Leaving and arriving

Pat and i exited the apartment at the appointed time and stored our suitcases in a locker at the train station. We walked around for a bit, and then opted to spend some time in the Tel Aviv Art Museum. Then we collected our bags and progressed to the airport. We were on different flights (my fault) but at virtually the same time (0100), so we stayed together until 2330. I bought a couple things in the duty free (which is extensive in the Israeli airport), but my carryon bag is much smaller this year. When all was said and done, every cubic inch in my knapsack was utilized. I did get a smoothie (does it or does it not look khaki-colored ?)

So now we're both at airports in the NY area awaiting our next flights (separately). I hope to snag some NY pizza at Laguardia.

Noisy (7/3/23)

Lots of noise outside my apartment today. Ok, the road is blocked off for light rail construction, but the restaurant downstairs moved all its tables and there's a skidsteer and small backhoe, and they rerouted the pedestrian traffic.

I took Pat to Yad vShem today. I had to check my knapsack, so I opted to just wear sunglasses . That created a problem in the Children's Memorial, which is quite dark. We took the train both ways to Jerusalem. We decided to call it a day and eat up the food we have in the apartment instead of eating out in Jerusalem. I have no idea what the objective of the construction was. Hole was dug, and refilled, pavement was removed and replaced.

Dancing (7/2/23)

My Hebrew teacher, Orit, shared info on an Israeli dance class on Sunday mornings. I couldn't go last week, because I visited Lev Haolam. But I went today. It was in a community center, and I had to ask where the dancing was. I paid the class fee, and was dressed for action. My friend Pat wasn't feeling well , so there are no action photos of me dancing. All the directions were in Hebrew and I understood most of it. Just the usual problems of being on the wrong foot. The seated man in the photo was the dance leader.

I went and bought a wipeable tablecloth for home from a really dense-packed shop in Tel Aviv. To measure my piece, I had to take one end out to the sidewalk.

Friday (6/30/23)

We got up and about and took the bus to Jerusalem. Bought grape leaves and beet salad, and a couple cappuccinos, met some friends bought a small bouquet of roses for Shabbat,and returned home on the bus. I prepped a snappy tomato and avocado salad, a Middle Eastern potato salad (no mayo), and an orange and olive salad. We bought some bread across the street at the Abufalia bakery, our landlord fixed the shower, and we were ready for Shabbat.

Tour in the Galilee (6/29/23)

Pat and I signed up for a day tour of the Galilee. We saw the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

Then we went to the Jordan River and a couple people in our group were baptized there. We had lunch at the Dagania B kibbutz. They provide lunch for lots of tour groups. It was great.

Then up the west side of the Galilee to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of fishes and loaves. And then to Capernaum (Kfar Nachum) where there's an old synagogue site and Peter's house.

TLV tourism (6/28/23)

You probably know that I really like the shuk. And last year I found the Levinski shuk, which is spread out more than the Carmel shuk. Today we went to the Sorona shuk, which is unlike the other two. It is a big food court that is quite nice and have very nice food.

We weren't hungry so we skipped the food experience there. But there was a cool sculpture:

Pat did get a felafel sandwich at The Wizard, not far from our apartment.

Visiting friends (6/27/23)

Pat and I traveled to Petach Tikvah to see Anne and Nathan Landa, who were married in KC/OPKS. Nathan is Peruvian and Anne is from Raymore. They made aliyah to Israel a few years ago. They have seven wonderful children. Nathan recently got his medical license in Israel and is currently working as psychiatrist. We had a fun supper then the five little kids and us four adults went to the park. The micromayhem was delightful. Pat took this photo (there is an extra kid in the photo)

My Friend Pat has arrived

My friend Pat from Boston flew in yesterday (Monday). I met her at the airport and had an uneventful trip back to the apartment. After supper, we went for a walk and got a gelato (strawberry for her and pistachio for me). Luckily they were little servings.

