A Ways Away

Tell me something new

2009-05-22T01:59:00.005+03:00

Yes, I know it's been forever since I wrote, and rather than beat myself over the head for that, I will smile and keep moving on.

I am back in the good ol' USoA. However, as the Waysaway blog must focus on things that are a ways away, I will tell you about my next adventure planned!

I am kidnapping my cousin out of the clutches of her much beloved family (two boys and one hubby... which is better than two hubbies and one boy... or maybe not... hmmmm.) ANYWAY, moving right along, we are going to Alaska! Just we two, for some girl time. Should be a hoot.

She and I privileged the world by gracing it (she more than I) with our presence a mere 10 days apart. So for our trip, we chose a cruise that falls smack dab between our birthdays. Less than 30 days to go!!! yippeeeeeeeeeee

Cruisin'

2008-10-16T00:51:00.004+02:00

We have been out and about, then even more way out, cruising the Western Mediterranean.

I will be posting an update about the travels here soon, with more pictures on my Flickr home page.

See you there soon!

Flicks

2008-09-10T11:03:00.010+03:00

I finally got a new Flickr account, after completely messing up on my original account, forgetting the answer to every "secret question" they had to validate my account. I must have had an unfortunate spelling error or two.

Oh well, here is the new one... http://www.flickr.com/photos/waysaway/

I'll be adding pictures, so please come visit, and I look forward to your comments!

Over the Green Line

2008-09-08T22:41:00.008+03:00

Herodian....

I heard about this place many moons ago and wanted to go, and so when I realized that one could drive there, and not have to worry about finding a tour guide, I jumped at the chance.

Not much is left above ground except for some huge walls and towers, but the intricate tunnels and cisterns are quite cool. Literally cool, when it is 90+F outside!!

Herodian is right near Bethlehem, where I have become quite famous amongst my friends as someone to knows the ins and outs of Rachel's Crossing (the border into that portion of the West Bank).

So of course we had to go there too, leaving our rental car behind, as it is not allowed in Bethlehem.

The border crossing is like a weird, dream-like version of a prison Disneyland ride:
You buy your "ticket" from a person in a small stand (really, just checking your passport), then zig zag your way in, out, and through, until you reach a long walkway out to a grove of trees and a parking lot, where a dozen taxis wait for the moment to convince you that you REALLLLLLY need them to take you around, and that they have this cousin who is a good tour guide, and no it would be a pleasure to ask him to take you to the Church of the Nativity, for free, as a friend, but oh, you've already been there, well then how about we visit the Mar Saba Monastery instead...?

Ok, NOW we're talking!! Somewhere I haven't BEEN yet!

So like any good 'Turr-istas' we went for it!!

Here is the Kidron River Valley. It runs through Jerusalem too, between the Old City and the Mt of Olives. Way out here, even though there is still a river, there is not much else.

The Monastery hides behind some old walls, and looks out onto the canyon. Dozens of caves dot the cliffs on the other side.

Shade is at a premium here!

Whew! An austere location, but also beautiful in its ruggedness. I think I prefer the idea of joining a nunnery in Germany.

Canine Catastrophies

2008-09-08T22:23:00.004+03:00

By popular demand, I am back with a short on the day in the life of a dog. My dog.

No malice was intended, I am sure.

It's just that she was bored. Really, really bored.

She discovered how to pull open the wire drawers in the microwave stand and ate three raw potatoes, and half a loaf of bread. (It was even a brand new loaf I had bought the night before, in blissful expectation of toast - if I ever figured out how to wake up in time)

Anyway, the funniest part is that she somehow managed to get out whole slices, and she left the butt-end!!!

Then she found and gnawed on my headset to the computer, so I can't Skype until I find a replacement :(

THEN she found the remnants of the box of Kleenex (specially imported Kleenex) that I rescued from total annihilation a few days ago, and proceeded to shred both the contents and the container to ensure it would not EVER come back to life again. It looked like a confetti ticker-tape parade had happened in my bedroom.

And THEN, she peed in the house while I was entertaining dinner guests. I guess it's time I break out the newspaper and hit myself over the head.

The worst part is that last week she was a complete ANGEL!!!! Ha - she fooled me!!! She wants a sister, I think.

The Big Huge Triangle Thingies, and Their Funny Looking Pet Cat

2008-07-30T06:31:00.005+03:00

Next, we got to visit one of the 8 Wonders of the Ancient World. A real highlight!

