Jerusalem vs. Tel Aviv: the ultimate showdown

I went into Tel Aviv today for a few hours to go to the artist's market one more time. Strolling along Allenby in the center of the city I realized how much more I liked Jerusalem.

I knew that cities have different personalities but never was it more obvious than today. Tel Aviv is very much the Israeli version of New York:

1- It's crowded

2- It's dirty

3- Public buses congest the streets and strongly discourage use of private cars (similar to taxis in NYC)

4- Everyone walks quickly and with a purpose

5- Stores line every street for kilometers on end

6- Save for a few small neighborhoods and specific buildings, Tel Aviv is fairly ugly.

Save for a few small neighborhoods, Jerusalem is gorgeous. Even the less afluent neighborhoods are prettier. The municipality has really made an effort to beautify the city with trees and flowers lining the streets, lots of grassy parks and sculptures. The commercial center is much, much smaller. When someone says "I'm going into town" they mean very specifically the Ben Yehudah/King George/Yaffo area where there is really the only real concentration of shops, restaurants and bars. But I think this just helps lend to Jerusalem's personality. The uniqueness of the city as an ancient and holy place is not overwhelmed by modern consumerism. Similarly, Jerusalem has managed (for the most part) to resist the pressures of modern architecture and has maintained that special atmosphere by continuing to build with Jerusalem stone and in the style prevalent to this city.

Once again, I couldn't be happier that I am ending my year in Jerusalem.