Closing thoughts and the trip home

Today I got checked out of my nice apartment, and the landlady was able to store my suitcase in her apartment while I went to Jerusalem for a lunch date with my friend Gershon.  It was a normal trip to Jerusalem, and I was to take the #14 bus to the science museum at the Hebrew University at Givat Ram. Ok.  Well, we went past The Israel Museum (Isaiah scroll - that Israel Museum) and I got off at the science museum.  Well, it's The Science Museum, and I was early for my lunch date.  I thought, I'm a scientist, maybe I'll go through the museum.  But the clientele was clearly children, and I abandoned that notion.  There is a cool fountain at the entrance:

The ball didn't roll continuously, but if you shoved it, it would roll for a couple minutes.

The interesting thing of the day was the bus ride from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.  When the bus left the bus station, one of the guards told him to turn right (that's all I got).  Hmm.  Well, we didn't take the usual highway.  We were on highway 443 which was mostly flanked by the security walls.  We went through two major checkpoints, and could see small, manned checkpoints along side roads.  I don't know if it was a construction or accident issue that changed our route that day.  There was nothing on the news.  At any rate, we still arrived at Arzolov station in Tel Aviv, and I took the normal route to the apartment.  Picked up the suitcase, dragged it down King George, got a #204 to the train station, and executed the bus trip with reasonable elegance.  What with the grey hair, the long skirt and the heavy suitcase and carry-on.

Then it was easy.  Elevator at the train station and airport.  All things considered, the trip home was unremarkable.  I did arrive to a monumental pile of laundry, which didn't seem to be vanquished, but we had lots of soap and hot water, so eventually, even the laundry was done.

Thanks for reading.

THE EMBASSY

Today was the day for me to go to our new embassy in Jerusalem.  I took the #78 bus from the Jerusalem bus station for 15 stops.  The embassy is in the East Talpiyot neighborhood.  The bus stop was perfect, but I zigged instead of zagged and walked the wrong way.  Mind you, this is close to the East Jerusalem demarcation, but everything was still in Hebrew, so I wasn't worried.  My GPS wasn't helping enough, but I asked a lady for directions, and she got me going in the right direction (which would be back up the hill/mountain).  Sure enough, just up the hill from the very bus stop at which I had arrived was the first sign.

So, now I'll walk you up there.  As I walked up the hill, I said the blessing for seeing something wonderful for the first time:  Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this time.  Yes, that's the blessing we say at each holiday, too.

It was Memorial Day and closed, but I had no business in there anyway.  I walked up around to the right (I don't think you want to see the parking area), and talked to a security guard.  I emoted a bunch about how proud I was to him.  I wasn't allowed to take more photos up there, but I was allowed to walk.  Of course, there was screened off construction (secret). There was a cool sign on a house across the street, but I asked before I took a photo.

Now here's the view leaving:

And some flowers

Here's the SE view from the approach ramp.

The embassy is on David Flusser St (if you know the name from 1st century studies).

Here's the view of the embassy from the bus stop:

It was a thrill.

Vitamin D and other news

Today (Sunday) I took a walk down at the beach to renew my vitamin D stores and work on my tan.  I really should have brought my running gear because the beach promenade would be a great place.  It's continuous (no up and down street crossings) and it's pretty flat.  Oh well.

I saw two interesting tour groups: a Birthright group on bicycles (n~25), and a smaller group on Segways (n~10). The Mediterranean was beautiful.  I walked pretty far north, then turned around to head back for lunch.  There are two things that just aren't fun alone: going to the beach, and eating in restaurants.

I went to services at Chabad on Saturday.  The rabbi did an interesting midrash on the Birchat HaCohen (the Preistly Blessing in Num 6:24-26).  No one did a midrash last week.  Then the rest of Shabbat was just glorious with temperatures in the 70s.

As for my own news, I now have an answer that I can share.  When I went to Ariel on Wednesday, I asked the chairman for a job.  He was enthusiastic and asked if I could teach a class this summer (starting 16 July)!!  In mostly Hebrew.  I'm moderately confident about speaking in class, but not confident about understanding questions from the students.  Well, it's too late in the game to get enrollment in a new class, so that's off for this year.  Probably on for next year.  And he's developing a hydraulic track and needs faculty (right now they have structures, environmental, transportation, and construction management).  But we're in discussions.  And I have time to work on the teaching thing with Orit. I also carefully evaluated the bus stops for the bus to Ariel to help choose a living location, should that come to pass.  Learned some important things (about bus stops).  My friends here in Israel are very eager for me to get a position.

