Minor Setback, But Not Really So Bad

Yesterday was Sunday and we had decided that because this is our last week here, we're going to make the most of it. Unfortunately, we were unable to make the most of yesterday.

It could have been the expensive French goat cheese (of which tasted fabulous), it could have been the wine that we had with the cheese (which was also fabulous, but just drank in excess with the cheese), it could have been the undercooked kubbah from Shabbos lunch, it could have even been a slight stomach virus! Whatever it was, I was out of commission and having a really close relationship with the restroom. Not fun. By the time daylight arrived even, I was still making friends with the toilet. Aside from trying to sleep as much as possible after that, I was weak and tired. Surprisingly, I was starving too.

Once I began feeling slightly better, Michael and I decided to try and embark around 3 or 4 in the afternoon in order to try and find some food and maybe do a little shopping for the items promised to people at home. Our first stop was, you guessed it, the shuk.

We looked for an Iraqi place that the guide book recommended. After purchasing a Hebrew Coca Cola T-shirt for myself, Michael asked the shop keep where it was. He told us it had closed. So we continued walking and taking pictures.

I thought this was a really pretty arch.

We went down a corridor that we'd not been down before. Here I thought we'd seen every part of this place by now. But there was this beautiful corridor we'd not run across with a couple of restaurants and some more shops.

We passed by what I thought was probably the most smallest shul that I'd ever seen. Literally, it was just a room with an ahron and a bimah. It was really pretty though. We walked to the end of the corridor and it led us to the main section.
They were unloading some beef from a truck and I'd never seens such a sight in my life! You could see the cow's ear still attacked to the gory, lump of flesh. It was pretty sick. And in plain view for everyone to see. I think this was one of the subtle reminders that we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!

At this point (in unrelated trains of thought) we decided to head for the vegetarian place on Yafo. Really only because my stomach had been having issues earlier and we figured vegetarian would be gentle on my system. We walked a few block and then we found the Village Green. Really a fantastic place. It's buffet style and at the end, they charge you by weight.
The meal ended up costing only about $40 US for the two of us. And Michael had a yogurt straberry smoothie included in that too. I had some lovely tofu with noodles and buckwheat and barly salads with a potato and a colliflour quiche. Michael had some of the same and a buckwheat burger pattie. I also had the most lovely muffin that I saved part of for breakfast the next day. I do believe we should go back there for breakfast to see what is offered. It was very lovely!

We did some more shopping as we walked back and picked up a few things for friends while places were still open.

Ran across this cat as we were walking back and I thought he was really cute. He turned on his back when I was taking the picture, as if he knew he was being photographed and he wanted to strike a cute pose.

We also picked up our laundry and walked to the place to have it done for us. Dropped it off and on the way back, I saw this in a window at one of the restaurants near by.
Brains, and some other stuff I can't identify really. MMM.

So at some point I took another nap because I was so weak and so tired. By the end of the day though, I really was feeling myself again. In the evening, we were going to go out again, but I was still to tired. So we ordered in Chinese food (which was fabulous) and watched some TV. All in all, Sunday was a nice and quiet day.

While I was sleeping or relaxing during the day (I forget), Michael called and booked us some more tours for Tues and Wed. This week, we'll be heading with the tour company (on those snazzy air conditioned buses) to the Dead Sea as well as Matzada. We'll also hit Rosh HaNikra, Ceasaria, Haifa, and do some cave splunking! So we've got lots of fun ahead.

I think today we're going to try for the Biblical Zoo (I'm determined, really) and also do some more shopping. At this point, I'll stick in again that obligatory reminder that if you have not yet told me what you wanted from Israel, please email it to me because this is our last week here on this trip. Anyhoo, I hope everyone is doing well back at home and we'll see you all soon.

We're off for more adventure today at the ZOO! Later!