Carole Terwilliger Meyers's Blog, page 86

Sights to See: Rothschild Blvd., Tel Aviv, Israel

Founded in 1909 by Jewish immigrants, Israel's
hip coastal city is known for its arts and music scene as well as its gay and
lesbian community.  It is also famous for
its blocky 1930s Bauhaus architecture and has the world's largest concentration
of these functional buildings.  In
addition, it has a fine beach and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 











Wide Rothschild
Boulevard has a central pedestrian
path holding several landmarks, including  the
Founder’s Monument and the city’s first well (at 8 Rothschild).  Considered Tel Aviv's most beautiful street,
it was created shortly after the city was founded and is filled with eclectic-style
buildings that were popular at the beginning of the 20th century.  It is part of the area known as the White City--a
UNESCO World Heritage Site--featuring
Bauhaus buildings in the 1930s German architectural style characterized by
geometric lines and symmetry.  Restaurants and coffee houses are plentiful.  




video c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: Ein Karem, Israel

Ein Karem  +972-2-641-8682.  Just 10
minutes drive from Jerusalem, this picturesque village in the hills is the birthplace
of John the Baptist.  Today Jews and
Christians live here together, and people visit for its churches, art galleries,
and cozy restaurants.  In ancient times,
the town spring was the center of everything. 
Today Mary’s Spring, which is
said to be where the pregnant Virgin Mary stopped to drink with her also-pregnant
relative Elizabeth, is still a gathering place, though the water is no longer
drinkable.  



video c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: Nachlaot neighborhood, Jerusalem, Israel

Nachlaot
neighborhood  Located near the Mahane Yehuda market and
situated back from the main street, this very quiet residential area originated
in the 1870s.  It was one of the first
neighborhoods outside the Old City walls. 
Plaques bearing photographs of former residents are attached to many still-standing
original houses and compounds.  Today, it
is a gentrified home to many artists and musicians.  




 image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: Tulips, Holland

Want to see the spectacular annual tulip bloom in The Netherlands?  Read all about it in my article.  



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Good Eats: Shipudei HaGefen, Jerusalem, Israel

Shipudei HaGefen 74 Agripas St., near market, 02-6243030. This Jerusalem grill-style kosher restaurant roars with happy groups of people chowing down on bountiful portions of delicious appetizer salads followed by big skewers of barbecued meats. Pastries and sweet tea end the feast.



More things to do in Israel.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers  

Good Eats: Mahane Yehuda market, Jerusalem, Israel

Mahane Yehuda market open-air market is between Jaffa Rd. and Agrippas St.; covered market is along Etz Chaim St. Sun-F. This large open-air market is filled with brilliant aromatic spices and fruits, as well as yarmulkes and souvenir tchotchkes. It provides the opportunity to sample new flavors and to interact with Jewish, Muslim, and Christian vendors. Friday afternoon is super busy with shoppers stocking up for the Sabbath.



●Aroma Cafe This popular cafe is as omnipresent in Israel as Starbucks is in the U.S. A branch in NYC’s SoHo really packs ‘em in, but this location seems always to have space for more people.





●BASHER-The King of Cheese  This tiny stall stocks 1,200+ varieties of cheese from all over Europe--Manchego from Spain, Cheddar from England, sweet brown gudbrandsdalen from Norway.





●HalvaKingdom 10 & 72 Ets Hayim St., 972-54-7936805. This shop has been selling homemade kosher halva all over the world since 1947. It wins the “best” award in Turkey each year. Flavors include cinnamon, coffee, and chocolate chip.



●Marzipan Bakery This shop is world-famous for its chocolate rugelach but also makes excellent Moroccan cookies, Syrian pastries and bourekas, and phyllo pastries topped with seeds and filled with salty cheese or vegetables.



More things to do in Israel.



video and images c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Sights to See: Metropolitan Cathedral/Catedral Metropolitana, Mexico City, Mexico

Metropolitan Cathedral/Catedral Metropolitana On the Zocalo. This is the oldest and largest cathedral in Latin America. Construction began in 1567, and it took almost 250 years to complete. It features Gothic, baroque, and neoclassical architecture and is renowned for its grand altar and mammoth organ. Because the ground in this area is sinking, handeliers hang at an angle. Noon is a spectacular time to be on site for a bell tower concert (18 bells are in the east bell tower and 7 in the west tower).









video c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers



More things to do in Mexico City.

Sights to See: Centro Historico and The Zocalo, Mexico City, Mexico

After Cortes conquered the Aztecs, he ordered their temples destroyed and the Spaniards built their new capital city on top. Today Centro Historico is Mexico City's heart and historic center. Restaurants, shops, and hotels abound, and some are situated within exquisite historic buildings. Centro Historico was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.



The Zocalo/Plaza de la Constitucion at Juárez and 20 de Noviembre is Mexico's largest central square, and the world's second-largest after Moscow's Red Square. Officially known as the Plaza de la Constitución, but referred to popularly as the Zócalo, this almost 10-acre square was built over the ruins of the Aztec's biggest pyramid.



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Great Sleeps: Amberley Castle, Sussex, England

Read my article about taking a side trip out of London via train to romantic Amberley Castle in Sussex!



image c2012 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Great Sleeps: Dan Panorama Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Dan Panorama Jerusalem 39 Keren Hayesod St., 972-2-5695695. 292 rooms; 11 floors. Rooftop outdoor pool (April-Oct); fitness room; spa treatment rooms; kids' club; synagogue. Free parking. No pets. Featuring a white Jerusalem stone exterior, this well-appointed central hotel is kosher and features Shabbat elevators. Family rooms comfortably accommodate two adults and two children, and many guest rooms have a view out into the leafy white-walled neighborhood. Dining is available in the Dikla dairy restaurant, a breakfast buffet room, and the Lobby Lounge and Bar, and just around the corner Nona Chocolate Cafe (28 King David St., 02-62441290) sells luxurious kosher chocolates and cafe items.