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Eats in Tel Aviv: Pasha

Today we wrap up Jaunted contributor Sedona's culinary trek through Tel Aviv. Don't worry, she is still hitting the gym to work it all off! We hope her recommendations have inspired your tastebuds.

Try Turkish in Tel Aviv? It sounded like a tongue twister to us, but we jumped on the opportunity to sit down to the swankiest version of Kosher Turkish food in town at Pasha. One of a two-restaurant chain (the other, original branch is in Jerusalem), Pasha is decked out in Asian decor, but serves authentic Turkish dishes. It's family style, so sit back and down kebobs of all kinds mixed with rices, soups, dips, and veggies that continue to keep coming. The eggplant dip is deliciously smoky and the koftes (meat dumplings) were spiced and perfectly shaped.

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Eats in Tel Aviv: Dr Shakshuka's

Jaunted contributor Sedona recently spent a week in Tel Aviv, and happily ate her way through the city so she could share her picks with you.

After a morning walk through the extensive flea markets of Tel Aviv's port city, Jaffa, don't shortchange yourself with a standard falafel that's easily gettable at any nearby stand. Instead, head to the Doctor's--Dr. Shakshuka's that is.

Serving traditional (Kosher) Libyan and Moroccan cuisine, Dr. Shakshuka's is like stepping into a family's house for a meal. Long wooden tables line the indoor and outdoor eating areas and guests are encouraged fill them, mingle and try everything.

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Eats in Tel Aviv: The Carmel Market

Jaunted contributor Sedona recently spent a week in Tel Aviv, and happily ate her way through the city so she could share her picks with you.

We're major fans of visiting open-air markets while traveling, and Tel Aviv's got one of the best: The Carmel Market, at the intersection of Allenby, Nahalat Binyamin, King George and Sheinkin Streets. Make sure you set aside ample time to stroll through the hundreds of stalls where you can pick up everything from sunhats to nuts to nougats to spices, fruits, coffee and more.

Skip the "Clothing Only" section at the start (unless you are looking for overpriced Levi's) and walk towards Sheinkin Street for a great path through all the food stands. The Mediterranean produce is amazing and cheap and vendors are happy to comply with taste-testing for potential buyers.

We scored ourselves some delish burekas (traditional breakfast bites with filling) and fresh strawberries to take to the beach later.

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Eats in Tel Aviv: Benjamin Siegel Bistro & Bar

Jaunted contributor Sedona recently spent a week in Tel Aviv, which is throwing itself a year-long fiesta in honor of its 100th birthday. She headed to the Holyland expecting seven days of hummus, pita and falafel but she left pleasantly surprised by the city's fabulous food scene. This week she's filling us in on her favorite picks, none of which involve chickpeas.

Benjamin Siegel Bistro & Bar is neatly tucked into the Opera Tower (above) on Tel Aviv's famous beachfront promenade and it's a great alternative to the fast-food shacks and stands along the water. And yes, it was named for the famous Las Vegas mobster, Bugsy Siegel. (Something to do with the desert, say the owners.)

The decor is on the Baroque side with plenty of twinkly crystals and interesting knickknacks to keep it from being too dark. Also, the atmosphere's more on the elegant side, so don't wander in with sandy flip-flops.

Prices aren't cheap (around $20 for an entree) but the daily fish specials are worth it, prepped to order with a Mediterranean bent (usually a special sauce or dip). We say get there early and watch the sunset with a signature cocktail. Later on, a DJ will spin some tunes giving you the best of the both worlds.

The restaurant is open Sunday-Thursday from 12:30pm to 1am, Fridays from 9:30am to 2am and Saturdays from 9:30am to 1am.

Related Stories:
· Benjamin Siegel [Official Site]
· Where Does Bar Refaeli Dine When She's Home in Tel Aviv? [Jaunted]
· The secrets of a successful bar [Jerusalem Post] [Photo: hanneorla]

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Marathon on the Mediterranean

One of the most-covered travel stories over the past few years has been the rise of voluntourism and do-gooder vacations. But we've also noticed an uptick in do-good-for-yourself vacations—scheduling a trip around a big athletic event like a marathon or bike race.

So as spring marathon season swings into full gear, we'll be looking at some of the marquee 26-milers around the world (especially the ones in places we love to visit).

Coming up on April 24 is a somewhat surprising entry—the Tel Aviv Marathon. The race is back after a 15-year hiatus, starting up again as part of this Israeli city's centennial celebration. The marathon course is appealing for anyone who wants to get a good look at this diverse city—it winds through the Old City and Park HaYarkon, ending along Tel Aviv's main draw—the stunning Mediterranean beachfront. The race, which also includes 5K and 10K versions, is expected to bring 15,000 runners.

