Long Thing about Fridays.
Oh boy, my weekend is about to start....
But, I didn't tell you guys, yet, about the oddity of Friday Morning in Tel Aviv.
On Thursday night things start to get calmer. By the time Friday morning has come, the whole city feels quieter and lazier as it prepares for Saturday.
As some of you may be aware, Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath. In traditional Jewish time keeping a day is sunset to sunset. At sunset the new day begins (Which is why Jewish Holidays all seem to start the 'day before' the official holiday).
I live near a fairly busy intersection- certainly not the busiest in Tel Aviv, but it's right down the street from the Central Bus Station. Friday morning sees fewer buses. They relax the schedule, since traditionally people have Friday off in the Israeli work week. Your standard '9-5' would work from Sunday to Thursday.
Friday, though. It's like the whole city relaxes. Breathes out, prepares for Saturday. The whole city feels different. You have to experience it, at least once. Imagine if New York or London had like 1/3rd the traffic heading down one of their busy streets, just because it was Friday.
No buses run on Saturday. The garbage man goes by, but that's the heaviest vehicle that zips by my apartment window that faces the street. There are a lot fewer vehicles.
And my entire body is used to it. I sleep deeper on Fridays.
It really is a magical experience. I hope you all get to check it out sometime.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@cm It's not something I noticed at first. It's something I just sort of came to realize as I lived here... this city breathing a sigh.
And some of them are Jewish, some of them aren't. City services have to run every day.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@Surasanji Yeah, you have to get a feel for the workings of a city -- like in Vienna where it is extremely noticeable when everybody is on vacation in summer, streets are empty...
Regarding city services -- I'm pretty sure in Vienna the regular garbage services (picking up bins etc) don't work on weekends, of course they do for events where they need to clean up.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@cm I love Tel Aviv, but South Tel Aviv where I live? Friggin' filthy. It needs the daily services.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@Surasanji We did some "let's not take a taxi, can't be that far" walks in TLV, but I haven't had the impression of it being that filthy -- so don't feel bad about your city. I could show you parts of Vienna that the tourism bureau certainly wouldn't like to be seen, and Berlin hasn't got enough money to even clear the snow from their sidewalks even on Alexanderplatz in the very center.
To me, what stood out as bad in Tel Aviv was the traffic.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@cm Yeah. Traffic here is a nightmare- I'm so happy not to drive. I do love Tel Aviv, though... I just live in the area close to the Old Bus Station. They're working on cleaning up the area, but it's slow going..
Over all Tel Aviv is beautiful.
Now, Vienna- that is a world class city I'd love to explore. So much history! I've also heard that there is amazing coffee houses.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@Surasanji My impression was, even if you don't drive yourself, there are few train lines and the rest is buses which are stuck in traffic, too. You definitely need a subway for a region with 2 million people.
And yes, Vienna is great, not only for tourists, but good to live in. Also, I think, cheaper than e.g. London or Paris at least for traveling. And good public transport.
And of course the coffee houses. If you ever come over, I'll be happy to show you around.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@cm There is certainly a bit of that. However, a light rail/Subway is currently in construction. For now, the traffic is worse- I'm looking forward to it, though, because one line will basically go from just down the street from my house (About the same walk I do now to get to my bus) to more or less right in front of my job. It'll be fantastic.
Public Transport is a bit of a problem here, though, compared to some places. I grew up in the US, though, where the public transport is nearly non-existent. So, to me, Tel Aviv is still pretty good!
I'll certainly give you a heads up should I manage to come by Vienna sometime. I'm hoping to take a European vacation sometime in the next couple of years. I live close to Europe now, and it isn't overly expensive to get there from here. I should most certainly try to see some of the places I've only ever read about.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@Surasanji Anything that doesn't share space with the car traffic gridlock is definitely good news. Works pretty well in Vienna, although when weather permits, I use a motor scooter.
I've never been to the US, but I assume Tel Aviv is way more compact then most of the US, so public transport is easier.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@cm Yeah, Tel Aviv isn't that large of a city. I live just south of the center of the city, so I can walk almost everywhere within half an hour or less. I still prefer the buses in the heat, though!
The US you *have* to own a car in most places. Way too large and sprawled out.
Long Thing about Fridays.
@Surasanji That sprawl thing is a problem, definitely. Vienna has got some of it, as people tend to move to adjacent towns to built houses with gardens, and then they commute in by car (because the Vienna govt refuses to extend public transport beyond the city boundaries).
And where I am now, in my weekend house in the countryside, it's the same -- you're pretty much SOL without a car, three buses a day...
Long Thing about Fridays.
@Surasanji I've only been on business trips to Tel Aviv, so I haven't really experienced those Fridays -- but I certainly do know Israeli tech support departments are closed on fridays 😀
I do wonder about the garbage truck on saturdays -- are those workers not jewish? I remember that all the garbage men I noticed on the streets were black.
Anyways, Tel Aviv is a very nice city, and I hope I'll be able to visit again for a few days next year.