Empty Nesters on a Green Global Trek

After some time on the Moshav, we are ready for the city. 

I do not know Tel Aviv at all, so we are glad to have an opportunity to spend some time here to get a feel for it. Tel Aviv is definitely a happening, buzzing city with many different neighborhoods, things to see and do. It’s very dog friendly a la Paris and has a lot of attractive women… as is one of its’ claims to fame. It is also known for being one of the most gay friendly cities in the world. All of these are aspects we both appreciate.

We are staying at Tal, my nephews’ apartment on Dizengoff street, for a few days, until he goes to the US. Luckily we get some time with him before he leaves ~ then we stay in his place while he travels for work. The best part about Tals’ place is how close it is to the boardwalk and the ocean! 

Oh yeah and a pretty decent hummus place right outside.

Tal on his motorbike outside his apartment, Dizengoff Street.

Tal opposite a wall of PK, BSB small oil paintings done in Highland Park over the years there.

The port area boardwalk is huge with plenty of places for resting, walking and enjoying a spot in the sun.

On a sunny day with a rough-er sea.

Hummus and salads. We are really enjoying the quality of the food in Israel.

We take advantage to enjoy some “down time” with perfect weather.

Beautiful yoga studio right on the boardwalk of the port.  Expensive! I will stick to incorporating yoga and stretching into my daily “routine” . Hence the concept, “Where there is a wall, there is a stretch.”

Once again, we manage to juggle work and play.  Ben has set up multiple meetings with Israeli defense companies and the Israel Defense Forces and starts to conjure a set of strategic relationships that will mature over the next few months.  First opportunity: Israeli helicopter maintenance capability to be connected to Ben’s India partners to address the large Indian helicopter maintenance market.

For a city beach, Tel Aviv beach has soft sand, good swimming and being winter, few people.

We enjoy some beautiful sunsets on Tel Aviv beach and boardwalk.

We walk along the beachfront of Tel Aviv to the ancient port city of Jaffa, a (long) walk away form the Tel Aviv boardwalk ~ with it’s beautiful architecture, interesting flea market and the best masabacha (elevated hummus) that we have while in Israel.

Tel Aviv has really nice open public spaces. There is Jaffa on the horizon.

We spend an evening in Jaffa after our walk on the beach, and then return to experience it and its flea market in the day time.

Jaffa’s beautiful architecture and creamy stone walls and streets.

Lets not forget another reason to go to Jaffa.. and that is the Masabaha at Abu Hassan. Masabaha is a type of hummus, but this in no way describes the gastronomic treat that this bowl of warm chickpeas delivers. Soft and creamy with whole chickpeas on the top, parsley, paprika, secret spices and a generous heaping of green/gold olive oil.

View from a park top in Jaffa, looking towards Tel Aviv.

Typical street in Jaffa

A mural and a store owner seem to blend in seamlessly.

The flea market has all sorts of interesting antiquities such as these coffee and tea pots.

Painted ceramic tiles with scenes or Arabic writing on them.

The flea market area is great for walking around, due to the active vibe and attractive architecture and small streets

Chocolate rugulach (a la Maya of Cherry on a Bike), although not as good as hers. But we had to try them of course just to find out!

Me and Stan ~  How awesome is life!

We met up again for dinner one night, and this time with Ben.

Interestingly I have the same situation and feelings with upcoming meetings with my 2 Israeli friends from the time I lived in Israel in 1967

In all three instances I am overjoyed to say, that without a doubt my friendship bonds from early childhood are incredibly powerful and remain undiminished by time.

Dorit…the Israeli girl who went ” all out” to befriend me  and made all the difference in the level of acceptance which surrounded me in those early days of school in Haifa in 1967, Over the years she managed to “track me down” ~ not easy given how much I have moved…. She has been very eager to reconnect and when we finally do, it’s easy, wonderful and warm.

Dorit has a daughter aged 11, the same age she and I were when we were best friends in Haifa.

Ehud…a hugely cute and charming 10 year old boy I had a big crush on and believe he had similar feelings.  Ehud got a huge surprise when I called him a mere 48 years later. He was as excited to meet me as I was him. Amazingly, after all these years and a lot of life that we have both lived, we still have great chemistry! Ehud told me that even his mother remembered me… (as the little “mulatta girl”! — evidently, being from South Africa, and having white skin, confused her…)

Ehud ~ My first  crush. Still charming after all these years!

In all three instances I am overjoyed to say, that without a doubt my friendship bonds from early childhood are incredibly powerful and remain undiminished by time.

After all our socialising, probably more social than we have been in a very long time, we get one more family day with Niki when she takes the train into Tel Aviv to meet us at the superb Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

Milton Avery

Chagall, of course.

Interesting mobile of hanging objects. (Reminiscent of our orange wall with orange objects in Highland Park at one time.)

Huge flock of birds  where the ocean meets the river, near Tal’s apartment

Last day in Tel Aviv brings us the best beach weather and this time we actually have swimsuits on and spend some more time soaking up the sun, sand and sea. Not bad for December!