I was there!!!!!! I never really thought I'd ever get over there, but I did!

Sarah, our Guide, and Chana - Walking like an Egy-pti-an

The Great Pyramid and the Middle Pyramid are set up to allow tourist to enter into the depths, to the burial chambers. Our wise guide suggested that we only do the middle pyramid, as even that has a long enough passageway where you are doing a monkey-hunch and shuffle waaaaay down, then waaaaay up. (Sure enough, my legs felt it the next day!)

On the way in...

In the dimly lit burial chamber itself, there was a sarcophagus with its lid removed and to the side. I couldn't resist. I climbed in it, and crouched down, ready to "boo" a poor unsuspecting tourist. So bad!

So, anyway, I am the only person I know who lay in a sarcophagus and lived to tell about it! :)

The Sphinx says hello

Mighty friendly fellow!

And I thought Israeli driving was crazy!

2008-07-30T05:56:00.005+03:00

Not quite as bad as Egypt.

Cairo was actually less littered than many parts of the world I have been in, but it was dingy. There was grey soot all over the buildings, most of which look like they had never been painted to begin with. The "beautification" projects of trees and flowers was mostly absent. And cars and people EVERYWHERE. There were some beautiful areas, don't get me wrong, but in general it was not the Cotswolds.

The picture above was taken on one of the holy days, so vehicle traffic was minimal... The below picture more closely resembles the standard traffic density. Just picture the cars moving fast and rather randomly.

Crossing the street was hilarious. Chana and I were afraid that we'd lose life or limb as we attempted to check out the restaurants on the other side of an eight lane road out in front of our hotel. But, as we are resourceful women, we would stake out unsuspecting locals to be our cover.

We'd sneak up to them - desperately attempting to appear like everything was normal - and then stay r.i.g.h.t. there at their side... with THEM the ones closest to the oncoming traffic. They move, we move. They stop, we stop. Cars zooping in front of us and behind us. Taxis changing lanes and honking. Motorcycles weaving in and out. Piece of cake. (Breathe.... breathe.... you're still alive...)

Some pictures of the various loads in motion we saw...

Cairo Oh!

2008-05-11T06:02:00.003+03:00

I can now claim a new continent to my travel sites: Africa! We caught a flight direct from Tel Aviv to Cairo, and were greeted by our staff. Yes, one travels in style there... a driver, a tour guide, and an "expeditor". (I never did quite figure out what the expeditor did, except for pay for things like the hotel and the cruise, and help us figure out how to get bus tickets home, but I was ok with having more staff than tourists, so I decided to just enjoy.)

Here is a picture of the two symbolic plants of Egypt, the papyrus, and the lotus. This is in a fountain out in front of the Egyptian Museum.

One isn't allowed to take pictures inside the museum, but even the outside is 'littered' with ancient statues of pharaohs, lions, sphinxes, and carved sarcophagusssessssses. Or is it sarcophagi?

The collection in the museum is impressive. The most famous, of course, is the King Tut exhibit, but all the halls were filled with fascinating carvings and stories. To do it justice, one would have to spend weeks there.

After spending a mere 4 fast hours in the museum, under the tutelage of our sweet, funny tour guide, we bounded our way through traffic to the Mohamed Ali mosque, in a citadel that had a comanding view of Cairo.

We could even catch a glimpse of the great pyramids in the distance.

I thought that this was a fun piece of trivia...
In Paris, there is a huge obelisk, a gift from Egypt to King Louis Philip. I got to see it on my trip there last May, with my mom. Anyway, King Philip, in return, gave Egypt this rather overly ornate clock, that has never worked!! It sits in the courtyard, a giving the correct time twice a day, reminding the Egyptians that maybe the trade wasn't such a good one...

More pics later.... Ciao for now!

Eeeek!!! (but even Eeeekier than last time)

2008-05-06T11:50:00.001+03:00

Today, for the first time, my little Mazda 3 took over $100 USD to fill up a whole tank of gas. $108.50 to be precise. That's almost $8 a gallon. Concidering I have over 32000km (about 20,000 miles) on my previously 0 km car, I hate to imagine what my total dollar output has been.

Nha nha nha nha - I'm in denial!!!

"Don't worry about that. Let's look at flowers!!"

