Shopping day

This day is always dedicated to buying REAL food. So I went to the shuk and acquired kleenex (OK, that's not food), cheese, eggs, scallions, parsley, lemons, olives, olive oil, cauliflower, fresh apricots, tomatoes and cucumbers. All in one trip. Sat down for a bit, then headed over to the grocery store to get grapefruit juice, soup, and pesto. On the way back, I went to the bakery across the street and got a Beduin bread, a zaatar pita, and an almond croissant.

Returning

I headed back to Israel. I thought it would be better to arrive during the day (instead of dusk) which meant an earlier set of flights, which required an airport hotel in Kansas City to make the 0630 flight. BTW, I had no idea how busy the airport is at 0600. Well, the downside to arriving in the late morning is that the apartment wasn't ready until 3:00. I hung out at the airport because there's a little food, drinks, chairs and toilets. It turned out that there was a problem with my SIM card, so I was able to get that straightened out while I was there. I'm staying at the same apartment as last year because it was nice.

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.