Actually, teaching the course this summer word have put a serious dent in two important commitments: that little Ethnic Enrichment event in August, and an engineering education conference that I'm chairing in September.  G-d is in charge.  Of. Everything.

Friday

I got up and about, and headed to Jerusalem to meet friends and buy some whole-wheat challah.  In the Tel Aviv bus station, two women asked if it was calm in Jerusalem. I said it's as usual (which is an ambiguous answer).  They asked about tickets, because I had one, and I told them they could buy it from the driver.  When we got to Jerusalem, they weren't sure where they were, so I walked them over to the light rail and directed them to Jaffa station and to walk to the old city.  After my first trip on the light rail, where we ended up at the Damascus gate, I was trying to get them off to a better start.  They are from Barcelona.

With that good deed behind me, I acquired said challah, and headed to San Simon (neighborhood south of the Knesset).  Since the Nachalot Binyamin craft fair is open on Fridays, I headed there from the  bus station and acquired a gift.

What the heck, I walked over to the malabi shop and got one to go.  I am now a frequent malabi card holder!  And back home to make Israeli salad and take out the trash.  Shabbat shalom.

Success at the gallery

Here's a view from my kitchen window. I wanted to show you how green Tel Aviv is.

I executed a surgical strike trip to go to the gallery.  I planned to get a gift for a friend and really wanted to cross it off my to-do list.  Mission accomplished.  And they're shipping it for me to boot.  I reloaded my Jerusalem transit card and returned.  Drank some water and walked up to the kosher grocery store (needed coffee and broccoli).  I think I'm all set for Shabbat except for challah, which I will get Friday morning.  Now I just need to cook said broccoli.

Trip to Ariel

I took the #286 Afikim (and learned that it means the path of a river (but plural)) to Ariel.  I made sure to leave a little early after my timing fiasco on Tuesday.  I'm sure I've walked past the raised bed herb gardens before, but never really noticed them until today.

 The rosemary on the right was about as tall as me.

Thyme in the foreground, chives in the background

I had a nice meeting with the civil engineering department chairman, Dr. Marti Adon, and then a truly lovely supper with Dr. Rivka Galit at Cafe Pinchas in Kiryat Ono.  Of course I came home with a substantial doggy bag.

Sort of a bust in Jerusalem

I went into Jerusalem to have lunch with Margalit Friedman at 12:00.  I arrived around 11:00 and decided that I had time to zoom up to the shuk and get more oven-roasted peanuts.  Sounds like a fine plan.  But I couldn't find the vendor (of course).  I finally settled for another nut vendor with an oven.

Back to the light rail, back to the bus station, and JUST missed a #132 bus. No problem, right?  But it's now 11:50 (how did that happen?).  I texted to her know that I was at least in Jerusalem. Tick, tick, tick.  Finally another bus at 12:29.  Fine, arrive in Givat Zeev at the correct stop.  Walked to the right building, walked down four flights of stairs.  Ok. I knock, and knock again.  And again (yes, there was music on inside).  I text.  I knock.  Finally the door opens, and Rabbi Friedman was unexpectedly home, too.

We had a lovely lunch and visit.  I left around 4:00, caught a #131 back to Jerusalem, and grabbed a #18 bus to go to a gallery.  I find the gallery, but it's closed (supposed to be open until 8:00).  I call the number on the door at 5:20 hoping they'll be back in a few minutes.  But no.  (Sigh)  So I headed back to Tel Aviv.

BTW, we had a duststorm day.  I thought it was cloudy, but Margalit told me about the dust.  It wasn't profound but kinda low visibility.

Shabbat/Shavuot report

I decided to up my religious game on this trip and find somewhere to go for services.  My plan was to attend a Chabad synagogue near my old apartment, but then I walked past a closer one on my way back from the grocery store.  So I attended Chabad by the Coast on Saturday morning.  It's a classic orthodox synagogue with the women sequestered, but there was a lovely respect of the women's section that I haven't seen before: 1. The man processing the Torah brought it over to the edge of the women's section for women to touch, and 2. when they took prayer requests, they specifically asked us for concerns.  Very nice.  Of course we were quiet but other synagogues which I've attended completely ignored us.  It was nice being respected.

Now, I personally was ignored (really, the tall lady looks familiar?), but I can (incredulously) live with that.  You would be proud - I tracked really well with the service.

They had an all-night Tikkun, but I didn't participate.  I went back Sunday morning for the Shavuot shakrit service and the reading of the Ten Words.  I didn't get the "wear white" memo, but I wasn't the only one in colored clothes. Again ignored but respected.

