Jaffa/Yafo/Joppa

Another beautiful day - up to 24 C. From Greek mythology (Perseus rescues Andromeda) to Jonah being swallowed by a fish after leaving this port, Jaffa has ancient history. It was the seaport between Alexandria on Africa's northern shore and the East/Orient. It was fought over and conquered by Egypt in 1468 BCE when soldiers hid in clay pots/ gifts to the Princess brought inside the city walls. King David took it around 1000 BCE from the Philistines, and it was the main Judean port until King Herod built Cesarea. The Apostle Peter had a vision here about inclusion of Gentiles/lifting dietary laws. Crusaders made an appearance in the 12th C.; Napoleon arrived around 1800 and was given hospitality by a Jewish family - but for most of modern history, this was an Arab city. Jews left here to start Tel Aviv - but in 1948 many Arabs fled conflict and the ruined area was officially made part of Tel Aviv's municipality. In the late 1960's a restoration was begun and the rundown ruins transformed into today's artist/tourist/residential area along the Mediterranean. I joined a guided tour by a city resident who loves the mixture of people and the redevlopment efforts. She took our group through back alleys and opened our eyes to historic features. I stayed in the port and had a lovely fish dinner; walked down to the regentrification area in Adjamai; visited the Franciscan Church; admired the art in public places and enjoyed this place that so many have coveted. Evidently a multi-millionaire Muslim family from here exports pita bread to Massachusetts. So many cultural connections! I walked back to my hostel along the sea - got my swimsuit and went swimming/wave bobbing - ahhh.