Open Su-Th July-Auam-5pm, Mar.-June and Sept.-Ocam4pm, and Nov.-Feam-2:30pm;
open year round F 9am-lpm, Sa 9am-3pm. Visitors may remain on the grounds 2hr. after
entrance gate closes. NIS42, students and children NIS32; with circus NIS49, students and chil-
dren NIS42; extra NIS5 charge to ride on park's bus.)
The beast-watching madness continues outside the Zoological Center in the
massive Ramat Gan National Park, which rents boats. (Open 24hr. Free.)
TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY. Home to the superb Beit Ha-Tfutzot (see Museums, 70),
the university remains Ramat Aviv's star attraction. The vast central lawn is
flanked by palm trees, well-kept memorial gardens, and Modernist sculpture.
When facing the fountains, the first building on the right is the Sourasky Central
Library. From
here, the gently sloping path leads directly to the glitzy new main gate complex on
Levanon St. The Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery, in the pink pavilion right next
to the gate, keeps its modern art collection on the cutting edge by changing it
every two months. Students give free tours
focusing on the campus's unique Bauhaus and neo-postmodern architecture every
Monday at 11am. Meet at the bookstore next to the Art Gallery. Grab a snack at the
Gilman or Law cafeterias for a peek at the student scene. (Both buildings are on the left
side of the fountain; the law school is closer to the main gate. Croissants NIS4, yogurt NIS3.50,
sodas NIS4. Bus #27 from the central bus station or bus #24 or 25 from Allenby near the shuk
go to gate #2, which leads into the central lawn.)
pa WALKS AND PARKS_
While Tel Aviv may not boast a laundry list of ancient synagogues and castles, its
historic neighborhoods supplement the short list of highlights. These turn-of-the-
century neighborhoods make perfect strolling grounds for those who wish to
escape some of the chaos of the city.
Neve Tzedek, just west of the intersection of Herzl St. and Ahad Ha-Am St. is Tel
Aviv's oldest Jewish neighborhood outside of Jaffa and one of the few with a 100-
year-old history. The area is being gradually renovated to accommodate local yup-
pies attracted to the Mediterranean-village charm of its narrow streets and stone
architecture. Happily unrenovated is Kerem Ha-Temanim (the Yemenite Quarter),
northwest of Allenby St. and King George St. near Shuk Ha-Carmel. This area
firmly maintains its village feel despite relentless sky-scraping all around it.
Those who wish to soak in the newness of Tel Aviv's culture congregate at the
waterfront promenade, where preteens neck, vendors hawk, and folk dancers strut
their stuff all night long. The wide sidewalks of Dizengoff St. are still among the
more crowded catwalks in town, though they are no longer at the peak of their
glory due to the mutant-growth of shopping arenas in the area. The young and the
restless generally roam here and on Sheinken St. while the bold and the beautiful
head uptown to the northern parts of Dizengoff St. Ibn Gvirol St. and Basel St.
Tel Aviv has a number of options for the athletically-inclined as well. East of
Namir (Haifa) Rd. (bus #25) is the Sportek , a collection of sports
fields, a jogging track, and a miniature-golf course. (Open 4-10pm. Free.) Tel Aviv-
ians crowd Ha-Yarkon Park, just across the river from Sportek, home to a little train,
water park, and bird safari. Nearby is Gan Ha-Yehoshua; barbecue some kebab and
play some matkot (paddleball), and you'll fit right in. To go to Gan Ha-Yehoshua
from the city center, take bus #47 or 48 from King George, bus #21 from Dizengoff
St. or bus #28 from the first floor of the central bus station.
Ш MUSEUMS