A New Found Respect

2008-05-01T05:21:00.004+03:00

Do you know how frikin' FAR it is from the Cairo area in Egypt all the way to central Israel? I now do. It is about 15 hours in an air-conditioned minibus, over paved roads, under the Suez canal, through much flatness and much mountainess, and very little waterness.

So next time you read about Joseph sending his brothers back to go get Benjamin, and then Jacob, think about what that was like sans minibus!

Dead to the World

2008-04-16T02:17:00.006+03:00

You know those days you are just feeling low, but can't put a finger on why... Not to worry, it is perfectly normal to be very low here in Israel. In fact, it is easy to be the lowest you'll every be!

It is very odd to be driving along, and see a sign that says "Sea Level" and not be hitting any water, then you keep driving, and see pretty designations that you are going deeper and deeper and you are still not wet!

Below is picture of the marker for 300m below sea level (-984ft), but you don't hit water until -1378ft!

The sensation of floating in the dead sea is almost indescribable. You walk out into the water, and instead of sand under your feet, there is rock salt. You keep walking until you are a bit deeper than waist-deep, then sit down into... nothing! Perfect suspension. Now you know what an ice cube feels like floating there in your glass.

Here are some pics of our train ... Mike was the engine, the rest of us were there for the ride.

Below is the picture that is my background on my work PC. I love the shadows and stormy weather. You can really understand how in this barren area we went thousands of years without finding the Dead Sea scrolls.

Wandering the Wilderness - our style

2008-04-14T19:31:00.014+03:00

The Israelites were punished by God and made to "wander in the wilderness forty years". It was into that wilderness of Sinai that Mark and I set forth.

Of course, don't get going on whether it was really that particular spot, and for how long it was that spot or whatever. In fact, when I went to go check the wandering location of wanders, I found several web sites, but was most entertained by the definitive tone of this compendium (http://www.earth-history.com/Various/Compendium/hhc2ch16.htm) which actually indicates that little wandering was done in this region, with most of it out near my posting of a while back, Petra. I mean... COMPENDIUM??? Who uses such words anyway!?!

So, back to Sinai.........

After catching a fast moving, road wandering, headlight flashing van at the border between Egypt and Israel, we enter the Sinai Penninsula and make our way south through Taba and down to Dahab.

Once there, we check in to our resort hotel, which offered comfortable lodging at a reasonable price with a dive shop on location :)

Checking our gear - BWRAF!

This dive spot is called Moray Gardens. We did two dives here. The coral was beautiful, and the sea life better than anywhere I've been so far. One of my favorites was watching a small octopus change colors with his environment.

Destruction in Ashkelon

2008-03-02T02:52:00.001+02:00

As the violence in the Middle East wages on, even Sarah's porch is affected.

Hardly any vegetation remains in these harsh conditions, after repeated attacks wear down even the heartiest flora.

The media coverage gives a mixed view of the situation, and one can't help but wonder if those responsible realize the consequenses of their actions.

I guess not, as they go on to enjoy another sunset on the Med.

Fooooooooood

2008-02-19T03:17:00.001+02:00

Mark has trained me well, and I am always on the lookout for good fooooooood.

Here we are with Jonathan and Robin, with a table full of salads. These small flavorful dishes and fresh bread make the best appetizers.

In Petra, fresh veggies, and the various sauces... Humus, Tahini, and Babaganoosh

Mark's favorite though (yes, I AM joking) is this place, a Kosher McDonald's! Complete with a lot of your old favorites (without the cheese and bacon) and with a pita-kabob-sandwich!

Petrafied

2008-01-29T20:45:00.009+02:00

Ok, so this is much overdue.... but worth a write-up none the less.

I got a wonderful chance to go with my friends Mike and Michelle off to the not-even-a-little-bit-Red Sea, then a day-trip to Petra, in Jordan.

Here is a view of the Israeli resort city of Eilat. Hotels, restaurants, clubs, duty-free shopping and diving make up its profile.

We were up at dawn to make it to the border early, but even so were in a large line, as this was the first day open after a long religious holiday that shut down Jordanian government and businesses. The creature below was the most fun to photograph... it was just hard to catch it standing still.

Once in the entrance to old Petra, Mike and Michelle wrap up to fight the cold. And it was COLD. The temps were below freezing when we arrived, and the wind chill kept biting our faces. I have to say I had no idea that it got this cold here!

