Blogging Through Israel: Tel Aviv Markets

IT Editor Janelle Nanos is in Israel this week, and she’s (attempting to) blog when she has a few spare minutes. You can follow all of her posts here.

I love fresh produce markets, and can often be found on weekends in Washington exploring the stalls of our Eastern Market neighborhood. But in Israel, the entire scale of the market culture is much richer and alive than anything I’ve found in the U.S. Carmel Street in Tel Aviv is a perfect example, where you can find everything from “Don’t Worry Be Jewish” T-shirts to some of the most incredibly appetizing produce that I’ve seen anywhere. The smell of spices wafts through the narrow stretch of the street, and it’s crowded, so be prepared to hold your own as you make your way through. You can get a sense of what the experience is like in the video, above.

This morning, we made a point to seek out the Nahaylat Binyamin Arts and Crafts market. The street runs parallel to Carmel Market and hosts hundreds of artists every Tuesday and Friday (most Tel Avivans don’t work Fridays, we learned, so the market was quite crowded). There’s a range of items, from mezuzahs and other Judaica, but most things are beautiful and well-priced. I snagged some lovely pomegrante-shaped bowls other trinkets that were far more unique than anything I’d seen in any souvenir store. If you’re in the city and can wander over, make sure to save your shopping till then.

And if you’re looking for some truly unique finds, explore the flea market in Jaffa. Eclectic storefronts offer up furniture, old suitcases, and glassware, though it can be a bit of a toss-up in terms of what you’ll be able to find. Look for the bright yellow motorcycle parked outside my favorite shop, Palestina, which has hundreds of old tools, maps. photos, and other items that shop owner Amotz Jakoby has found in old homes throughout Israel. His shop is along Amiad Street, and you can get a fantastic glimpse of what it looks like inside here.

Photos: Janelle Nanos