote about how cool it is to cycle in Tel Aviv, and how for years I yearned to learn riding a bike; and Fragmentage commented:

This is so ironic! When I first came to live in Tel Aviv around 10 years ago cycling was for the weirdos, or at least that's how I felt when I cycled along all on my own trying to avoid getting hit by a car :) 

I never gave it much thought, but Tel Aviv had changed a lot during the past years. Take for example the Tel Aviv port. For decades, since it ceased to function as the actual port, this was such a no man's land, occupied by warehouses and solemn, funky small business places. Then in 2001 the port had been renovated and became what it is today: one of the most popular and lively places to go out in the city (so popular, in fact, that I try to avoid it on weekends and holidays - it's way too crowded to enjoy then!). I love the port the most on quiet early mornings, or during the days of stormy, rainy weather, as today. (Not too stormy, though! Extremely strong winds are known to bring much damage to the port, on rare occasions even tearing up glass doors and windows - best to avoid it then.)

But when it just rains, and the wind is not too strong, there's nothing like an evening stroll in the port. The sunset gleams through scattered rain clouds, the sky is reflected in the wet wavy deck that truly becomes the natural extension of the ocean, and the unusual curvy streetlights and stone benches seem like big, but friendly sea creatures. (Don't these streetlights remind you of images of a Loch Ness monster, poking his head curiously out of the water?)

Take a look at the Sky watch Friday, to see the skies of any weather, any place on the planet...

... when the sun sinks into the sea

"Sunset" in Hebrew is "shkiya", literally meaning "sinking". The saying goes that since the sea is westward to Israel, each evening we witness the sun "sinking" into the sea.
It's hard to believe it, but at the dawn of the city, the city officials were actually considered having an industrial zone right by the sea! Luckily, the idea was abandoned in favor of a promenade and beaches (with some help of the influential national poet Hayim Nahman Bialik who persuaded the mayor Meir Dizengoff that the sea line should be used for recreation and welfare instead).
I admired this dramatic sunset on Gordon beach. Check out what other sky watchers are admiring today.

... despite the lack of the seasons

The upper picture represents the most "extreme wintery" weather in Tel Aviv, and the lower - the "normal winter" weather (the pictures were shot within a few days one from another).
Normally, I LOVE it that it's always sunny and bright, and the weather is great 80% of the time (with ~ 5% of really cold rainy days, and 15% of insufferably hot "khamsin" days; "khamsin" is a dry, hot and dusty weather, caused by wind storms in North Africa deserts). But besides that, I find the weather really gorgeous. You can walk on the beach sand barefoot all year long. You can wear practically the same clothes all year long. You don't own a "serious" coat, or a scarf, or a hat, and you have to borrow this stuff from someone when you travel to Europe or North America in the winter.
Having said that... sometimes I miss "proper" seasons. It's so much easier to appreciate the sunshine when it comes after a storm.

Watch other skywatchers to appreciate the seasons around the world.

... in the sunset

Park Ha-yarkon is one of the greatest places to admire a sunset in the city: huge open space, pink-y sky reflects in the calm creek water... and I swear, that at the night you can see the stars almost as bright and clear as if you were in a desert, far-far away from the big city.

Check out Skywatch Friday to see the sky as seen by people all over the world.

... when it rains

Back to my blog after a loooooooooooooong break... changing jobs after 10 (!!!) years in one company was (is :) more challenging for me than I imagined it would be, leaving practically no free time for any hobby at all... But enough with the excuses!

When it rains, the city changes its color, its mood, its habits: cafés pull inside the tables, streets get empty, people tend to remain inside... they don't know what they are missing.

Map (Hebrew).

... because of Mediterranean sea (2)

Another summer sunset over the Mediterranean. For me, this is perfection.

... because of the changing seasons

Even though sometimes it might seem that the tropical climate of Tel-Aviv has no changing seasons, here they are: look at these autumn leaves in the middle of the spring!

... because of Tel-Aviv port

Tel-Aviv port is, without a doubt, one of the coolest places in the city. Restaurants, night clubs, shops and even a yoga center - the port has to offer everything to everyone. My favorite time of day in the port is the early evening: imagine walking the deck, or sipping a cup of coffee, while watching a sunset... Perfection.

... because of Park Ha-yarkon

Ha-yarkon ("greenish" in Hebrew) park is the largest park in Tel-Aviv. It's a green paradise for strolling, jogging, biking, kids, pets, birds - just for everything and everyone.

The park is perfect when it's empty, like this quiet summer evening, and when it's overcrowded during the sunny winter weekends; at dusk and at evening; in every weather and every hour.

The park is just outside our place (this is a source of a constant pride and bragging :), so we see it practically every morning. This is one of my favorite places in the city.