Tel Aviv is often referred to as "The White City" because of the Bauhaus architecture that dominates its urban center. Bauhaus is pretty much the same as what is referred to as 'International Style" elsewhere. Simple, boxy, all-white homes, stores, and apartment buildings were constructed everywhere in Tel Aiv starting in the 1930s. Tel Aviv itself was established in 1909, making it one of the newest large cities in the world. Jewish immigrants working in nearby Jaffa designed a city that would welcome Jews returning to Palestine from around the world. Today, the Bauhaus buildings are mostly in disrepair. They were hurriedly built for people who didn't have a lot of money. The original white exteriors are mostly a muddy gray due to years of discoloration by sand and dust. The entire stock of 5,000 Bauhaus structures have been declared historically significant, and many are being restored. We took a guided walking tour along leafy Rothschild Boulevard yesterday and saw many of the best example.
The temperatures in Tel Aviv yesterday were supposed to rise to the upper 80s F. Instead, the heat topped out at 97 degrees. It seemed like everyone headed to the beach, and we were among the throngs trying to find a small plot of sand by the sea. The water itself was chilly but refreshing. Leroy and I have now swum in "The Med," "The Red," and "The Dead." No doubt we will be back at the beach today and tomorrow if the heat wave continues as predicted. Last evening we took a long stroll on the Promenade by the sea. Since Tel Aviv faces west, the view of the sun setting was fantastic.