Haifa

Haifa is Israel’s third city on the Mediterranean coastline on Mount Carmel with a population with a population of some 300,000 people. In comparison to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv it is somewhat provincial but is nonetheless an interesting city, with a few sites (not least the Baha’i Gardens), museums and galleries.

over the city

The city is multi-tiered with the port and the trendy German Colony at the bottom of Mount Carmel, the Arab community and commercial district in Wadi Nisnas and the Carmel Centre at the upper side of the mountain where the Well To Do have built quality expensive apartments.

clouds over the city

tomatoes grown locally and sold in the daily market

The Carmelit is Israel’s only Metro system which travels through all these areas for about NIS5 per journey.

Zev has an apartment in the German Colony- the trendiest place in town

We take our breakfast at the City Center Plaza at the bottom of Ben Gurion Avenue and indeed all the restaurants in the German Colony are popular.

In December Christmukkah is celebrated incorporating Eid, Christmas and Hannukah, reflecting Haifa’s multi-cultural community.

sunset over Haifa

Further up Mount Carmel lies several Druze villages which are very popular with Israelis on Saturdays.

There is also Mount Carmel monastery established in the 19^th century which offers excellent views from the top of the roof and some pleasant gardens.