The museum with a twist
LINDSAY SUTTON may be stuck at home but he has a truly mind-bending travel idea for the future
URI GELLER is still stirring it – and this time with the biggest bent spoon you can imagine. Not content with his worldwide reputation as spoon bender extraordinaire, old hand Uri is opening a museum in the ancient Israeli port of Jaffa, where he now lives.
Naturally, his trademark act is featured outside the building, with a giant spoon that’s 18.5 metres long, and weighs in at seven tons.
And, as the illusionist tells me: “I have, of course, made sure that it is suitably bent.”
Uri, now 73, but still fit, active and sprightly, buzzes with energy and excitement as we stand outside the 2,000-year-old building which will house his eclectic and bizarre collection of personal items, artefacts and mementoes.
Pride of place will be his custombuilt Cadillac, which has more than 2,000 pieces of contorted cutlery stuck to its body, and will be on display in an ancient building largely unused for centuries.
Uri’s prized collection of crystals will also be on display, with their hidden properties of energy and mystical power.
“I can’t explain my powers to do things, but it is positive energy and the power of the mind,” he says. “I know people are fascinated by my abilities and will want to visit my museum.”
He name-drops celebrities like a seasoned entertainer, but actually knows them well, most seeking him out, rather than him chasing them.
He reveals that his own artwork is influenced by his mentor Salvador Dali, and his nine Dali sculptures will be on display. Mementoes will be there from Michael Jackson, best man at his celebrity ‘Hello’ magazine wedding.
John Lennon and David Bowie were always intrigued by his powers; artist David Hockney was inquisitive; and the public still love the novelty of his spoon and coin-bending feats. When he appeared on BBC TV and asked people to ring in if their spoons had bent at home, the switchboard blew.
Uri’s parents lived in Tel Aviv, and now, after more than 50 years of living abroad, he has returned and set up home in Jaffa with wife Hannah. Work is nearing completion on the ancient, high-arched museum building, which he had hoped to open in time for Israel Independence Day in May.
That was before the impact of coronavirus, and the restrictions of movement for the public.
But Uri remains upbeat, revealing: “The building used to be an old soap factory, and we have exposed the old oil-heating furnaces beneath the floor. We had to have a special licence to restore this protected building that had been lying unused for centuries, apart from casual storage. One fascinating find was a number of marked bricks brought in from Scotland to repair the old furnaces. That was unexpected. Even I couldn’t predict that!”
The former Israeli paratrooper, who was wounded during the Six-Day War, will also put on display the binoculars used by his former commander Yitzhak Rabin, who ultimately became Prime Minister of Israel.
He is currently selling his ninebedroom Berkshire mansion by the Thames, having moved to live in a modest, two-bedroomed apartment.
His experiences in showbiz and as a ‘psychic spy’ for the CIA and the Israeli secret service, Mossad, may not feature in the museum, however.
“They remain top secret until I die,” he insists. Even so, the CIA has released data which reveals that he “demonstrated his paranormal perception ability,” and that Uri was “unequivocally psychic”.
Whatever, the museum is sure to be mind-blowing and mind-bending. And yes, he did bend a spoon for me – in a nearby café where we met before my tour of his museum site.
A seafront stroll takes you to Tel Aviv, known as the ‘Mediterranean’s City of Cool.’ Its beaches are beautiful; its climate is perfect for holidaymakers, with 300 sunny days a year; it has culture, with Bauhaus architecture galore, and interesting museums. And not for nothing is this hip and happening city also called ‘New York by the Sea’.
In contrast with Jerusalem, just an hour away, Tel Aviv is very secular in feel and approach, and has a nightlife and restaurant scene to match.
Holidaying in Israel is not an immediate option, with the coronovirus restrictions. But if you dream of the back-to-normal future, flying the flag with BA is a great way to get there, especially on its Airbus 350 flight from Heathrow to Tel Aviv. Club Suite facilities are a dream – spacious, well-appointed and with the famous lie-back seats.
Everything is well designed. The power and USB sockets, mirror and lights, and screen control are all accessible without effort. Tables and storage space are well positioned, and there’s even a ‘privacy door.’
Staying in Israel, you can’t go wrong choosing a Dan Group hotel. The four-star Dan Panorama on the Tel Aviv promenade is the nearest to Uri Geller’s Museum, and is a perfect base. Most rooms have sea views, the food is terrific, the staff helpful, and Tel Aviv’s attractions just a short walk or taxi ride away.
According to the Bible, the ancient port of Jaffa is where Jonah sailed from before being swallowed by a whale