NETANYA

Fittingly, the emblem of this top tourist resort is the lily of the Sharon, recalling the Song of Songs, ``I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley'' (Cant. 2:1).

Originally planned as a citrus-growing centre and named in honour of the American philanthropist Nathan Strauss, Netanya has instead developed on the strength of its inherent beauty. It is extremely popular with tourists and Israelis. They come for the invigorating sea breezes that waft in from below the cliffs on which Netanya is perched.

Netanya also boasts the finest landscaped promenade in the country, from which flights of steps lead down to the beaches with breakwaters that have broken the strip of sand into quiet bays, artificially curved by the force of the waves breaking on stone walls out at sea.

Rehov Herzl, the main street, leads up to the Tourist Information Office, the sleek war memorial and the promenade it is the magnetic centre of Netanya and is crammed with restaurants (Oriental, European, Chinese, Sea Food, etc.) and boutiques and shops offering exotic fruits, clothing, jewellery and so on. Part of it is a pedestrian mall. On Friday and Saturday nights it is packed to overflowing as Netanyanites indulge in their favourite pastime of strolling down the sidewalks. Visitors also take rides in colourful horse-driven carriages.

Located on the Mediterranean coast of the Sharon Plain, 25 km. north of Tel Aviv, Netanya enjoys sea breezes and a gentle sun for most of the year. Winters are temperate and not as wet as in the north. Its population, 130,000, is greatly augmented by vacationers, almost throughout the year.

As the seat of the regional government, Netanya has attracted a number of industries, notably diamond cutting and polishing. This is a good opportunity to see the craftsmen at work as guided tours are offered and at certain places reductions are given for on-the-spot factory purchases.

The Tourist Information Office: Atzmaut Square - Opening hours Sun. - Thurs. 8.30 a.m. - 6.00 p.m., Fri., 9 a.m. - 12 noon May-October 8.30 a.m. - 10 p.m. ``Meet the Israeli at home'' - details at the Tourist Information Centre. Room-renting service available at the Tourist Information Centre.

Netanya City Hall: Tel Hai St.
Central Bus Station: 3 Benjamin Blvd.
Central Post Office: 57 Herzl St.

Moshav Avihail, 2 km. north of Netanya, was founded by veterans of the Jewish Legion of World War I and has a museum. Open: Sun. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Entrance fee.

The Pearl of the Tribes of Israel (Pninat Shivte Israel). Folklore centre of Yemenite culture. 7 Kikar Ha'atzmaut (3rd floor). Tel. (09)331325. Open Sun.-Fri. 10.00 a.m. - noon.

The Iris Reserve. From end of January till April. Ben-Gurion Blvd. (southern exit centre of Netanya, 1 km. after ``Bet Goldmintz'').

Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sport: (6.5 miles from centre of Netanya). Israel's National Centre for training national teams and visiting sports groups from abroad. It has an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, a stadium with a 400 metre running track, five gymnasia, sports fields, halls of residence, sports hotel, computerised library, dining rooms and cafeterias. The Institute also houses the Israel Archives of Physical Education and Sports and the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Botanical Garden (Chavat Hanoy): Near the agricultural school ``Midreshet Ruppin'' (several kilometres from centre of town). Open Sun.-Thur. 7.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m. Fri. till 1.00 p.m. Bus 26.

Two kilometres from the Sharon Junction, turn right to Ruppin College and The Sharon Museum, which has prehistoric archaeological exhibits which emphasize the ``development of man'' and ``man and his works.'' In the Natural History Museum there is an exhibit of butterflies and insects a large collection of waterfowl, birds of prey and songbirds reptiles and mammals, skeletons and skulls dioramas of natural habitats, swamp life, and sand dunes and forests and a collection of water life from local lakes and the Mediterranean. Open Sun.-Thurs. 8.30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-2.30 p.m.

Back on the highway, you'll find that the cultivated area bordering the road suddenly gives way to sand dunes and the sea appears very soon. You could turn right to the Pancake House and continue through this exit to Mikhmoret, where there is a fish restaurant by the roadside and a good bathing beach, and then, 46 km. away from Tel Aviv, follow the signpost directing you right for Caesarea. The road makes a U-turn and leads under the bridge of the Haifa Highway No. 2 towards the sea.

Take care to drive slowly as the sand dunes are as thick as any in the Negev and the sea breezes frequently blow sand across the road, making skidding a certainty.
The road leads to the entrance of Caesarea's National Park and Kibbutz Sedot Yam (fields of the sea) founded in 1940. The kibbutz has beach facilities and guest rooms at its resort centre ``Kayit Ve'Shayit''