#1 Tel Aviv by day

Welcome to “Introducing Israel”, In this series, we will explore Israel and discover some hidden gems. 
I’m Arielle and I invite you to come with me on this intimate journey and transport yourself for a few minutes to this magical place.
Today we’re going to talk about my love affair with Tel Aviv. Make sure you listen all the way through, so you don’t miss any of my tips. Tel Aviv!!A vibrant, complex, micro-metropolis right on the Mediterranean Sea. Its streets are filled with charming cafes, restaurants, and bars [crowd sounds]. Here, you will taste some of the most diverse and delicious food you have ever tasted.
Tel Aviv is a perfect blend of opposites: local and foreign, city and sea, calm alleys, and busy restaurants, making it a lively city full of new world energy. 
The rich cultural Middle Eastern history mixed with high tech – A city for the present moment. 
Let me walk you through the different neighbourhoods this city has to offer starting with the Lev ha’ir quarter.Rothschild Boulevard is a wide pedestrian walkway that crosses through the city and connects all the main areas. 
You will find many Tel-Avivians at all times during the day strolling through this boulevard. Take a break at any of the countless benches and watch life go by.People pass by with their bicycles, walk their dog [barking dog], run, and simply enjoy the present moment with their friends [laughing in the distance]
The green strip of grass that flows down the middle, separating the bike lane from the walkway, has large trees providing enough shade during the midday heat to enjoy a cold coffee, a pastry, or maybe one of the freshly squeezed juices from Tamara juices.
Watch out and hold on to your coffee cup, the bikes are passing quickly!! 
 [scene music change]
There are several historical locations along the path, among them many of the architectural stunning Bauhaus buildings. Tel Aviv is home to the largest collection of Bauhaus-inspired buildings with approximately 4000 of them – that’s where the nickname “The White City” comes from. Here are some facts about my favorite city 
The name Tel Aviv comes from Hebrew, meaning “New Spring”  The founders gathered on the beach together and collected 66 white seashells and 66 grey seashells. Then they wrote the names of the plots on the white shells and the names of the families on the grey shells - and that’s how each family got a plot assigned and they started building - Isn’t that fascinating? How many cities do you know that were founded like this?  Here’s another (interesting) fact: Following Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv has the second largest concentration of startups -  A true startup nation.  Let’s get back to the city. Before we go further south, we have to stop briefly in Neve Tzedek. 
This is one the oldest areas of Tel Aviv, the very first neighborhood. It transformed out of nothing but dirt into a beautiful artisan district full of bakeries, cafes, art galleries, and unique designer boutiques. 
Walk around the quiet, charming, and narrow streets and enjoy the artist-like atmosphere of what feels like a little village on its own.  Stop at Anita’s and taste their pretzel-flavoured ice cream, a salty-sweet delicious treat for the midday heat. – the best Ice Cream you will find in Tel Aviv. 
Only 25 minutes walking along the beach further south we get to a very charming area known as Jaffa.