The Wishing Bridge!
We began our walk to Jaffa from Tel Aviv early in the morning. There's a beautiful promenade right along the beach that leads right to the main square of Jaffa. I was already feeling better. It felt great with the sun to our left and the sea to our right. When we entered Jaffa, it was like a trip back in time. Compared to the bustling city of Tel Aviv, the little village of Jaffa was so calm, so quiet. We walked through the main square, checking out the buildings, the churches, and the statues. We found the wishing bridge, and we both took the time to make a wish. All you have to do is find your zodiac sign on the bridge, touch it, look out over the sea, and make a wish. It was a perfect day to do so, you could see the sea for miles.
View from the Wishing Bridge
As our hunger grew, we found a cute little restaurant and ordered up some hummus and kebab. I loved hummus before I left, but after having it in the Middle East, the stuff back home isn't good enough anymore!
Jaffa has been around since the early days of the bible. It's said the city was founded by Japeth, the son of Noah. Around 6000 years ago, the city was captured by the Egyptians, and there are some Egyptian ruins still intact in the city. This was neat to see knowing that we would be in Egypt in a few weeks! At one point, a large whale statue caught our eye. We discovered that this was in honor of the prophet Jonah, who set sail here before he was swallowed. Jaffa was the perfect place to spend a morning and an afternoon!
This ancient city is a beautiful 30 minute walk along the Mediterranean Sea from the bustling city of Tel Aviv. During this stunning walk, you can feel yourself going back in time to the days long before even Jesus walked the earth. Upon reaching the city, head up to the top of the hill and enjoy the views over the Mediterranean. Look for the egyptian ruins from the era that Egypt ruled the area. A pink church and palm trees will dot your view as you walk onto the Wishing Bridge. Make sure you follow the instructions and make a wish! After that, grab some pita and hummus at one of the small local restaurants before checking out the statue of the whale that swallowed Jonah whole shortly after he set out from the port. Note that the whale is not life size! End your time in Jaffa by walking along the port before heading back to Tel Aviv. They say the rock that Andromeda was chained to in mythology is still offshore. Jaffa is a nice change of pace from Tel Aviv and well worth the walk. Plan to spend at least a good 1/2 day there!
View from the Wishing Bridge
