CABLE CARS. A more scenic, but also more expensive alternative for getting
from bottom to top and back again is to take the Rakbal cable cars .
Colloquially known as "the Carmel's Eggs" for their ellipsoidal shape, the cable
cars run down the Carmel's northwestern slope, shuttling between the orange-
and-turquoise Yotvata B'lr dairy restaurant on the Bat Galim Promenade and the
Stella Maris monastery area at the mountain's peak. To Bat Galim, take bus #41 or
42; to Stella Maris take #25 or 26. (Open daily 9am-midnight in summer, 9am-7pm
in winter; NIS16, round-trip NIS22.)
В ORIENTATION_
Situated on a small peninsula, Haifa rises from the Mediterranean coast up the
steep, northern slopes of Mt. Carmel. It calls itself the "gateway of the North" for
good reason; the cliffs of Rosh Ha-Nikra (and the Lebanon border) are less than
US Consulate: 26 Ben-Gurion St. in Hadar. Call Su-Th 9am-lpm (call first). In an emergency,
call (03) 519 73 70.
Currency Exchange: Any post office will exchange money without charging a commmis-
sion. Also, no-commission services cluster around Palmer Sq. by the port, and by the
Gan Ha-Eim Carmelit stop. Banks generally charge a commission: minUS$6, maxl5%
Bank Ha-Poalim, 1 Ha-Palyam Blvd. Currency exchange open M-Th
8:30am-2:30pm. F 8:30am-ll:30am. Bank Leumi, 21 Yafo St. , in the
new Ha-Meginim Tower (other branches throughout the city). Currency exchange open M-
Th 8:30am-2:30pm and F 8:30am-noon.
American Express: Meditrad Lt Ha-Yam St. Client Letter Service
available. Open Su-Th 8:30am-5pm, F 8:30am-12:30pm.
local services
Shopping Hours: Most shops open Su-Th 8:30am-l:30pm and 4-7pm, F 8:30am-lpm,
and some open on Sa 8-1 lpm. Larger stores and malls usually open 8:30am-7pm.
English Bookstores: Steimatzky, 16 Herzl St. , has a large collection of
paperbacks, magazines, and travel books. (Open Su-Th 8:30am-7pm, F 8:30am-2pm).
Books, 5 Sirkin St. , one block below the Yehiel St. and Ha-Halutz St.
intersection. Buys and sells used books in a variety of languages, English included.
Film Developing: Photo-center, 1 Herzl S5min. developing available
for NIS45 plus NISI per picture. Open Sa-Th 8:30am-7:30pm, F 8:30am-2:30pm.
Camping Supplies: Ha Metayel, 2 Balfour St. , next to ISSTA. Open Su-M
and Th 9am-7pm, Tu 9am-6pm, W 9am-2pm, F 9am-lpm. Also located on the 2nd floor
of the central bus station.
Ticket Offices: Haifa Municipal Theatre, puts on everything from classic
Neil Simon to edgy new Israeli playwrights. There are also general ticket offices for an
array of plays, musicals, and concerts. Haifa, 11 Baerwald St. Open
Su-W 9am-lpm and 4-7pm, Th-F 9am-lpm. Garber, 129 Ha-Nassi Blvd. («838 47
77). Open Su-Th 9am-lpm and 4-7pm, F 9am-2pm. Nova, 15 Nordau St. («866 52
72). Open Su-M and W-Th lOam-lpm and 4-6:30pm, Tu lOam-lpm, F 10am-l:30pm.
Laundry: Wash and Dry, 5 Ha-Yam Rd. , in Carmel Center. NIS12 for up to
7kg; NISI per minute to dry. Open Su-M 8:30am-5:30pm, Tu 8:30am-3pm, W-Th
8:30am-5:30 pm, F8:30am-2pm.
Swimming Pools: Maccabee Pool, 19 Bikurim St. , in Central Carmel.
Heated and covered in winter. Open Su, Tu, and Th 6am-2pm and 4-10pm, M and W
6am-2pm and 6:30-10pm, F 6am-2pm and 4-6pm. NIS40. The Dan Panorama Hotel,
107 Ha-Nassi Blvd. , has a pool open to the public Su-F 7am-5pm, Sa
7am-2pm and 4-5pm. NIS40. Technion Pool , has a 50m pool and a
sauna, in addition to a few smaller pools. NIS45; 12-visit pass NIS450. Open Su and Th
6am-llpm, M and W 6am-8pm, Tu 6am-10pm, F and Sa 6am-6pm.
emergency and communications
Emergency: First Aid: 6 Yitzhak Sadeh St. Police: 28 Jaffa St. Emotional First Aid
, open 24hr. English spoken.
Pharmacies: Ha-Halutz, 12 Ha-Halutz St. , in Hadar. Open Su-Th 8:30am-
lpm and 4-7pm, F8:30am-lpm. Merkaz, 130 Ha-Nassi Blvd. , in Car-
mel Center. Open Su-Th 8am-7pm, F 8am-2pm.
Hospitals: Rambam , 47 Golomb
St. ; Herzliya Medical Center
(HMC), 15 Horev St.