Saturday, December 5, 2015

SARONA



Historical place turned into a recreational spot. Nothing  wrong with that , especially that there's due respect given to history here. It's just the trend of things nowadays  that needs to be mentioned - every available space turns into a complex of food, recreation and real estate.


Sarona is such a complex. It's new and attractive, in the city of Tel Aviv, close to main roads, with lots of parking places. It used to be an army base, and long before that a  templar  colony. (The templars were pios german christians who established an agricultural settlement on the west bank of the Ayalon river in 1871. They were exiled to Germany and Australia in 1930 by the british forces who controlled the land at that time).


main street
Visitor's Center and Info Center in the background

The complex  (see the header - guide map to visitors-  to get an idea), comprises  an indoor food market (rather crowded and stuffy for my taste) placed under several residential towers - and a fairly big open space with  little streets named after army generals , an urban park with grass lawns and flower beds, spots for picnics, for public events, and of course, children's playgrounds.


residential towers

entrance to indoor market


indoor cake stand and vegetable stand


indoor bakery products

eating indoors

 There are of course, designer shops, art galleries, resto- bars and cafeterias - housed in the  templar homes scattered around the open area.

There's also a visitor's center , an information center,  an olive oil press, an underground cave built by the templars as a wine press,  a nice W.C. structure. (I haven't seen though any cool water facilities which in summer are a must).


book store "Tzomet Sefarim"
olive oil press
"Caffeneto"
childrens' playground
picnic spot

It was a bit cloudy outside when I visited  there, and yet things around looked bright and colorful.
What I liked mostly about the place was the music diffused through some small , flat round devices in certain areas of the park. You can sit on a bench and listen to original hebrew songs on various themes. As always, music takes things to a higher level.
resting and listening to music
see the round devices on the soil , difussing music
outside the cafeteria with flowers and music

27 comments:

  1. I think this is a nice idea... of course I am not a fan of huge residential towers but in this day it's better to plan vertically so as to have more nature on the ground level. Also I prefer a residential tower or two for the people instead of a military base any time. ;)

    And those music devices... how cute is that? ^_^
    You lay back on that bench & listen to music, lovely!

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  2. I like that someone thought about music in the park!

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  3. Pink Panthress,

    There's a superb panoramic view of the city from the top of these towers. I, personally, wouldn't like to reside in a tower; there are too many problems involved. As for the music in the park - a really great idea!

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  4. Ola,

    To sum it up:
    Music, and the possibility of having a more than decent picnic in the park - are the main attractions of the place.

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  5. What a good idea to have music playing in a park, which must have a very soothing effect on people who want to take time out.

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  6. Vera,

    "...soothing effect..." indeed. I sat on a bench for some twenty minutes listening to some favorite oldies, and felt reluctant to get up and leave.

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  7. Ola querida amiga,achei lindo o lugar,e ouvir musica tocando no parque è tudo de bom que pode se querer para complementar o dia.Grande abraço.SU

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  8. Suzane Weck,

    Hi querida ,Suze

    I'm not surprised that you , being a singer ,find that music in a beautiful park nicely complements our day. Anyone would agree with you on this.

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  9. Jennifer A. Jilks,

    Green is beautiful, whether it's in a simple natural forest, or in a man-made park.

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  10. Duta, Happy Hanukkah, and spin the dreidel hope you get a gimmel.
    I never knew how beautiful Tel Aviv is.That complex we call a Mall. They are everywhere here, not as nice. It looks like NYC. Never saw an olive press, they said on the news the trees have some kind of blight. They could grow Mushrooms in the cave. Well I took my Daughter to Boston for 3 days and took my walker (Thank God) I was so worn out when I got home I stayed in bed for a whole day.
    Loved your post. Yvonne

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  11. I so enjoyed this post, and to think, MUSIC in the park on a regular basis. I love it!

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  12. La Petite Gallery,

    Hannukah's over, but thanks anyway. Sarona is a beautiful addition to the city of Tel-Aviv, and sure worth a visit. Hope You've "recovered" from your trip to Boston, and all's well now.

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  13. Linda O'Connel,

    Thank you for enjoying my post; that's a big compliment for me.
    Yes, music usually doesn't fail our expectations.

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  14. A great place I love the indoor market and the book store and the outdoor coffee place and I also love children's playground. That's were children should be instead of behind there computers as that's where they develop.
    The picnic spot is attractive as well. Could be my place to live as long as it isn't in one of these towers. In Christchurch there are hardly any and most are collapsed in and after the earthquake

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  15. Marja,

    I agree with you that children should be more outoors than indoors behind computers.Yes, and I would also not be happy to live in one of the towers.

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  16. This is so nice to see all these pics and read the history! It seems like everywhere is becoming like these towers, food courts etc

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  17. Kim,

    Thank you. Indeed, that's the trend nowadays: complex of towers, food courts, shops, restaurants... People seem to adjust to everything that comes.


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  18. Dear Duta, here's wishing you and family a very Happy 2016.
    Wish for you Peace on Earth, Good health, lots of love and happiness
    an a Prosperous 2016 love yvonne

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  19. La Petite Gallery,

    Thanks Yvonne.
    Wishing you too a happy new calendaric year, 2016!

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  20. Happy New Year!
    Be healthy and happy!
    My best wishes from Romania!

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  21. Daliana Pacuraru,

    Thank you.
    Happy New Year to you too!

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  22. Sending you best wishes for an amazing 2016, may it be everything you imagine it to be. Happy New Year!

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  23. Angelina Pratt.

    Thanks Angelina. May 2016 be your best year ever!

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  24. The view from those residential towers must be amazing! As always it looks so clean and well maintained. I wish California was as clean, it seems we have a lot of littering in our state and it saddens me that people don't have respect for public or private lands and venues. Happy New Year DUTA!

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  25. Alicia,

    It's not that people here are more careful about littering; it's just that the mayor , every mayor, knows that his 'chair' depends on how well the city is cleaned daily by his employees at the sanitation department.
    Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  26. Again Duta you share photos and history that is very nice and pleasant to see and read. I have not posted late as the Christmas and New Year Holidays have been longer with family and friends. Mostly family. I loved to see them come but loved it more when they left. I hope your New Year is going well and you stay healthy and happy. Peace

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  27. Lady Di Tn,

    Thanks for the compliment and for the New Year blessings.
    I wish you too a happy and healthy 2016 year.

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