The walk down towards the Treasury led us through a large canyon. It was fun finding pictures in the stone. Here is one of two people about to kiss...

The Treasury (which really was never a treasury, but if you want the history of the whole place, you can read up on in at http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_nabateans.html ) was breathtaking. It is amazing for its sheer size and the fact that it still stands, even though carved out of this relatively soft sandstone.

And we did fall prey to the sales pitches from the locals, and were coerced into riding camels. Mike practiced his bartering skills, and after many false starts off by foot, got the price down to where we decided the experience was well worth the cashflow. Certainly a fun way to book it back to the bus for the drive back to Eilat.

North to Nimrod

2007-12-21T15:15:00.000+02:00

Nimrod Fortress (National Park)

Like most old things, this one has changed hands a few times. It was built by the Crusaders, then taken over by the Muslims of Damascus and actually used to defend against the Crusaders. ("Joe, I told you not to build the walls so high! Now we can't get back in!") More info

The Fortress at Sunset

High up on Mt. Hermon, looking over the valley. Beautiful way to end a day.

When I went to the College of Engineering and Mines this isn't what I had in mind....

Way up north, we can see signs of past conflicts.

Hmmm... I think I'll stick to the other side of the road .

The Newest Member of the B's

2007-12-21T14:46:00.001+02:00

Isn't my new puppy sweet?! At least, if M were still in the US instead of here, it would be my new puppy. As it is, she's still playing like a crazy dog at her old home, not in my home. Hmph.

*** UPDATE *** She IS mine!!!!! as of Dec 31, 2007

Eeeek

2007-12-06T09:57:00.000+02:00

I made a stop for fuel last night on my way to celebrate the second night of Hannukah at a South African restaurant in a small kibbutz outside of Kiryat-Gat. Was I ever shocked to see that it took $80 to fill the tank in my little Mazda 3. Gas here is now up to $6.20 a gallon.

At least I can be happy for the 8.4L/100km fuel economy (about 28MPG). Oh, and that I'm not in Europe where the price is closer to $8 a gallon.

SMART park

2007-12-04T18:31:00.000+02:00

This was in the Ikea parking lot. (We're progressive here, with our Sveedish storres)

Not a good picture (it was taken at night with my cell phone) but if you look closely does reveal the mindset here on parking.

Touring the New Way

2007-11-30T20:17:00.000+02:00

I got to gallivant around Galilee in some old gear. What do you think?

Spontaneous Combustion

2007-11-01T12:37:00.000+02:00

My last day in Germany, I had to find something to do that would still let me get back to the airport early enough to wish I had arrived later. Rack and Fade, yadah, yadah, yadah... (ask a pilot what that means)

The whole city of Frankfurt was buzzing with the 62nd Annual FIAA - the world's largest auto show. Not letting myself be constrained that M had already left back to the US, I decided to venture forth alone, and face that mob that was Saturday at the Show. (of course, now that I am "hebrewing" Shabat at the Show.)

There were massive crowds and quite an outstanding number of vehicles.

I bet Mom reallly wishes she could have been here.

Or even here. This was a freestanding, two story "tent" put up by BMW for their exhibit.

The BMW Formula 1 car, sponsored by "yours truly"

The Ferrarri F1.

It's sponsored by "THE OTHER" supplier of microprocessors

But wait. I thought it was sponsored by them... but I don't see any logos.

Oh, there it is. Isn't it so cute and hidden!?!?

Old classics. I don't like it, cuz where would Tesla sit?

Hmmm, my fingernails might get jealous of this one's shiny red paint.

Customs

I think this must be the way parking laws are enforced so darn quickly in Tel Aviv.

The Head, not the Tail

2007-09-14T21:48:00.000+03:00

Symbolism abounds in every piece of the Jewish ceremonies, and this year I got to learn some about the ones in Rosh Hashanah.

(First, a non-symbol thing to point out. The pronunciation is ROSH hashaNAH with the heaviest accent on the NAH. That one only took me a week to break the habit!)

If you read my earlier post, you may have discovered that, this year, ROsh HashaNAH started at sundown on Wednesday and went to sundown on Friday. So that means two nights partying, and as luck would have it, two of my co-workers invited me to join their families in celebrating, one on each night.

I won't swamp you with the details of how each family celebrated as there were some differences, but I'll try to pass on some of the symbols as best I can from what I absorbed during the ceremonies and translations.

