(no subject)
We stayed in Jerusalem a few days ago. We were promised a luxurious room with a gorgeous view of the old city. Instead, our room smelled like egg-farts, and the window faced the ramp into the parking garage. So, um, we went to the Kotel, walked around the city, and ate at a super-kosher Chinese food restaurant (that was surprisingly good).
(A note on kosher---not all kosher restaurants are considered equal. In order for an observant Jew to eat at a restaurant, the restaurant must be approved by the specific rabbi the Jew follows. Or something. There's a bunch of different rabbis with a bunch of different kosher stamps. It's strange and complicated. Also, in order for wine to be kosher it has to be uncorked by a Jew. Hrmm. )
Everyone in the old city speaks English, and almost everybody there is from New York (that's what it seems like, at least). It was too cold to sit at the pool, I had to cover my shoulders when we walked around, and did I mention that our room smelled like farts? I was happy to get out of there.
Right now, I'm at the Hilton in Tel Aviv, and it's wonderful. People speak Hebrew, I don't have to worry about covering my shoulders when I leave the room, and it's warm outside. The room smells like roses, because there are roses both in the bathroom and next to the bed. My English is slipping a little bit, and I'm speaking it like Hebrew (switching around adjective and verb). I miss my papa. We return to Chicago in a week, and as much fun as I'm having here, it'll be good to be back.
Tomorrow is a beach day, I think. It should be fun.
(A note on kosher---not all kosher restaurants are considered equal. In order for an observant Jew to eat at a restaurant, the restaurant must be approved by the specific rabbi the Jew follows. Or something. There's a bunch of different rabbis with a bunch of different kosher stamps. It's strange and complicated. Also, in order for wine to be kosher it has to be uncorked by a Jew. Hrmm. )
Everyone in the old city speaks English, and almost everybody there is from New York (that's what it seems like, at least). It was too cold to sit at the pool, I had to cover my shoulders when we walked around, and did I mention that our room smelled like farts? I was happy to get out of there.
Right now, I'm at the Hilton in Tel Aviv, and it's wonderful. People speak Hebrew, I don't have to worry about covering my shoulders when I leave the room, and it's warm outside. The room smells like roses, because there are roses both in the bathroom and next to the bed. My English is slipping a little bit, and I'm speaking it like Hebrew (switching around adjective and verb). I miss my papa. We return to Chicago in a week, and as much fun as I'm having here, it'll be good to be back.
Tomorrow is a beach day, I think. It should be fun.