Waiting to depart. Sitting on the plane. Reconnected in 12 hours or so.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Golan, Mishpacha, and heading home early?!?!
After waking up at Alon and Sean's, I slipped out early, and headed to get the car. There were the usual difficulties of dealing with Israeli bureacracy but it mostly was sorted out after a bit. I headed north with Miriam and Lillian. Lillian had a doctor's appointment in Haifa, and we decided to part ways there. Miriam and I headed down to Zichron Ya'akov for a wine tasting and eventually ended up in Naharriya for the night. The next morning was awful weather, but we still went to Rosh HaNiqra. Then it was off to Tszfat. Luckily, I checked facebook where a message from my cousin Shayna waited for me. We had tea with her at Livnot center in Tszfat. After exploring a bit and finding a new Kippa, we headed out to stay with relatives of Miriam for the night. We were able to try Golan winery on the way and check out a microbrewery as well.
I was exhausted and excused myself from the table heading to bed. I started to shiver so I put on lots of layers, and after a while felt much better. The next day we headed to Scythopolis, a roman city near Bet She'an. I have family there, but I don't know them, so we didn't get to meet them.
We headed down through the west bank, with a brief segway into the west bank. After encountering Israeli and Palestinian checkpoints, we decided to head back and continue straight for Jerusalem. Miriam took off for Tel Aviv, and I met up with Peter who is on Taglit at his hotel and joined them for dinner and going out. I ended up being able to take a shower in the madrich's room which was heaven after two days of not and the cold sweats in between.
I headed out with them to Ben Yehuda, giving a few people a ride. We got really lost.
After parking by Gioia's apartment, I headed back and we all got drinks together. I lost them at the dance club but found Gioia. We went to another bar, where I ran into another taglit related friend Eli. We finally got back to her apartment around 4AM! I had a lot of fun, and we both slept like the dead.
Next morning, I went to Peter's Bar Mitzvah ceremony near the Kotel, but had to slip out as soon as he finished. I really enjoyed his d'var torah which talked about certainty.
I met up with Moishe, and we went for lunch in the German colony where I hadn't gone before. It was nice, though once again, when asking for medium rare I think the steak was still 'mooing' at me from the plate. Take two helped a lot. Moishe and I drew out the family tree, and then walked through the neighborhood. After a quick trip to the Haas (i think) promenade, he got me on to the road to Efrat.
Shabbat was lovely with the Rubin family. Yonaton was out of town, but I spent time with the rest of the family. Saturday morning, Josh and I took a nice walk around Efrat and I saw some areas I hadn't seen before and stiimulating conversation.
I arrived back in Tel Aviv after dropping Avi in Holon and seeing David for a bit.
This morning I returned the car and now am heading to take a shower before going out for the day.
I thought I was staying until early tuesday morning, but it seems that I was mistaken, and I leave this evening for the airport to catch my flight. It's a good thing that I spoke with my mother before shabbat to figure out plans for meeting up in the city when I get back!
I was exhausted and excused myself from the table heading to bed. I started to shiver so I put on lots of layers, and after a while felt much better. The next day we headed to Scythopolis, a roman city near Bet She'an. I have family there, but I don't know them, so we didn't get to meet them.
We headed down through the west bank, with a brief segway into the west bank. After encountering Israeli and Palestinian checkpoints, we decided to head back and continue straight for Jerusalem. Miriam took off for Tel Aviv, and I met up with Peter who is on Taglit at his hotel and joined them for dinner and going out. I ended up being able to take a shower in the madrich's room which was heaven after two days of not and the cold sweats in between.
I headed out with them to Ben Yehuda, giving a few people a ride. We got really lost.
After parking by Gioia's apartment, I headed back and we all got drinks together. I lost them at the dance club but found Gioia. We went to another bar, where I ran into another taglit related friend Eli. We finally got back to her apartment around 4AM! I had a lot of fun, and we both slept like the dead.
Next morning, I went to Peter's Bar Mitzvah ceremony near the Kotel, but had to slip out as soon as he finished. I really enjoyed his d'var torah which talked about certainty.
I met up with Moishe, and we went for lunch in the German colony where I hadn't gone before. It was nice, though once again, when asking for medium rare I think the steak was still 'mooing' at me from the plate. Take two helped a lot. Moishe and I drew out the family tree, and then walked through the neighborhood. After a quick trip to the Haas (i think) promenade, he got me on to the road to Efrat.
Shabbat was lovely with the Rubin family. Yonaton was out of town, but I spent time with the rest of the family. Saturday morning, Josh and I took a nice walk around Efrat and I saw some areas I hadn't seen before and stiimulating conversation.