As for the home stand, it was nice being in a real apartment and having lots of dishes.  I had a sink full by Sunday night, but I didn't have to do dishes on Shabbat/Shavuot.  They're washed now.

Shabbat prep

Friday morning I got up and about to meet some friends in Jerusalem.  Upon arrival in Jerusalem, I loaded my transit card, got on the light rail and headed to Mahane Yehuda (the shuk in Jerusalem).  The shopping list was more eclectic:  stuffed grape leaves, limonana macarons, whole-wheat challah, and the elusive (not really elusive) peanuts and apricots.  A few of the nut sellers there roast their nuts on site, so I walked around looking for ovens.  The nut sellers usually have dried fruit so I got the apricots, too.

I used the return trip that worked so well last year and was home by 2:30.  I just needed to make Israeli salad, take out the trash, and do a load of laundry.  BTW, it was 107° when I got back to Tel Aviv.  That's hot.

I think I'm ready now.  Shabbat shalom and Chag Sameach!

Shopping and recovering

Today was a food shopping day, because tomorrow evening is Shabbat and Saturday night thru sundown Sunday is Shavuot (also known as Pentacost Sunday).  There will no buses and the shuk and many places will be closed.  So planning is key.  I made a shopping lists and got to the shuk before the tourists. I acquired eggs, scallions, parsley, lemons, broccoli, cauliflower, olives and olive oil.  I had a smooth transaction with the dairy man because I know the name of the cheese now.  Got some butter too (why is Israeli butter so good?)  No external-list shopping because I have to carry it home.

I punted on the peanuts and apricots because of weight.  With these items put away, I headed up to the kosher grocery store.  Again, be aware of the weight.

Of course, I felt kinda crappy, but that's par for the course.  By the late afternoon I felt like myself.

Illanit's AirBnB apartment

So past readers have heard about the stairs at the train station (four flights to come up on the right side of the street).  I did it one more time.  Definitely an aerobic endeavor.  I caught a 204 bus and reloaded my bus card.  I got off at the Carmel shuk (familiar ground) and walked up King George.  There's a little park that the apartment is near, but I thought Hamelitz Street would be right after it.  Mind you I've got the whole suitcase thing.  Wandered around.  Finally consulted my GPS.  It wanted to take me through the park. Ok, let's see.  Ah, the problem was that Hamelitz is parallel to King George.  Found the building.

Her description of which apartment was so-so.  So I got to meet one of the neighbors: he was very nice and gracious. Anyway I found the second floor apartment with the welcome sign (not a big sign, though), and in Israel, the first floor is zero.  Ta-ta, I'm in and it's not dark (wandering the streets was a concern).

Real kitchen, gas range top.  No hot plate for me! And a normal refrigerator!

And there's a washing machine - no need for laundry in the sink.

Today is Thursday, and that means grocery shopping.  I'm not as close to the shuk as before so I will have to be economical with my shopping. And probably nap some , too.

Embarking -part deux

Well, the flight from Kansas City was delayed in the air because of a storm.  We circled over Rochester (!) for a while, and landed in LaGuardia about 45 minutes late. That was no problem.  So I collected my suitcase and looked for my shuttle.  Hmm.  Where are they?  I called the number and some other company was handling it (which I had seen), but I checked their website and they no longer list the JFK-LaGuardia shuttle.  This is not good. Of course I can always take a cab.  So I go over to the Golden Touch bus, and they'll honor my ticket, but I have to go into Manhattan and come back.  What the heck.
Now the storm has arrived and it's....rush hour.  We take the Midtown Tunnel to 37th St, to Madison Avenue north to Grand Central Station.  We disembark.  In the rain.

I get on a new shuttle (with other people), but it's still raining and it's still rush hour.  Our driver bailed onto Queens Boulevard. I saw the Rego Park synagogue and lots of kosher restaurants.  I finally arrived at JFK at 1730. 

My El Al interview involved my Hebrew lessons, he asked me to speak in Hebrew but I couldn't think of what to say.  

So TSA is TSA.  But my carry-on stuff got flagged for a special inspection.  My Kindle Fire got flagged as a laptop.  "I should have known better."  Well, it didn't get flagged in Kansas City.  The flight is at 2330.   I'm fine. The next post will be from Israel.  Lila tov (Good night).

Embarking

I know it's not big news that I'm in the Kansas City airport, but I am right now a free agent seeking a new opportunity.  And pursuant to my trip home last year, I am dressed in a long, comfy skirt for the journey.  Not quite this image, but I'm definitely not in dumpy cargo pants.