Exploring Carmel Market

It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving and I’m about to reunite with my sister and uncle in Tel Aviv!

This has been on the books for months. The timing and location worked out perfectly — my sister and I usually spend Thanksgiving with my uncle in Denver, and I happened to be in Israel around this time, where two of his friends are currently living. So it’s an day decision to rendezvous in Tel Aviv.

I snap this photo at the bus station en route to the Tel Aviv Hilton. I’m salivating over these bagels:

We catch up over a sushi dinner at the Hilton:

Here’s the view from our room by night…

… and by day:

Stunning, right?

The next morning we meet after breakfast to walk the beach, and then head inland to meet our friend Andy at Carmel Market.

A few family photos before starting our walk…

We stop briefly at the antiques and vintage market at Dizengoff Square.

I am tempted to buy all of these vintage postcards but settle for a photo.

Israeli artist Yaacov Agam designed this fountain art in his signature style, bold colors with an optical illusion twist. He also designed the facade of the Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv, and we encounter more of his work at the Tel Aviv Art Museum.

How’s this for a recycling program? Giant caged-wire boxes are large enough to hold recyclables for the entire block.

At last we’ve arrived at Carmel Market. It’s open every day of the week, but Tuesdays and Saturdays are the signature days when local artists sell crafts, jewelry, and art.

After moving through the art portion of Carmel Market, we find the food. This area is more crowded with locals doing their regular shopping and there’s a more hectic vibe. The TV series Homeland has shot scenes here in the past.

Open containers of olives, spices, grains, vegetables, and more are colorfully arranged for customers to purchase.