Success at Lev HaOlam

The hopeful plan of going to Kfar Etzion through Jerusalem was a success. I got to Jerusalem by normal means, and took 362 bus to Kfar Etzion . It turned out to be the last stop, which is always handy. Lev Haolam was just around the corner but the office didn't have a sign. Avi, the managing director spent about an hour with me, and answered all my questions. I got to see the shipping warehouse and the stock for the online store.

We talked about the businesses that Lev Haolam has helped to get on their feet. Maybe I'll visit some of them another time . But he needed to get to work , so I caught the 371, which took me to the Jerusalem 15 bus, and I took the new Jerusalem train back. I had seen them building the bridges for the train during my sabbatical, but I didn't see them building all the tunnels (duh). But it is pretty easy and immune to traffic.

Shabbat

I attended the Friday evening service with Leah, Kehilot HaLev. It was quite nice and I'm glad I went. I spent a quiet Saturday in my apartment and met my Hebrew teacher at 1845 who helped me get on the right bus to the Bubizemer event on the grounds of Tel Aviv University. "Zemer" means singer, and Bubi might be someone's name. Anyway this group hosts singalongs around Israel and I finally was able to go. There's a before and after photo. I did have to buy a ticket for this. Anyway they project the lyrics and there was a small band that accompanied us. I only knew the last song that I stayed for (had to catch a bus home), but I kept up and got by. It was great.

Friday stuff

I went Jerusalem to meet some friends and buy some cool things in MahaneYehuda (the shuk in downtown Jerusalem): stuffed grape leaves, a carrot salad, beet salad, walnuts and peanuts (Israelis roast peanuts perfectly). On my way to the bus home, I bought a small bouquet . In getting ready for Shabbat, I was headed downstairs with my trash, and .et one of my neighbors who lives here. Anyway , she invited me to join her for Friday night services at her synagogue. Of course, I said yes to Leah. I will report later . Shabbat shalom.

Transportation Problem

I had an appointment for a tour of the Lev Haolam facility at 12:00. I decided to take the train to Bet Shemesh and catch a bus to Kfar Etzion, but this was rife with problems . The bus I needed to take was not an hourly bus, and I would be late for my tour. I called Lev Haolam, in fact, they didn't have me on their schedule, but they were happy to have me come by. So I waited 2 hours (in the shade) for the bus, but it turns out it was canceled so everyone made alternate plans. I called Lev Haolam back, because the plan was blown-I couldn't get there before they went home. So I have a new plan to visit them on Sunday. I took the train back to Tel Aviv , picked up some challah for tomorrow and a limonana for right now.

If you look closely at the flowers, you will see that they're made out of pop bottles. These were at the Bet Shemesh train station. They're painted so well that I didn't notice at first.

Shopping day

I'm still a little tired, but not exhausted. It took two trips to the shuk, but it's really close. Trip 1: wine for my friend Pat, eggs, mint, parsley, red onion, scallions, and olives, and ziplock bags and napkins. I wanted to get the breakable stuff back safe, so trip 2: oranges, tomatoes, cucumbers, lemons and fresh apricots. Fresh apricots are always a high point of my visits because they're not really available in the States. And I added more money to my transit card. I prepped tabooli from scratch, as well as an Israeli salad with olives. Theyre both marinating in the refrigerator. My tablet isn't editing the blog well, so this is off my phone.

Back to Israel

I returned to Israel on an earlier flight than I had done in some time , but everything went perfectly. I just needed to keep moving. We landed in Tel Aviv at 11:00 so I got to find my apartment in daylight. However, the streets in Tel Aviv are a mess and my bus from the train station didn't drop me where I expected , although I wasn't lost. I do have to rethink most of my travel routes. After I waited (!) to access the apartment, I decided that I may as well walk down to the kosher grocery store for some key items. Then the fatigue of staying up most of the night on the flight caught up with me. I packed coffee so that I would have that the first morning, could rest. rest.