Round Chalah (a sweet soft bread, usually made braided, not round) is broken by the father and drizzled with honey. The round bread is for the crown, or for the seasons. The honey, as with the many sweet things served during the meal, is for sweetness and hope in the new year.

Then came some savory tarts, one root vegetable one (onions, leeks, celery root, and such) and one spinach. The roots are to put the end to enemies - by being a pun! I checked into it here at home, and this is what one website says about it: "Both the Arabic and Hebrew words for leek sound like the Hebrew word for "cut off." God is asked to prevent, or cut off, those who would harm the Jewish people." The spinach is for a green year with lots of crops.

Next was "a new fruit of the season", this time a pomegranate, in the hope that one's good deeds in the coming year will be as plentiful as its seeds. Or, as my friend's sister said as she made sure I got a big scoop, that it's for having LOTs of children. Maybe I will come back to the US with triplets. (Hmmm... when is Mark getting here?)

There were many, many other foods served with their own symbolism, but the one that gave the title to this post is a fish. You eat a whole fish, with its head still attached, so that in the next year you are at the head, not the tail.

*btw, the pics are just from my wanderings in Jerusalem

Holidays are upon us

2007-09-13T17:39:00.000+03:00

Yesterday marked the beginning of a series of holidays here in Israel. Here is what my Hebrew teacher gave me about the festivities.

The Jewish New Year and the holiday season is approaching and we would like to provide you and your families with some information about the nature of the Holy Days and about what goes on in the country during this period. We trust that you will prepare yourselves accordingly and that you will have the opportunity of experiencing the special nature of the holidays together with the people of Israel.

ROSH HASHANA EVE / JEWISH NEW YEAR
Wednesday, September 12 – Friday, September 14

Rosh Hashanah is the first of the "High Holy Days”. During the two days of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish businesses are closed and public transport does not operate. For Israel's non-religious majority who may or may not attend synagogue, Rosh Hashanah is a period where extended families get together for meals and for outings to the beach and other day destinations. There is an atmosphere of festivity and celebration during this period, similar to that of the Christmas/ New Year period in other countries.

Special food is sold in the supermarkets for the holiday and you will see that a lot of honey and honey products are sold, as it is a Jewish custom to eat an apple dipped in honey over the Rosh Hashanah holiday in order to herald a sweet year.

YOM KIPPUR / DAY OF ATONEMENT
Friday, September 21 - Shabbat, September 22

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and is observed by the majority of the Jewish people throughout the world, even if they are not religious. A 25-hour fast is observed, beginning at sundown on Yom Kippur Eve, and most of Yom Kippur is spent in the synagogue reciting special prayers. There are two reasons for the somber atmosphere of Yom Kippur.

The first and foremost one is the traditional religious one as it is on this day, according to the Jewish faith that a persons fate is sealed for the year to come and on this day we ask God's forgiveness for all the transgressions we have made during the year. The second reason is that on the day of Yom Kippur in 1973, Israel's enemies launched one of the most aggressive wars on the country, during a day when the country was the least prepared, resulting in a death toll of thousands of Israeli soldiers. For many people this day is also a commemoration to these fallen men and women.

All Jewish businesses and public transportation come to a halt at around 13:00 on the eve of the fast (October 1). By sundown, all other kinds of traffic come to a stop as well (except for emergency vehicles). Ben Gurion Airport is closed. National T.V and radio broadcasts also cease during Yom Kippur. Normal activity resumes after nightfall on October 2.

Not only does public transportation come to a stop, but also private cars are not driven out of respect for the Holy Day, (please take note that this applies to you too.) Please be aware that although no cars are allowed in the streets, kids take over the roads riding bicycles and rollerblades.

SUKKOT/ FESTIVAL OF THE TABERNACLES AND THE INTERMEDIATE DAYS
Wednesday, September 26 – Thursday , 4 October

The Festival of Sukkoth begins on the fifth day after Yom Kippur and it is quite a drastic transition, from one of the most solemn holidays in our year to one of the most joyous.
This festival is sometimes referred to as the Season of our Rejoicing and it lasts for seven days. The two days following the festival are separate holidays Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah but are commonly thought of as part of Sukkot.

