On the way to the anemones: 9 places to visit

Planning a visit to the Anemone Festival in the Negev? Don't forget to stop off at Sderot, which participates in "Red South," this year, featuring culinary, sight-seeing, and cool attractions for teens and greats. Here are 9 great points around anemones

On the way to the anemones: 9 places to visit

Video: A new landscape road was recently inaugurated in the northern Negev

Nowadays, when many people travel to the Northern Negev for the "Southern Red" festival to witness the flowering anemones, we usually pass (and do not delay and walk) in the city of Sderot. An avenue that connects our imagination to terrorist missiles, explosive balloons and the "red color" alert has been investing heavily recently to become a real tourist gem and well worth a few hours' visit.

Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi says that preparations for opening a hotel in the city are already underway, the establishment of the museum is already underway, and further: "We are in fact the foremost outpost of the Western world in the face of Muslim terror. In parallel with countering terrorism, we are developing the city and becoming It is a hot spot for many groups from around the world and the world. To come and walk in Sderot, see the development, eat in restaurants, sit in one of the cafes and shop at our stores, this is the true identification and Zionism. "

The red color returns to the cheeks

They are already here. Southern red anemones (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Blossoms of anemones and the remains of fires, along the Gaza border and Gaza border, January 3, 2019 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

1. The protected play

At the heart of the industrial area (filled with word of mouth in industrial and high-tech establishments), is the world's only protected gaming facility. The idea of ​​setting up the playground was born following the rocket barrage on the city, which causes the children not to leave the homes and the sheltered rooms and also to the parents, who have to lose working days and stay alongside their children.

The game has plenty of attractions for children, ranging from climbing wall and foot court to computer games and a small event hall (birthdays) where you can also watch the "red color" video. When a "red color" alarm sounds, within 10-5 seconds everyone in the game can enter the safe room and be in a safe place. The entrance to Sderot children is only a nominal fee of NIS 10.
Address: 12. Paris St. For details and visitation coordination, Sderot Development Fund 08-6898919

The only one in the world. The sponsored playground in Sderot (Photo: Haim Koznitz)

The protected playground in Sderot (Photo: Haim Koznitz, official website)

2. The urban market

On Sunday and Tuesday, the city's indoor and landscaped market is gathering, farmers and growers from the Negev selling fruit and vegetables from the grocery store to the consumer. Alongside them are dozens of booths of apparel, footwear, housewares, bedding and more. All products are sold at ridiculous prices. On the day of our visit to the market, a huge training suit stall was set at NIS 20 per set.
Address: The Market, Menachem Begin Road, Free Parking.

Fruits and vegetables 'from the grower to the consumer'. The market in Sderot (Photo: Haim Koznitz)

Sderot Market (Photo: Haim Koznitz, official website)

3. Sderot Land - Dance Center

The pair of dancers and choreographers Liat Dror and Nir Ben Gal set up on the Sderot School and Dance Study Center with a focus on technique, along with personal development in expression, choreography and authentic original work. There will be an International Dance Festival School with bands from Italy, China and Portugal. You can visit the center, take part in one of the classes (also for children).
Address: Palmach 11, for coordinating a visit or lesson, Nir: 054-5294246

Dancing with the anemones in "Sderot Land" (Photo: Haim Koznitz)

Sderot Land Dance Center (Photo: Haim Koznitz, official website)

4. Heroes' Hill

In the northwestern part of Sderot, over Highway 34, is a hill that overlooks, almost without words, the conflict and the complicated situation of the residents of the envelope, in the face of terrorist organizations in Gaza. From the west - see Nir Am, Beit Lahiya, Jabaliya and Gaza, from the northwest - see the border fence, through the patrols, Enrichment Path, Yad Mordechai, Erez and Zikim, from the north - the chimneys of the Ashkelon, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Or power plants The candle, and to the east - Kiryat Gat. All the localities are spread out at our feet and we find out what a small country we are. These days, a monument is being erected on the hill in memory of the 4 victims who fell during Operation "Cliff Eitan" as they fought terrorists exiting a tunnel to hit Sderot.
Address: Through the estate

Gaza in the background. What you see from the Heroes' Hill (Photo: Haim Koznitz)

View of Heroes' Hill Sderot (Photo: Haim Koznitz, official website)

5. Qassam display (Sderot police)

For the past 19 years, Gaza terror organizations have been launching Qassam rockets into Sderot. To date, over 5,000 missiles have exploded on Sderot. In front of the Sderot police yard, police placed dozens of missiles that exploded in the city. Looking at missiles and it is difficult to understand how residents continue to lead lives and raise children within this inferno. Real heroes.
Address: Sderot Police, Herzl Street.