Related Stories:
· Run the Tel Aviv Marathon for 100 years of history [Israel 21c]
· Marathons coverage [Jaunted]
· Israel travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: vacilamos]

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Kutiman Travel: Tel Aviv Music Master Taps YouTube Talent from Around the World

Man, ever since I discovered Kutiman last Thursday, I can not stop watching his amazing collection of videos. Normally I try to curb my enthusiasm when the latest meme catches afire, but this guy is simply amazing and deserves all the viral fame he's getting. Kutiman is the pen name for Ophir Kutiel, a Tel Aviv-based musician and producer who recently spent three months deconstructing YouTube clips in his bedroom and creating a series of music videos that literally tap the best talent that can be found on the web. The resulting mash-up is nothing short of astounding, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the featured artists - and Kutiman himself - soon found themselves on the top of the musical game.

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Hillary Clinton Can Check Her E-mail at Ben Gurion Airport

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport on Monday to meet with leaders of Israel's political parties. Despite being continually dogged by accusations of low safety standards, including a recent salvo from the European Aviation Safety Agency, Ben Gurion International continues to welcome high-profile and high-security guests like the Pope, who's scheduled to pass through there May 11 en route to say a papal mass in Nazareth

We don't know if she immediately made a pit stop in order to see if her boss Barry sent her some TPS reports to fill out, but she could have using the free WiFi in Terminal 3. Whether you're the public face of a world power or just the CEO of your own life, let us know which airports are best for business and we'll add 'em to our Airport WiFi map.

Related Stories:
· Clinton arrives in Israel on first visit as top US diplomat [AFP via Google]
· EASA may ban Israeli flights into Europe [Port2Port.com]
· Vatican picks Nazareth as venue for papal mass [Haaretz]
· Airport WiFi Map [Jaunted]

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Where Does Bar Refaeli Dine When She's Home in Tel Aviv?

Tel Aviv is Israel's largest city and the center of the country's secular life. The residents recline on glistening beaches. They dance in bustling clubs. They shop in skyscraper malls. And every morning they sit on Freeway 2 and share one of the Middle East's worst commutes with two million of their closest friends.

In between all that, they still found time to give unto the world Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Bar Refaeli. Let us pause and give thanks.

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Airport Security: Has Our Shoe Salvation Arrived?

Could this be what we've all been waiting for? Israel's Ben-Gurion International has added a gizmo called MagShoe to its security checkpoints in Terminal 3, meaning some passengers will be able to leave their shoes on.

MagShoe specifically scans the feet and ankles of fliers, and while it doesn't sniff for explosives, it can presumably detect batteries and wires packed into the heels of a potential bomber's kicks. (It picks up both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, though the manufacturer says the device "ignores metal normally found inside shoes to reduce false alarms.")

A foot scan with MagShoe takes only two seconds, which is substantially less time than it takes us to horn our shoes back on while juggling our laptop after clearing a TSA checkpoint.

Related Stories:
· About MagShoe [Official Site]
· Lulz with the TSA [Jaunted]
· TSA Testing New Shoes-on Technology [Jaunted]

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Paranoid Travel: McCartney Visits Israel with a Little Help From His 5,000 Friends

Talk about an entourage! Paul McCartney played his first ever show in Israel last night to a crowd of 50,000--not including the 5,000 security guards he hired to guard Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park for the show.

Sir Paul opened the show with "Hello Goodbye" after a full day of visits to a local music school (where his attempt to play the violin made children merry) and Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. Of course, with 5,000 guards, he probably had a very large presence in the country, from which The Beatles were disinvited in 1965.

That beefed-up security probably made him feel safer, but it had to attract a lot of attention when McCartney was in Israel. Who is better to travel with: 5,000 security personnel or a few well-placed ninjas?

Related Stories:
· Fab McCartney Wows Israel [The Jerusalem Post]
· Sir Paul McCartney Shacks up at Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv [HC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Bruce's MidEast Soundbites]

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Berlin Artists Risk Scalps For Art

Want to pay to watch a room full of people sitting in a room, scratching their heads because they've got lice? Now you can! An exhibition at the Museum of Bat Yam near Tel Aviv has just that.

Although it sounds totally random, and not exactly enticing, there is some reasoning behind this bizarre display. The museum wanted a display exploring the theme of hosts and guests, and so seven young artists from Berlin came up with the idea of the museum hosting them, while they in turn hosted head lice, for three weeks. And unsurprisingly:

The group acknowledged that living with lice was uncomfortable, but said it was worth it for the sake of art.

It's kind of like Big Brother, with lice. A catchy concept? Probably not, but you might catch the lice.

Related Stories:
· Are Lice Art? [Reuters]
· Israel Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Museums coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: pshab]

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New Year Travel: This Year In Israel

This week the Chosen People among us celebrated the turning of a new year, Rosh Hashanah. Kabbalist (and Mr. Madonna) Guy Ritchie took some time out to head for the Mediterranean Sea.

He's probably just running on the beach between trips to the synagogue, but any time is a good time for the beach. Starting the year 5768 well rested, care of the Tel Aviv InterContinental Hotel? Now that is sweet. (At least until Southwest Airlines makes you put your shirt on.)

The plans of the people we know who were celebrating included "going home for dinner," "going to temple" and "sleeping in." We must not know enough celebrities, otherwise we would know the only way to ring in a New Year is in Israel!

Related Stories:
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Tel Aviv Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: Just Jared]