It is now early evening Tuesday in Tel Aviv.
Last night dinner in Jaffa at Dr Shakshuka (http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/middle-east/israel/tel-aviv/59261/dr-shakshuka/restaurant-detail.html). Although only a few kilometres away, Jaffa has a totally different feel to Tel Aviv. Possibly because it is a biblical town as opposed to a city created out of nothing in the past 120 years. Old Jaffa's port is beautiful and dramatic and its winding side-streets filled with restaurants and hookah-smoking joints are fascinating. A great place to be at dusk in summer. Dr Shakshuka (which M and I visited 3-4 years ago) is totally unchanged - and it is probably unchanged for many decades. Huge bowls of cous cous and meat and vegetables - Libyan style. And obviously shakshukas (baked eggs, tomatoes, onions, spices).
Today another epic breakfast, which included a different type of halva, fruits which I cannot name, new and exciting white and yellow cheeses and too much more to mention. Then we headed to the Museum of the Diaspora. The museum is on the campus of Tel Aviv University and absolutely blew me away last time and left me feeling very drained and emotional - and not just because M somehow lost my prescription sunglasses there, leaving me to enjoy the remaining 7 1/2 weeks of our 2 month summer holiday without sunglasses (until I bought a pair which I wore over my normal glasses, making me look like a tool). The museum is pathetically dated and low-tech (stuck in the 1970s) but it nevertheless has amazing emotional resonance. The highlight is the miniatures of 20 synagogues from around the world, together with stories and pictures which bring to life Jewish communities all over the world. It is an amazing place and highly recommended.
Then the Eretz Israel Museum (the land of Israel museum). Amazing exhibits of pottery, glassware, coins etc through history. The ceramics were incredible - dating back up to 5,000 years. The glassware was also amazing.
Also this morning a walk along Tel Aviv beach and a swim in the sea. The water was cool due to the breeze over the water - much needed given it was 33 degrees celcius at 8:30am.
Tonight dinner with a family friend.
Tomorrow Masada and the Dead Sea.
Very much enjoying Israel and the people and the atmosphere.
1 comment:
i wish i was there with you - did you eat falafel yet? xx M
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