The trees of Haifa: a morning discovery walk
I woke up early today, just as the sun was starting to peek over Mount Carmel. The view from my hotel window framed the city perfectly – layers of buildings cascading down the hillside toward the Mediterranean. At 7:30, I headed out for my morning coffee ritual, finding a small café already open near the German Colony. The owner recognized me from yesterday and nodded as I entered.
"Good morning! Coffee?" she asked, already reaching for a cup.
"Yes, please. And maybe some recommendations for good places to see trees in Haifa?" I asked, pulling out my small notebook.
She looked at me curiously. "Trees?"
I nodded, a bit sheepishly. "I like to see the local trees wherever I go."
She smiled and pointed toward the hills. "Then you must visit the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Their campus has many beautiful trees, including some very old ones. It's on Mount Carmel, maybe 20 minutes by bus."
After finishing my coffee (which was surprisingly good, rich and smooth), I decided to take her advice. I caught the 8:15 bus heading up Mount Carmel, arriving at the Technion campus by 8:35. The campus was already bustling with students hurrying to morning classes.
What struck me immediately was the diversity of trees – a mix of Mediterranean natives and carefully cultivated specimens from around the world. I spent nearly two hours wandering the grounds, photographing particularly interesting specimens. The stone pines were magnificent, with their umbrella-like canopies spreading wide above me. But what truly captured my attention was a massive Aleppo pine near the main entrance – its trunk gnarled and twisted from decades (maybe centuries) of growth, its needles a soft blue-green against the cloudy sky.
I sat beneath it for a while, watching students pass by. Some looked at me curiously – a foreign visitor clearly entranced by a tree they probably walked past every day without notice.
The campus arboretum was particularly impressive, featuring labeled specimens from various ecosystems. I photographed several varieties of oak and cypress, and even spotted a few eucalyptus trees that reminded me of ones I'd seen months ago in another country.
By 10:30, I found myself back in the city center, the breeze picking up as forecast. The temperature hovered around 15°C – a pleasant winter day by local standards, though I was still comfortable in just a light jacket. The clouds were thickening, matching the weather prediction of mostly cloudy conditions for the day.
I'm now sitting at a small café near my hotel, planning the rest of my day. Tomorrow I'll be leaving Haifa, continuing my journey along the coast. My bus ticket is already booked for the morning. Part of me wishes I could stay longer – there's still so much to explore in this fascinating city with its blend of cultures and religions.
Perhaps I'll use my remaining time to visit the Bat Galim Promenade. I haven't made it there yet, and I'd like to see the Mediterranean up close before I leave. The café owner mentioned it's particularly beautiful in the evening light, though with the cloudy forecast, I might be better off going this afternoon.
As I sit here looking at my tree photographs, I realize how this journey continues to surprise me. I came to Haifa expecting to be most impressed by the famous Bahá'í Gardens (which were indeed spectacular), but instead found myself captivated by a university campus arboretum that wasn't even on my original list of places to visit.
That's the beauty of allowing room for spontaneity, I suppose. With 359 days still ahead of me, I wonder how many more unexpected discoveries await.
Time to close my laptop and head out again – the day is still young, and I want to make the most of my last full day in Haifa.