TEL AVIV

It took us a bit of settling into this beautiful AirB&B especially the total change from the awful hotel in Jerusalem. Jennifer found this place and knew we would love it. It's on t he first floor of a high-rise, a group of buildings with real class. It's a bit of a shlep from the neighborhood we were used to spending a couple of nights in on prior trips but it's too hot to walk anyway! 

Simone met us upon our arrival and helped us move in. Then she and Daniella took us for a long walk out to dinner to one of Daniella's favorites. Delicious as these girls are food mavens! On the way back we walked on Nachlot Benyamin, a street lined with cafes and on Sundays and Tuesdays a craft fair. 

Friday we met the Langs for brunch at a delightful seaside restaurant in Jaffa. One of the beach supervisors walked around with a small parrot on his shoulder. So...I then walked around with him on my head and shoulder. I used to have a parakeet when we were first married about half the size of this one but I'm always game!

Look at the other supervisors laughing laughing on the right rear!

Tel Aviv logo on all beach umbrellas along the coast

Ilana Goor Museum in Jaffa. She is in her 80s now and still going strong as a collector, artist, sculptor, furniture and light fixture designer inside and out. The museum is her home as well but she was at the beauty shop! 

entrance piece

on roof

                                                   Ilana Goor but not sure if self portrait

Chairs by Goor plus other famous designers

on upper level

A short distance away from the museum is a fabulous gallery with items made from  nature. I purchased five small paper books and yes books are made from paper. But these are artsy pieces. I stupidly did not take a picture of how they get displayed  but I am sure I will figure it out. I may contact them while here. Such a talented woman with her male assistant.

We took a cab to the clock tower in Old Jaffa and a short walk due to the heat. Same  always with numerous junk/shmata dealers. Many newer looking buildings interspersed amongst the old.

Erev Shabbat we made our way with great difficulty to the building where we were to spend erev and Shabbat with the two families. 

The problem is Tel Aviv is torn up so severely with streets being constantly blocked by construction that the cab driver let us off at bldg 4 when we had to go to bldg 1 on the other side of the construction. My watch told me we walked a mile, back and forth trying to get to the building with nice people trying to help. Finally Jennifer got worried and literally ran home not too far away to get her phone to call Moses. She then met us at the other end of the block having assumed the street was not totally closed and the cab driver would let us off at the correct place. By the time we got to the building we were wet from the heat and wrecks from feeling totally helpless in the dark. The rest of the problem was that Herbie was to make #10 for the men's minion or prayer service so the Langs and Keren's family had been waiting.

Alls well that ends well a famous person once said. Jennifer and Daniella cooked the gourmet dinner for the 27 people except the challah and desserts. It was all delicious but the biggest surprise was the desserts. They live near a bakery that I am glad I do not live near! Desserts on the Sabbath are rarely that good but these were the best! And my favorite, carrot cake, was better than any made with milk products plus a fudge cake. If I could have I would have taken pictures but that is a no no on Shabbat as are cell phones. We ate late because the men's prayers went on and on! Leaving was a lot easier as Jennifer walked us to the only place a car can get through so we could give the taxi the correct instructions. 

The next morning we had to return to the same place but because only men count for a minion, the taxi dropped me off at Jennifer and Philippe's apartment and took Herbie and Moses to the service. The girls came in from an early morning visit to the beach and a lovely friend of Jennifer's joined us. Benjamin and Keren were still  asleep. Then Keren's mother came and finally woke her. She is a night person and Benjamin and the Langs are morning people so...

We females walked to the building, thankfully not a long walk in the heat. The men were just starting the prayer service. Herbie was able to participate as Hebrew and some Yiddish are imbedded from childhood. Everyone was very impressed. Then the bride's relatives starting throwing hard candies at the men and it turned into a laughing fiasco! We finally ate lunch which Jennifer had smartly had catered for 25. Many and varied salads plus various quiches, fruit and more yummy desserts.

We went back to our place for a few hours and returned for Havdalah and dinner. Keren did a beautiful Havdalah prayer but I only took a photo and not a video. Can't win em all! The best part of the evening was visiting with Judy Balter Serilevy, Jennifer's oldest friend from childhood. She's a neonatal pediatrician and she and Amos live near the airport. They were at the wedding too but we didn't get a chance to catch up till tonight.