Enlightment Avenue (Sderot Ha'Haskala) Multi-Cache
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Enlightment Avenue (Sderot Ha'Haskala)
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This is a multicache that will take you along part of the pleasant Haskala (enlightment) avenue in Tel Aviv, making a couple of stops on your way to the final location. It's very nice for a stroll with your kids or your dog, during the day or at night (and then a flashlight would probably be of help).
Tel Aviv has many avenues, but none quite as enjoyable as this recently renovated one. Of course it's all the way over the mountains of darkness (i.e. Ayalon Highway) but really it's more of a mental barrier than an actual one for hardcore Tel-Avivians.
Mostly shaded, it hosts a dogs' park, a fitness corner, a pétanque court, a sundial, and most importantly – lots of green grass and swings for young and old. It also has many birds, attracted to the avenues for its trees and special nesting projects.
You can find (probably paid) parking in nearby streets, or get there by bicycle: there's a Tel-Ofan station in the middle of the avenue. Next to it, as well as in the south side of the avenue or near Assuta towers, there are a few good places to go for coffee or food. If you don't know the area, it's well worth taking a stroll in the very pleasant (recently gentrified) Bitzaron and Ramat Israel neighborhoods.
This avenue commemorates the Jewish Enlightenment movement which was (at least culturally) a prominent one among European Jews in the 18th–19th centuries, advocating better integration into the European society. The nearby streets of Bitzaron are named after the Maskilim – the leaders of the movement. Most of the literature they wrote is a bit too didactic for today's tastes (euphemizing my university Hebrew literature professor), but if you want a taste we can recommend the works of M. Z. Fayerberg who was greatly influenced by them and is not so bad :)
There are 4 stops in total:
Stop 1:
The coordinates take you to the entrance of a bomb shelter. On it you'll find both the sundial and pictures of prominent Maskilim. Look for the Maskil with only one eye and note his year of birth. Let this number be ABCD.
Stop 2:
Look for the lamppost with the number DC on it – your next clue is a 3 digit number (X) between it and lamppost (DC-1).
The coordinates to stop 3 are: N32 04.(X-69) E034.47.835
Stop 3:
Look for two numbers: one is black on white (let this number be EFG), the other black on yellow (let this one be HIJKLM).
Stop 4 (the end!)
Look for the place where lamppost number GI/2 should have been placed. Not far from it you'll find the cache.
Please note: the cache contains a log book and a few small handmade figures (our attempt at creating "Maskilim"), but no pen. The opening is ~1cm wide. It is located in a public place with lots of muggles around, so it may be best to come to this cache in non-traditional hours (otherwise they may be hard to avoid).
Also (just for fun): notice the angle of the lampposts (and other posts) which mimics that of the trees, beaten to it by years of wind from the sea.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Stop 2:] oynpx ba terl, fhz bs qvtvgf =15
[Stop 4:] urnq uvtu
Treasures
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