F&F
Haifa doesn’t really qualify as a cruise destination. Certainly it has one extremely conveniently located pier at almost center of the harbor, center of the city. Considering how realistically paranoid the Israelis – getting through security was actually easier than most TSA screenings. But really, Haifa is simply a busy working port that doubles as a Navy base with a side of tourism.
The center of the city, the old German Colony (think Templars) and most locations are easily walkable. What is not walkable – like the beach or the top of the Bahai Gardens are reachable by free shuttle tour bus. Said bus, all one of it, makes a 90 minute loop with a few stops here and there. Take it partway then catch the next loop. What no one tells you is that there is nothing stable about either the route or the opening times of various exhibitions or museums.
Since this is a working port, most of the retail locations near the port are devoted to everyone getting off the ships. This means F&F. Food and Fashion for those of you whose minds went in another direction. Tons of small eateries via for sidewalk space with second hand clothing, discount shops and the occasional sea related specialty store (selling rope, GPS, sun block and electronics for entertainment as well as clips, pulleys and anchors).
The population total is under 300k according to the literature provided. The population has shifted from the 50/50 Jewish-Arab mix of prior to WWII (yes, before the founding of Israel) to 96% Jewish Israelis, most of whom are of Russian origin either recently or within the last couple of generations.
We will be here through tomorrow before hitting another day at sea.
Pictures later – I have limited band with here.
What you don’t see are many kippot, black hats, or stores with religious paraphernalia.
RSS
I ‘ve been to Haifa but it was a long time ago. One of the kids–either Adam or Matthew was in Israel for a year. I remember liking Haifa.
Did you find anything interesting in the 2nd hand shops? I hope you are having good weather. Did you get to the Baha’i Gardens? They look spectacular with a lot of good photo ops.
I went looking for what else F&F might have meant, since I was baffled
by the reference. Not that my head went in another direction, but more
that it stopped short, and went, “Hunh?” Then when I looked them up, I
still went, “Hunh?”
F&F Friends and Family (mobile phones)
F&F Fast and the Furious (movie)
F&F Fox and Friends (TV show)
F&F Full and Final (settlement)
F&F Forgive and Forget
F&F Furniture & Fixtures
F&F France and Flanders
F&F Fit and Finish
F&F Florence and Fred (UK clothing brand)
F&F Fire & Forget
F&F Fuzing and Firing
F&F Fix and Follow Vision
F&F Feetsinkers & Friends
F&F 1st and 15th Entertainment (record label)
F&F Fixtures and Fittings
F&F Flavor and Fragrance
;)
How long will you be in Haifa? I know you always find things of interest to do. One place we enjoyed (my friend and I) was the Museum of Clandestine immigration and naval history. We also did the complete walk down the Bahai gardens (wrecked my big toes and knee took a hit as well, but so beautiful). So much to see in Haifa I’m sure you’ll be more than busy.