I arrived back in Tel Aviv after dropping Avi in Holon and seeing David for a bit.
This morning I returned the car and now am heading to take a shower before going out for the day.
I thought I was staying until early tuesday morning, but it seems that I was mistaken, and I leave this evening for the airport to catch my flight. It's a good thing that I spoke with my mother before shabbat to figure out plans for meeting up in the city when I get back!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Catching up from Shabbat
I spent Shabbat with Yael and her family at their home which is south and east of Tel Aviv. It is quite lovely there. Noa, Yael and I headed out on Shabbat to look for flowers. We traveled along the Burma road and I saw some of the most beautiful parts of Israel which I had not seen before. I didn't take that many pictures unfortunately.
We stopped for a picnic which was lovely with hot beverages to warm us up from the cold February air. Back home, there was an amazing lunch feast (served around 5pm, this is Israeli time). I finished Leon Uris' the Haj and we headed back to Tel Aviv.
Yesterday I met up with Miriam to discuss our plans for heading up to the north during the week. It remains unclear whether Lillian will be able to join us for our adventure. I arranged for a car rental, which being 25 years old, is much cheaper (last year it was many times more than what I am paying this year). We will go to some areas that I have been to before and some new things. I am hoping the hot springs are open at this time of year.
Sean found us at the beach and after Miriam had to head out, we went to cafe mazada near the Orchid Hotel for a drink and a small bite. It was good to catch up. That evening I had an amazing dinner with Yael at Rustico. I have stopped to look at the Basel restaurant so many times, but until now, I haven't ate there. What a mistake to wait so long, the pizza was excellent as was the gnocchi.
After dinner, Yael turned in with a busy week ahead of her, and I went out to a Benefit for three children receiving heart surgery. The party was a lot of fun, and Sean came with his friend Lea (always good to meet new people). I stayed with Aviva as planned that night, and then headed back to Yael's early. Yael's sister, Efrat, was kind enough to come help me navigate the job search process for looking for things in Israel. She is amazing, spending a chunk of this morning showing me different sites and helping me sign up for different options. Hopefully we can find something for each of us.
Tonight I will be having dinner with Sean and Alon and staying with them before I head up north tomorrow morning for a few days out of the city.
We stopped for a picnic which was lovely with hot beverages to warm us up from the cold February air. Back home, there was an amazing lunch feast (served around 5pm, this is Israeli time). I finished Leon Uris' the Haj and we headed back to Tel Aviv.
Yesterday I met up with Miriam to discuss our plans for heading up to the north during the week. It remains unclear whether Lillian will be able to join us for our adventure. I arranged for a car rental, which being 25 years old, is much cheaper (last year it was many times more than what I am paying this year). We will go to some areas that I have been to before and some new things. I am hoping the hot springs are open at this time of year.
Sean found us at the beach and after Miriam had to head out, we went to cafe mazada near the Orchid Hotel for a drink and a small bite. It was good to catch up. That evening I had an amazing dinner with Yael at Rustico. I have stopped to look at the Basel restaurant so many times, but until now, I haven't ate there. What a mistake to wait so long, the pizza was excellent as was the gnocchi.
After dinner, Yael turned in with a busy week ahead of her, and I went out to a Benefit for three children receiving heart surgery. The party was a lot of fun, and Sean came with his friend Lea (always good to meet new people). I stayed with Aviva as planned that night, and then headed back to Yael's early. Yael's sister, Efrat, was kind enough to come help me navigate the job search process for looking for things in Israel. She is amazing, spending a chunk of this morning showing me different sites and helping me sign up for different options. Hopefully we can find something for each of us.
Tonight I will be having dinner with Sean and Alon and staying with them before I head up north tomorrow morning for a few days out of the city.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
I wonder if i know anyone on that plane
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Tel aviv aka new barcelona
I have heard the reference but this gaudi-esque building really drives home the point.
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Perhaps i should go to Yafo
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New friends
Woke up to rain which is good for israel but not great for my morning walking routine that's been developing these past few days. Instead I stopped in for a hot drink at a cafe and wife to catch up on scrabble.
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Morning and birds
Woke up to more splendid weather this morning. Headed to the bank where I was informed that I would have to go to ramleh to close my account. I did have a great conversation with the banker there about america and the war and the lack of spending on other basic and educational needs in america.
"I like the way you think" he told me as I got up to leave.
I found my favorite little bakery where a scrumptious almond croissant waited for me still warm. Devoured it by the beach.
I stopped to read on an empty chair for a while before heading down the beach meandering in the direction of Yafo. On the way back north I stopped to chat with a girl reading a Larrson novel (the first one). I confessed to only watching the movie. We chatted more and I learned she works for British Airways.
