Tel Aviv/Jaffa

Hi Everyone,

So on Friday morning we were on a bus by 8a.m. leaving for Tel Aviv/ Jaffa.  Whereas Jerusalem is the heart of Israel, Tel aviv is more of a modernized city that is full of energy.  Many artists and young people live there and take advantage of the amazing Mediterranean Sea coast. Friday was pretty gloomy but we started our day off with a tour of Jaffa which is an old city that has a very rich history.  There are many art galleries and little cafes on the beach, there are also many religions represented.  After the tour ended our little group of 6 decided to check into our hostel.

The ladies by the sea.

This man claims to be the Messiah and is all over the newspapers in Israel haha... mostly he is just meshuga (crazy). 

Tel Aviv in the background.

Cat sitting in an ashtray

Before I was crabby about the rain...

Weird hanging tree....

Old Jaffa

A church in old Jaffa

View from Jaffa

Us trying to find our hostel and wondering way the streets seemed to be getting sketchier as we walked.... It was actually not a bad area the graffiti is everywhere around town but we were a little weirded out. 

Our hostel owner suggested this restaurant and it was amaaaazingly nice and we got a bunch of free stuff because he is a partial owner of the restaurant.  It was fabulous to finally be out of the rain! 

MMMMMM Delicious! 

The next day was much sunnier and warmer, which we were all sooooo happy about!!! We woke up and went to breakfast at Benedicts which was amazingly delicious. 

Here is all of our amazing food and yes I am the only one with a Mimosa BUT in all fairness it came free with my meal and it was delicious! 

For the rest of the day we walked down to Tel Aviv beach and embraced the sun, and took lots of pictures.  We eventually settled down at a restaurant for some interesting conversation by the sea it was very relaxing and wonderful!  

Artsy pictures are a must. 

Shiri and me by the sea. 

Sitcom picture- we just look like we belong on TV. 

F.R.I.E.N.D.S the sequel?

Anyways we left and came back in the evening and when I got home I was starrrving and my wonderful Israeli neighbor Chen made me an amazing dinner that ended in his mom's cheesecake. Great day. Despite the fact that my apartment gets pretty lonely because its just Geries and I still and he goes home alot I am super lucky to have such great neighbors! 

Now I have one more week of Ulpan before classes start! I am taking Hebrew, Judaism and the Environment, and hopefully one more class that I have to interview for in which I would learn about Jewish education in Israel and North America and be able to go work in schools and have some real life experience.  I would also be invited to a shabbat in Malibou when I get back to the states which wouldn't be half bad either :) 

I am also doing an independent study in which I will be working with a professor specializing in trauma and resilience and I  would like to research specifically trauma in children.  I will be meeting with her once a week at the Psychotrauma center in Jerusalem and it will be a great experience! 

Today I went to the Shuk (market) and I got the most amaaazing food! I am finally learning how to use the bus system and starting to feel more like a resident than a tourist.  To get our attention in the market they yell "America" at us haha its hilarious. I got pita, oranges, avocado, cucumber, rugalach, cheese and I think thats it.... You can buy like 3 cucumbers for something like 30 cents. 

 Anyways thats about it for now... I'm sure I forgot to say about a million things that I had wanted to but I can always add more to my next post! Stay tuned....

xoxo
B