Jaffa

This last weekend I encouraged the boys in my family to take a little time out from all the football viewing. We drove half an hour towards the coast, to the beautiful port of Jaffa. Now part of the greater Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality, Jaffa is where the first Jewish settlers of the late 1800s and early 1900s landed when arriving in the land of Israel.
According to legend, Jaffa was named after Noah's son, Japhet, who built it after the Great Flood. There are others who believe that the name derives from the Hebrew word "Yofi" - beauty - a name entirely suited to the place.
Jaffa is the oldest and perhaps most famous of the ports along the Israel’s coast. Historians believe that it is the only port in the world which can boast uninterrupted inhabitation throughout its entire existence. Biblical accounts mention that the cedars used for the construction of King Solomon's Temple came in via Jaffa, whilst Greek legend tells of the chaining of Andromeda to the rocks facing Jaffa's shore. Roman legions, Richard the Lionheart, Napoleon and Turkish sultans all conquered the city.Today Jaffa's population is mixed, with Jews, Christians, and Muslims all living in the city, much of which has been beautifully developed, while other neighborhoods are poor and underprivileged. Culturally, Jaffa has become a place where creative types of all kinds live, work and set up shop, making its streets a maze of discovery.
We visited the Old City and enjoyed an afternoon strolling through its narrow alleys, admiring the old restored buildings, art galleries, restaurants, and promenades. We dipped our feet into the cool refreshing waters of the Mediterranean down at the port and watched the fishermen attempting to make a catch.
The afternoon ended in our usual way - ice creams for all - before we headed home, a little hot and tired, but still in time for the start of the latest World Cup game!