Golan Heights

Up north is where its at! Yes, Tel Aviv is the cool city with all the bustle and excitement. Yes, Jerusalem is the authentic city will the all the history and culture. But, if you want to connect to mother nature, the best thing we’ve got, get out of the city and head to the Golan Heights.

I could sit here for hours telling you all about the hiking, the berry picking, and the four hour dinner at Chebby’s house, but i won’t do it! Because that’s not fair. Go up there and do it yourself!

Do you like berries like i do? Check out the fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il_nZr9xQKY

 

Tel Aviv Food Festival

Every year Tel Aviv has a food festival in the gorgeous, charming, Ganai Yehoshua park in the northern part of the city. Some of the best restaurants open up booths to offer some of their best dishes in small portions. Live music, a peaceful setting, and genuine tel avivians complement the delicious food to create a really fun event.

I got to this park around 9 pm on thursday night and was amazed by the beauty and aura of this park. Having parked relatively far from the festival, we were fortunate to walk almost the entire park (very calming and also nice to burn some before stuffing my face).

I was getting very pumped on this walk for what was coming. You know like rubbing my hands together, putting on my game face, and saying to myself (outloud): ahh what am i gonna get?

I am a big food guy and i get very excited when food is the center of a shared and creative environment. Such a diverse group of cuisines and people made me want to hit everything and everyone up.

With over 50 different booths, i wasnt sure where to start. So, in order to think logically, i decided to grab a smoothie- Pasilphlora Vi Tot ( Challenge of your day to figure what fruits those are)– very refreshing.

I was on a quest for chicken with a side of veggies. I saw skewers of beef and veggies in these small boxes being offered at this one booth and thought maybe they served chicken as well. ” Ain li ofe, ain li sushi, ain li pasta,” the guy shouted in a microphone when i asked if they had ofe (chicken). Was very funny.

On to the next one–

Bingo! Bingo!

Chicken, beans, veggies, and cous cous!

A pretty large plate from a moroccan restaurant hit the spot.Unfortunately, it filled me up so i didn’t try any more dishes.

I figured this was the perfect venue for me to engage in candid conversations with a variety of israelis.So for the rest of the night, i chatted with israelis on topics from israeli food to serving in the israeli army. I hope they weren’t just being nice, and that i actually made some friends.

We were there until final closing at around 12 am. On the way out, i had to make just one quick pit stop.

“Juiceland” for smoothie number two.

Im Here, Chaverim sheli!

After a beautiful day of sucking up the sunrays of Tel Aviv, I am ready to really kick off the blogging for yall.

Please let me walk you through my first 24 hours in Tel Aviv:

I arrived at my apartment at around 7 pm to be graced with a beautifully prepared Shabbat dinner, a couple of floors down at my friends apartment. My friends, who have been here for quite some time already, were kind enough to quickly fill me in on their experiences so far and their expectations going forward——Okay, thanks guys: I am ready!

The dinner was very interesting—very diverse opinions enabled extremely interesting and thought provoking conversations (yes, it didn’t take long for the Palestinian State issue to come up)…. The food and drinks were great—at least for coming off of a 10-hour flight. But, I just really felt at home, so quickly.

After hanging out for a little bit, we went out to this place a couple of blocks away- the kind of place that I am always looking for— a small open place that has mellow music low enough to be able to converse with the other people without being in their faces.

Enough, with the boring stuff- lets get to the daytime.

I woke up, had an energy bar, and was off towards the beach for a promising late morning run in the heat. I absolutely loved it- I usually like to run through quiet streets, but I really enjoyed seeing tons of happy Israelis walking along the boardwalk.

After coming back to apt for a little bit, I headed to the beach for the day with a couple of friends for a very relaxing afternoon… Despite the news that it’s Jellyfish season, I decided to go in the ocean. (Went in for twenty seconds- I was scared, wouldn’t you be?)

Favorite part of the day: at 8:30 pm, we went to a nearby park to play soccer for a couple of hours. I haven’t played in a very long time, but I fed off of the experienced Israelis and didn’t miss a beat! Great time.

I am now writing to you in a café that serves breakfast 24 hours a day, a couple of blocks away from my apt. I just enjoyed an omelette, while listening to music artists like, the Xx, R.E.M, Lupe Fiasco, The Shins, and Jefferson Airplane (Yes, I am serious).

Stay tuned friends.

 

Can’t Wait!

Boy, one week until i step foot in the holy land to begin one of the most exciting journeys of my life. I want to save the blogging for israel, but thought i should get one in now to prepare you for what’s coming.

I am eager to finally capture what i call the three L package– Learn, Live, and Love– in Israel… Yes, i have been to israel multiple times, but never have i had the opportunity to enter Israel with a team of hungry young adults like myself for eight weeks of unmatched experience. Check out recent posts from my Tamid colleagues to get a taste of what i am talking about.

This package probably sounds extremely cheesy (you can thank the thrill of the first post for that one).. but i believe there’s so much to it. Get ready to help me catch it!

 

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