While having lunch one afternoon on a busy street in Jaffa—just north of Tel Aviv—I noticed quite a commotion in the middle of the street. Thinking at first there had been a traffic accident, I asked and was told no, it was “just another archaeological dig.”

Another dig, that’s all!

Jaffa, or Joppa as it was known in ancient times, was a prized port city and of course is best known as the site of Jonah’s rebellion against God.

There are plenty of other reasons to visit Jaffa, if you have the wonderful opportunity to do so. The site was a stronghold for various ancients, including Alexander the Great, Thutmose III, and the Greeks.

Visitors today will be treated to delicious seafood, art galleries, and flea markets.

Jaffa is truly a place where the past meets the present.