The word "Sukkot" means "booths," and refers to the temporary dwellings that the Jewish people are commanded to live in during this holiday. Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. The holiday commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Sukkot is also a harvest festival. In honor of the holiday's historical significance, we are commanded to dwell in temporary shelters, as our ancestors did in the wilderness. The commandment to "dwell" in a sukkah is taken literally by many religious people in Israel but the majorities of the population who erect them invest time and energy in decorating them and eat their meals in them, weather permitting. Traditionally Sukkot also heralds the first rain of the season and a special prayer is said to encourage an abundance of rain in the coming winter.

The days of Sukkot (26-27 September and 3-4 October) are religious days and these days can be compared to Shabbat and other holidays where most shops and businesses are closed but restaurants and tourist sites will be open. During the intermediate days of Sukkot (8-12 October), life continues as normal although some businesses and places of work operate on a half day basis. Traditionally, Sukkot is a time of taking trips and having picnics and the beaches, Nature Reserves and Parks and historical sites are packed to capacity. It is also customary for the religious population to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem so there is more activity in the city during this week.

To all of you A Sweet & Happy Jewish New Year and we hope that you enjoy the holiday season!

Vegetable Soup for the Soul

2007-08-10T17:38:00.000+03:00

As isolated as I am from the real conflict not too far south of me, I can go along my life as if it didn't exist. To keep a smidgen of reality and awareness in my system, I subscribed to Google news alerts of any published news articles about my area.

Some of the articles it finds are related to the nearby desalinization plant. It provides an incredible amount of water, and is powered by an offshore natural gas source.

Others articles might talk about the migration of birds, or the hardships of farmers, or the mayor, "is he accepting bribes??"

And, of course, there are usually one or two that discuss the Palestinian/Israeli conflicts.

My favorite one, though, was one that talked about the Kassam rockets that the Islamic Jihad occasionally shoot out of Gaza towards Israel towns and kibbutz in the Negev. Sderot has suffered considerably, and there were some wounded listed in this article. But no, that's not the funny part - Here is the funny part:

"On Thursday, a group of left-wing activists fired tomatoes, corn and eggs into the area from where Gazans had been firing rockets, in order to demonstrate the helplessness of the government.

The activists fired the vegetables from an improvised cannon, which was made from sewage pipes and flammable liquid. The vegetables were covered with soup in order to minimize friction.

Several minutes later, IDF soldiers arrived at the scene and asked the activists to stop the vegetable fire."

Two wounded in Sderot Kassam attack, JPOST.COM STAFF, Aug. 3, 2007 http://www.jpost.com/

THAT is peaceful protest the Israel way :P

Sunset on the Med

2007-08-10T17:29:00.000+03:00

Oh, the pain and suffering I endure. I had to watch this sunset from my balcony instead of the sand! If only my evening phone meetings would disappear!

Move-in Madness

2007-07-15T15:52:00.000+03:00

"Fully furnished"

Yah Raaahhht!

I suppose I am spoiled. Ok, I believe I deserve to be treated like a princess. Anything wrong with that?

But when you are told by the Relocation Department that you don't need to bring anything except "your clothes and any personal items that will make your place feel more like a home", you hope that at least that means that there will be drinking glasses, a shower rod and curtain, and a desk at which you will be able to park your computer for the 2-6 hours of meetings you have every night.

But maybe I am stretching it to believe that there will be a mirror or even some storage place in the bathroom besides the 2 inches of level space adjacent to the faucet, or on the tank behind the toilet. Or maybe I am complaining if I want light fixtures aside from bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Or an ironing board to go with the iron they did buy me. Or cold water along with the hot water in the kitchen sink (with gloves on, the scalding is minimized). Hey - I have hot water!! What am I whining about?

Then there's the light switch that triggers that breaker to trip, but then takes the whole apartment down with it. Or the electric blinds (cool huh!?) where up is down, and down is up. Or beautiful ceramic tile with smears of grout hardened in ugly brown patterns.

Of course, if one expects the whole bathroom to get wet when you shower, then it makes sense to not have a place to put the toilet paper. After all, it'd get wet too, and who wants to use wet toilet paper.

Drapes? Nah, we know that the inventory list says that there should be drapes, but the aura of darkness instilled by the solitary-confinement prison cell appearance of the light-blocking shutters is by far better for the soul than any wispy fabric hung from a cold iron rod.

