Old City
Old City,
originally uploaded by Becky Bloom. I'm back near Tel Aviv, and finally have my computer and wireless all set up. Earlier this week, Sue and I took a train to Haifa. We ate sushi (it wasn't that good), watched Cohav Nolad with family (Israel's American Idol), and went shopping on Hatzmaot Street (to find soccer jersey's for my uncle). We also went to the largest mall in the entire country, Grand Canyon (ken-yone is the word for mall, and they like appropriating English words), where I ate my first shawarma (like gyros, but only better) of the trip.
After returning to Tel Aviv, Susie and Roee took me to the shuk (market). I bought tank tops for $3, shorts for $4, and tons of other stuff for real cheap. We also went to the artists' market where I found lots of interesting art stuffs (and dropped 250 shekels). Thankfully, my Hebrew's getting good enough that not everyone thinks I'm American (and tries to overcharge me for stuff in the shuk). English is apparently indicative of one being a sucker, so it's probably in one's best interest (if one is not Israeli) to not say a word at all while in the market.
Last night, we went to the beach, and I wore a bikini. What has become of me?
Today, my cousin took me with him to visit a friend in Jerusalem. We were given a spectacular tour of the Old City, and ate the tastiest food I've had in a long while (my only criterion for spectacular tour: tasty foods). We pigged out on all sorts of different humus (and I got all sorts of gassy, fyi). Then, after a brief stop at the Kotel (the Wailing Wall) to leave some prayers, I was chased down and asked to cover-up because of my apparently indecent dress. Then, we moved on to more important things: dessert. At a little place called Jafar's, we had two different types of Kinafeh (an Arabic pastry)--both were super-sweet, super-tasty, and nothing like one could ever find in the states. We rested a little at the friend's house in Jerusalem, had some tea, and sped back home (where I ate even more).
All in all, the trip's going well so far. My momma arrives in 2 weeks, and I can't wait. Until then, I'll visit with more family, spend more money, and eat more things that make my stomach want to explode.