Stomach is telling me it's time for lunch.
The photo is of this little bird that hovers above the water about ten meters and then dives in to catch fish. It's quite a spectacle to watch. I have a short video I will try to upload later.
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Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tel Aviv
A beautiful day in Tel Aviv. Photo from the south end near Yafo.
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Friday, February 4, 2011
Lunch in mahane yehuda
Enjoying limonana while chatting with Sharon and Nora, two women I sat down next to, about israel and things in egypt. My hebrew is slowly coming back.
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Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
It's been raining a lot which is good for Israel but not great for taglit.
Today on Masada I met a women from beijing who talked to me about coming to china to do some work with young jews in china. We exchanged contact info and we shall see what happens.
Dead sea was without mud.
Heading soon to ben gurions final resting place, see biker.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
What's Happening in Egypt Explained (UPDATED) | Mother Jones
Shabbat is over, it's time to see what is going on with the neighbors.
http://m.motherjones.com/mojo/2011/01/whats-happening-egypt-explained
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Delay continues
Called my trip insurance and confirmed that because delay is more that 6 hours, my travel insurance kicks in so I can buy some fresh clothes. Hopefully the shops open soon.
Picture is from inside continental presidents lounge. It stopped snowing and now the airport is surrounded by a ten inch sea of white.
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Things you can do when stuck at an airport
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Newark airport shut down
I am at Newark airport which is completely shut down until 5AM tomorrow morning.
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
TripIt Network Updates - Jan 19 to Jan 26
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Looks like Weather we could fly in tonight
TripIt is telling me that so far everything looks great for this evenings flight.
Let's check out the weather on the Weather site.
It seems like we can expect precipitation, but hopefully the temperature will keep things from freezing today so that we will be able to take off on time.
Some people seem to think it's just balmy out (from weather.com website)
Back to Israel
On January 12th, 2011 I led a Taglit (Birthright) trip to Israel for Routes / Amazing Israel. The departure was a bit hectic. I took the last bus into NYC on the Jitney line. I learned that they don't go into the city when it snows because of an incident in which a bus caught on fire and burned to the ground, or so I was told.
Arrived, and headed to family friends where I was spending the night.
It was a roller coaster night during which I received numerous phone calls all telling me different things - that the trip was on, canceled, on, canceled. In the end, we were switched to a later flight and our Zurich layover was lengthened. We arrived one day late and without my original co staff for the trip.
I landed back in the states on the 23rd of January after nine days in Israel.
Now it is Wednesday, January 26th, and I am preparing for my flight this evening back to Israel (direct this time). I am hoping the impending snow that starts this afternoon does not cause continental to get cold feet and delay or cancel our flight.
I haven't set my plans for after exactly. I was intending to travel with my cousin, but he has become unavailable. With no one to show around, the sites are not as interesting having been to them before. Petra, Pyramids, and Sphynx are all on the short list for after the program ending. I haven't set the return date yet for my ticket since I am still unclear what I am going to do while in Israel.
I have decided to wait on Syria and Lebanon since I didn't prepare my visa stuff yet. I may also watch egypt closely given the current political situation - I don't want to be in the country if another Tunisia occurs.
I spent the morning working on a facebook for myself, in the literal sense, of the participants. I have such a terrible time with names, I am hoping a reference to either study or use during the trip will make things a bit less embarrassing than in the past when I have completely blanked on names.
Arrived, and headed to family friends where I was spending the night.
It was a roller coaster night during which I received numerous phone calls all telling me different things - that the trip was on, canceled, on, canceled. In the end, we were switched to a later flight and our Zurich layover was lengthened. We arrived one day late and without my original co staff for the trip.
I landed back in the states on the 23rd of January after nine days in Israel.
Now it is Wednesday, January 26th, and I am preparing for my flight this evening back to Israel (direct this time). I am hoping the impending snow that starts this afternoon does not cause continental to get cold feet and delay or cancel our flight.
I haven't set my plans for after exactly. I was intending to travel with my cousin, but he has become unavailable. With no one to show around, the sites are not as interesting having been to them before. Petra, Pyramids, and Sphynx are all on the short list for after the program ending. I haven't set the return date yet for my ticket since I am still unclear what I am going to do while in Israel.
I have decided to wait on Syria and Lebanon since I didn't prepare my visa stuff yet. I may also watch egypt closely given the current political situation - I don't want to be in the country if another Tunisia occurs.
I spent the morning working on a facebook for myself, in the literal sense, of the participants. I have such a terrible time with names, I am hoping a reference to either study or use during the trip will make things a bit less embarrassing than in the past when I have completely blanked on names.
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