I think I laughed (or cried) the most when I talked with the landlord of this brand new apartment. I had been already planning how to convince him that he needed to install additional counter space, in the form of a bar that wrapped around to close off the kitchen from open view of the entering world, and provide much needed additional counter space. (I am messy when I cook. Princesses can be messy and no one should complain.) He proceeds to tell me how the original plans had a disturbing low wall and counter around the kitchen, and he made the builders knock it out. He likes it OPEN! Hmph, I bet he never cooks either!

Apartment View

2007-07-11T09:13:00.000+03:00

We finally moved in!

The view is still beautiful, especially early in the morning (when these pictures were taken), or late in the afternoon, just as the sun is settling down into the water. Now I need to hang up my hammock on the deck.

CHOCOLATE

2007-07-11T08:20:00.000+03:00

Chocolate is the Eighth Wonder of the Natural World.

The afternoon of our tour up North, we didn't really have lunch. We had chocolate. Though, maybe "did" chocolate would be a better description.

We went to a small shop in an industrial section of the town, and entered a large room where chocolate is the teacher.

The facilitator started her business in the late 90's when the stock markets and the tech companies went flat. She eventually turned her small operation into a workshop instead of a factory, with all sorts of groups, kids to the ancient, stopping in to get their hands dirty.

She and her daughter set out dozens of bowls of toppings and fillings.

But first we had to taste the pure stuff.

The owner says that one of her favorite groups so far was from a visit she made to a hospital where she worked with several anorexic women. I'm glad to say I don't suffer from that disease.

Ewww... Chocolate covered truffle gooooooop....

Careful attention to detail.

The term "gremlin" comes to mind for some of these little beasts.

Tour de Israel

2007-07-11T05:54:00.000+03:00

My work team took a day off and headed up to the cooler lands up north, to Zichron Yaakov. (Here's a fairly comprehensive article about the region.)

We ate breakfast in an old winery that was converted into a restaurant and visitor's center.

Breakfasts in Israel are an odd mix of foods... Cucumber, tomato, feta salad; scrambled eggs or very flat omlette; variety of cheeses, soft and semi-firm; fish, usually salmon, sardines, or whitefish; and breads. Because of the kosher rules, do not expect meat. (They put fish and eggs in the "non-meat" category.

After breakfast, off to find out more about the region and get our history lesson about the 19th century Baron Rothschild, whose money and entrepreneurship grew the region into a large developed area. Then a brief walk around town.

Ceasaria isn't far from the Zichron Yaakov region, and the Roman influence is still around. The more adventurous part of our tour was a visit to the site of ancient cisterns the Romans built to get water into thirsty, bath-happy Ceasaria. We climbed down one of the 7 shafts, and splashed through the hand chiseled tunnels in an inch of water, then 2 inches, then 5, then 8, then up to my knees, then my hiney.

Course, that was all before lunch, so I'll finish up about our afternoon next blog.

28 Again

2007-06-21T20:14:00.000+03:00

I am 28 again. It is very easy to remember, because my mom is 29 and it's impossible for me to be older than my own mother.

The little cake and birthday wish is from the hotel. They have to have a copy of my passport, so I think they spied on it and marked my birthday in their system. I won't complain. It's kind of nice to come back after a long day at work and be greeted at the front desk with a "Happy Birthday" and impish smile.

You call that DRIVING??

2007-06-20T16:46:00.000+03:00

I have to say that I am very amused with what passes as 'Driving' here in Israel. Lane control are two words that I think cannot possibly coexist in the same sentence, and certainly not anywhere near a road.

At first you wonder if someone is changing lanes, cuz they are creeeeeeping over into your lane. But then, they slowwwwly creep back. (It's most fun on a curvy road, while you are trying to pass.) When they do change lanes, they actually use their blinkers more than the folks in Oregon do. But then it's as if they forgot what they were doing, and wait for a while... then slowwwwly creep halfway across, straddling the line. There they wait, pondering what to do next.

Traffic lights are also different. A red light still means stop, but it gives you a warning yellow before turning green. Makes me feels like I'm a race car! 'Gentleman, Start Your ENGINES!!!!!'

Before turning red again, the green light will start to flash, usually 3-4 times. In Oregon, that would mean ACCELERATE! Not here. Slam on your brakes, and stop, while you wait for the light to turn yellow for a few seconds, then red. Seriously, I almost rear-ended a van that stopped at the green light. I did find out that my little Mazda has ABS.

