Bus station
The big White Elephant has nothing to do with an animal, but there is a zoo, too.
Whazzit Tahana Markezit? You bet!
Even though there are numerous tourist attractions and unusual places in the business capital of Israel, Tel Aviv Central Bus Station definitely stands out. Locals know it as Tahana Merkazit ("central station" in Hebrew). However, its reputation is far from the one that the area and the building would like to have. Some non-native residents of Israel disparagingly say “Whazzit Tahana Markezit?”. Why did it become so infamous in the whole country?!
The thing is the size of the station is definitely not what the city needs. The construction began in the 1960s, when love for megalomania was at its peak. Later, in 1973, war broke out and the project rapidly run out of money. The building frame remained intact for a long time and started to be nicknamed “Big White Elephant”. The bus station was opened in 1993 only.
This seven-story monster-like building houses a bomb shelter, a parking lot, as well es a huge market, a cinema, a Yiddish museum and library and even a bus station! There is also too much unoccupied space. All this explains why it has become the fanciest residence for illegal migrants, mostly coming from Asia and Africa. You can imagine (or see it with your own eyes) what the interior of the building looks like now. Social life is in its full wing on floors 3 and 4. This is where you can find McDonald's logo of a gigantic size and McDonald's himself in a place that is not where you expect him to be. Take the third floor, for instance. Instead of an intended vegetable market there are only roundabouts of the remaining counters with elderly Tel Aviv citizens nearby laying out their small-wonder goods while enthusiastically engaging in a conversation in your mother tongue (in our case, it was Russian). If you go down from the third floor, you will see that there is not a single sign of life. The closer you get to the bomb shelter, the more you immerse in silence broken only by squeaking rats and occupational noise.
The authorities cannot gentrify this “elephant” because of its colossal size and maintenance costs. It is obvious that sooner or later it will be demolished, of course, in a very prudent way. In the meantime, squatters continue to flourish on all floors, being hidden from the eyes of most citizens and tourists coming to Tel Aviv.
Attention! On some floors you run the risk of stepping in human excreta. Or be enchained in lingering aromas. Mind your step and stock up with wet wipes (that’s for tenderfeet).
Even though there are numerous tourist attractions and unusual places in the business capital of Israel, Tel Aviv Central Bus Station definitely stands out. Locals know it as Tahana Merkazit ("central station" in Hebrew). However, its reputation is far from the one that the area and the building would like to have. Some non-native residents of Israel disparagingly say “Whazzit Tahana Markezit?”. Why did it become so infamous in the whole country?!
The thing is the size of the station is definitely not what the city needs. The construction began in the 1960s, when love for megalomania was at its peak. Later, in 1973, war broke out and the project rapidly run out of money. The building frame remained intact for a long time and started to be nicknamed “Big White Elephant”. The bus station was opened in 1993 only.
This seven-story monster-like building houses a bomb shelter, a parking lot, as well es a huge market, a cinema, a Yiddish museum and library and even a bus station! There is also too much unoccupied space. All this explains why it has become the fanciest residence for illegal migrants, mostly coming from Asia and Africa. You can imagine (or see it with your own eyes) what the interior of the building looks like now. Social life is in its full wing on floors 3 and 4. This is where you can find McDonald's logo of a gigantic size and McDonald's himself in a place that is not where you expect him to be. Take the third floor, for instance. Instead of an intended vegetable market there are only roundabouts of the remaining counters with elderly Tel Aviv citizens nearby laying out their small-wonder goods while enthusiastically engaging in a conversation in your mother tongue (in our case, it was Russian). If you go down from the third floor, you will see that there is not a single sign of life. The closer you get to the bomb shelter, the more you immerse in silence broken only by squeaking rats and occupational noise.
The authorities cannot gentrify this “elephant” because of its colossal size and maintenance costs. It is obvious that sooner or later it will be demolished, of course, in a very prudent way. In the meantime, squatters continue to flourish on all floors, being hidden from the eyes of most citizens and tourists coming to Tel Aviv.
Attention! On some floors you run the risk of stepping in human excreta. Or be enchained in lingering aromas. Mind your step and stock up with wet wipes (that’s for tenderfeet).
Task 6.1
The mere fact that you are planning to visit the “elephant” makes us respect you. Please be careful. Do not pick a fight and do not take photos of every single thing you see. Are you brave enough to go down to the ground floor and find the bomb shelter? You get 5 points for the photo of your entire team standing close to the entrance of the bomb shelter (this is what is written above).
5 points
Task 6.2
Try to find the Yiddish museum on the fifth floor. The center is located at the deadliest end of it. You can follow the arrow symbols on the floor which say “Idishe yigim”. The only person who works there is an extremely pleasant elderly man who might tell you a lot about the attitude of the official authorities to cultural heritage preservation. Your teams will get 3 points for the photo inside the museum. If it is closed, you may take a photo against the background to get 2 points. The fifth floor is shaking because of the buses passing by right above you. Unforgettable experience!
up to 3 points
Task 6.3
Roaming around the Station’s floors, try to pay attention to the wildest displays of behavior you notice in various inhabitants of this place. Will you join those who say “Whazzit Tahana Markezit?” or is reality too exaggerated? We are looking forward to your reasoned opinion in the text format. We will reward you with 3 points.
3 points
Task for daredevils 6.4
Task for daredevils: one of your team members has his or her hair cut in a local “barbershop”. We want to see your looks before and after. Record a time-lapse (horizontal) video of a having your hair cut. The price is 10 points!
10 points
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