The Past Few Days

Once again the sickie bug caught us for a spell. This time it was poor Michael that got the case of the yuckies. He got what I had and then right after that, he drank some tap water at the Dead Sea and had a second case of the yuckies. Because of taking care of him and also some more tours I haven't had time, until now, to post. Let me bring everyone up to date ...

Last you heard from me, it was Sunday and I was sick. Monday we were going to try to head to the Biblical Zoo. Unfortunately, it didn't work out because of the yuckies. We stayed home a good part of the day. Once Michael was feeling a little better, we decided to get out for a bit to shop in M'ea Sharim. We got some lovely things, including a mayim acharonim for us as well as some lovely gifts for others (Stacy and Josh, I'm talking to you! Oh and Tova! You got your Labello! Tila, you got your losenges!). I was on a quest for a nice Shabbos robe but unfortunately, I was unable to find what I was looking for.



We went back home and stayed there because Michael really needed to rest. Once he was feeling better again, he was really hungry (not being able to eat all day will do that) and he really wanted steak. We went out to Ben Yehuda St. area and, after a little while, found a really lovely restaurant called Gabriel. This was exremely upscale. Seriously. However, very affordable by American standards.


We had a fantastic foie gras appetizer and Michael had his steak. He raved about how much he loved it and I was so glad he was happy. I had a goose breast and that was also very lovely and it was all together a very lovely experience.

The next day, Tuesday, we went on a tour of Ein Gedi, Matzada, and the Dead Sea. I was not so thrilled with the tour guide that we got this time as he wasn't very knowledgable nor was he interesting. I guess after having Chaim for a tour guide nothing else compared for me. But we had fun anyhow.

Ein Gedi was very hot. Rediculously so, actually. A girl on our tour got very sick from the heat. Michael and I stayed behind on the trail to help her while the rest of the tour went on like nothing. She was so dehydrated that she couldn't keep water down and I was afraid we'd need to get her an IV. For the rest of the tour, she stayed on the bus and didn't go on any further hikes. I felt so badly for her.

Matzada was also hot. So much so that they didn't even let us hike up. Instead we took a cable car to the top, which I was thankful for. It was mildly interesting but I feel as if I really didn't learn anything new about Matzada due to our tour guides rampant incompetence. Still it was beautiful and interesting despite this.

After that, it was off to the dead sea. We went to seperate beaches (men and women) and I had a lovely time. It was so interesting to be able to float when I can't even swim. Once, I got too far out and slightly freaked but luckily when I flipped over my head still stayed out of the water. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring an extra tichel and it did get wet. Thus, I had to wear a towel on my head all the way home. When we got off the tour bus back in Jerusalem, I had to walk through the streets looking like a crazy person.
The next day, Michael was sick again (because, as I mentioned, we think it was the water he drank at the Dead Sea). We had another tour scheduled for Rosh HaNikra, Haifa, and Aco. We called to cancle but they convinced us to go and so I went out quickly to go buy medicine for Michael. He felt better and we booked it to the tour meeting place. Chaim was our tour guide for the day once again! We were so happy because a tour with Chaim means that you are going to have the best day ever! And we did. There were a few stomach upsets on the way, but for the most part we had a great time. Michael said that he would have regretted not going and was really glad he did.

First off was some ruins in Rosh HaNikra and then it was off to Haifa, where we saw the Roman Aquaduct and played on the beach. Then we toured the ocean caves by the Lebanese border. After that, it was the ancient city of Aco and the crusader castles. But the best part of Aco and perhaps the whole tour was the Tunisian Synogogue. This was amazing. The shul was covered, head to toe, in mosaic -- all depicting stories or passages from the Talmud. It was amazing. The ceiling was mosaic, the floor, the walls, even the stairs! I was so taken by this place and I found it so inspiring. We purchased the book they sell there and had it inscribed by the mastermind behind the art. It was fantastic.



We had a nice long bus ride home and the next day, Thursday, we met up with Michael's cousin Avigail and headed to Tel Aviv to Michael's uncle Mark's house. We had a lovely time. Friday, we made up with Avigail that we'd spend Shabbos at their place, so we did some shopping to bring over food and relaxed before we headed over. We had a lovely Shabbos, spending time with them and their two adorable children.

Today, Sunday, we are hoping to try once again to get to the Zoo. Wish us luck! More soon!

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!