3/23/2011 - Ramla and The Weizmann House

We got up early today, said our goodbyes to Sheila, and had a quick breakfast and coffee before heading to the Shuk in Ramla.  All of the sellers with their wares, some of value, others not so much.

There were radishes the size of my fist and beautiful red peppers.  Strawberries were abundant and there was dried fruit and nuts of all kinds.  There was a passing rain storm that stayed strong for a few minutes, but then the skies cleared and the sun came out.

We left the Shuk and went to the Weizmann Institute touring the Weizmann residence of Chaim and his wife Vera.

The house was designed by Mendelsohn with windows on the south and north sides like port holes on a ship with thick walls on the south side to help keep the sun's direct rays deflected.

A pool was put on the west side of the house in front of the tower of stairs to help cool the house.  Unfortunately, this was not successful because of the level of humidity in the area.  The stairway in the house was shaped like a nautilus and covered four different levels.

The bed where Weizmann died.

Chaim Weimann was a scientist and wanted other Zionists to be knowledgeable in science.  In his honor, the Seef Institute was renamed for Weizmann who was the first President of Israel.  Weizmann felt that science would bring peace to the land (Israel) and renew its youth.  Weizmann was also among the founders of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.