To date, over 5,000 missiles have exploded on Sderot. Qassam display at Sderot police (Photo: Haim Koznitz)

Qassam display at Sderot police (Photo: Haim Koznitz, official website)

6. The children's park

In the city center, an amusement park was set up for children of the largest in Israel. The park has many facilities suitable for children and teens of all ages. The facilities are maintained to a high standard and the parents can rest while the children have fun and 'make a living'. The park is fenced, entrance and parking are free.
Address: Children's Park, Menachem Begin Road

Facilities suitable for children and teenagers of all ages. Sderot Children's Park (Photo: Haim Koznitz)

Sderot Children's Park (Photo: Haim Koznitz, official website)

7. The artificial lake

In the heart of the new neighborhood, the music neighborhood is currently an artificial 5.3 acre lake. Tribunas are set up around the lake, in the center of the lake is a covered pergola that can be reached by boats, or by a special bridge. One resident told us with a smile: "We pray that soon they will no longer be talking about 'red paint' avenues, but about the blue color avenues of the lake water."
Address: The music neighborhood

When will they talk about Blue Color Boulevard? Artificial Lake in Sderot (Figure: Sderot Municipality)

Artificial lake in Sderot (Photo: Haim Koznitz, official website)

8. The shopping center, opposite 7

Adjacent to the main entrance to the city and the Sderot train station is the open shopping center, opposite 7. Contrary to all the forecasts, the center is bustling with the city's residents and the Gaza envelope making their shopping there. Ophir Sror, one of the center's shop owners, says operating expenses on Sderot are significantly cheaper than expenses in the center of the country, "and it is clear that our prices are cheap accordingly." The shopping center has restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, sports and apparel, a wine shop, Big Stock, a pharmacy and ... Surprise, here is also the Isray-Natour reservation center. When we call a Tel Aviv phone number to book a flight or a trip abroad, we are answered from Sderot.
Address: 7 Mol Center, Menachem Begin Street 1

Shopping mall opposite 7 (Photo: Asaf Pinchuk)

Shopping Center in front of 7 Sderot (Photo: Asaf Pinchuk, official website)

9. Avenue of food

The phenomenon of new restaurants opening in the city is a phenomenon of renaissance. It is no longer about Shawrami and Falafel, but in restaurants that serve a wide range of unique dishes and obviously "non-Tel Aviv" prices.

Sylvia
The old restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood. Moroccan style home food ("Mother's House"). Sylvia - in the kitchen and her husband Jacob - presents to the table. As a starter, various salad plates are served and the payment is just about the main course. The menu changes every day: in the days of G. Cuscus, in the days of pungent fish and in the days of wonderful fish patties. The cost per diner is NIS 40-50.
Address: Alliance St., Shopping Center. Phone - 053-9387662

Jaja - grilled chicken
Gabby from the next seat realized his dream and opened about six months ago the restaurant in the center of which rotates poultry grill. The fresh fowl is smeared with "secret" sauce and served with potatoes, roasted vegetables and salads. The price is NIS 40-50 per diner.
Address: 49 Herzl St., Tel: 077-3460461

Market restaurant
The menu is narrowed and chalked on a wall board. All dishes are served in a juicy pita plus home-made fries, pickles and salad. The small restaurant also sells good quality olive oil and honey. Price per serving is NIS 42.
Address: 47 Herzl St. (adjacent to Grandpa Simcha Restaurant), Tel: 055-9228888

Sushi Moto
Nir and his wife met as students at nearby Sapir College, and the two opened the sushi restaurant that, if it were not in Sderot, could operate and succeed anywhere else in the center of the country. "Why in Sderot? Why not?" Nir explains. The menu is interesting and varied and contains many types of sushi, pop-ups and more.
Address: Front Center 7 Phone - 077-560-5342

Happy grandfather
This favorite vegetarian restaurant was opened by some friends from the kibbutz of the nearby village of Gaza. The entertaining menu features dishes such as "happy salad", wonderful roasted cabbage "stolen cabbage" and more.
Address: 27 Herzl, Phone: 08-6690222

The Passage
The local diner restaurant is hidden in the old shopping center. On the menu is a large selection of homemade burgers and even an asado sandwich.
Address: 11 President Street, Tel - 08-6819191

Market restaurant in Sderot (Photo: Haim Koznitz)

Market restaurant in Sderot (Photo: Haim Koznitz, official website)

Haim Koznitz serves as a consultant to the Sderot Development Fund, which promotes tourism to the city, which trained local guides, who accompany groups and families in city attractions and also tell their own story. To schedule a tour: 08-6898919