Being Prepared

2007-06-18T12:08:00.000+03:00

I know how important it is to be prepared to survive and thrive, so I have canceled my surfing lessons and the scuba diving trip, and am immersing myself in the culture here. Incredibly, as an add-on option to my Hebrew language lessons, I am also able to get my fighter pilot's licence. The online quizzes and the $50 Microsoft Flight Simulator program have really paid off, and I go out solo tomorrow.

Party on...

2007-06-17T15:11:00.000+03:00

Yes, we do suffer terribly while on assignment.

I went to a fun barbeque at my friend's house in Old Jaffa. (This is the same place where Noah dropped off one of his sons, and where Jonah ran to catch a boat instead of heading up to Nineveh.)

My friend got here about 4 months ago, and landed a beautiful apartment. For a brief couple of days it looked like I might get a place in the same building, but the landlord had raised the price out of the allocated company budget, and no amount of fussing brought the price down.

This is the view from another friend's place. (Hard to see, but that's the Mediterranean between the buildings.) Sunsets are often golden, as there is very fine dust from Africa blown this way. I've even heard that on some days it can rain mud!

Warning, it's a groaner

2007-06-17T15:00:00.000+03:00

So, (that one's just for you, Grace), I have been learning a lot about the many cultures here in Israel. I visited one area that was about 85% Arab and 15% Christian. I saw some big mosques and some little ones. Turns out that the big mosques are simply called mosques; the little ones are mosque'itos.

Whewww - HOT!!

2007-06-11T08:56:00.000+03:00

Weather Underground tracked the temp and humidity yesterday. I felt like I was back in Boa Vista, Roraima!

Masada

2007-06-11T00:46:00.000+03:00

M and I took a Saturday and ventured to Masada, south of the Dead Sea. Though the struggle we faced to get there was not of the same duration as the Roman soldiers laying siege to the mountain-top fortress, I did begin to wonder if we'd ever make it. You see, we got trapped in Jerusalem, wandering for forty minutes and forty seconds, waiting to stumble onto Highway 1. Hwy 1 eventually revealed itself and we were finally making our way, down, down, down towards the lowest "outdoor" point on earth.

My Mazda lease-car enjoying rest at a desert mirage

(First place in a long time that I've had to pay to use a restroom)

The southern bit of the Dead Sea

M thought it'd be fun to run up to the top of the mountain, but my new Mazda wouldn't hear of it! No hot and sweaty runner was going to blemish its new interior!! He had to be happy with the tram ride up instead...

The Trail of Sweat and Gnashing of Teeth in a Hot Dry Climate
(or why Sarah is not in charge of naming things)

A Byzantine church (built well after the days of Herod)

New Apartment

2007-06-09T11:11:00.000+03:00

The apartment M and I chose is just finishing construction, and should be ready at the end of the month. Here are some pictures. I am anxious to see what odd assortment of furniture and appliances I'll get....

My New Apartment (red box)

Lobby Entrance

View towards north beach

View South

View of kitchen from living room (front door is where the guy is standing, one bedroom/bath off to the right)

View of living/dining room- hallway towards three bedroom, two baths off the right

Kitchen (Laundry room entrance in view)

Alive and Well

2007-06-02T21:05:00.000+03:00

Hi ya!

M and I got into to Tel Aviv Sunday night, had an early (at least, early for us) dinner, then hit the hay... where I did a lot of tossing and turning and very little sleeping. M was out like a light, so unfair.

Monday, we met up with our "relocation specialist" and started the process of choosing where to live. Tel Aviv is about 1 to 1.5 hours from my work, but certainly a fun alive place. But the price of fuel is SSSsooooooooo expen$ive, and the apartments so overpriced for what you get, that I decided to move closer in to work, but still on the Mediterranean.

I chose an awesome apartment, quite near a marina and a beach. It's got rooms and bathrooms galore, so pleanty of space for visitors. I'll take pictures soon. It's a brand new place, and will still take about one month to be move-in ready. (They still have to install AC, appliances, furniture, etc)

With the skewed work week, I work Sunday through Thursday officially, though because of the work I do with my teams back in the US, I also put in hours from 7pm to Midnight+ on Monday through Friday so I can actually meet and interact with them. Then, I have to swim, eat, bike, and sleep. Oh, the life....