Israel. Summer 2022. Day 5. Back Again, With More Bags.
Today was the best day.
It’s amazing what you can get done when you’re alone and don’t have to worry about anyone else’s schedules, meals, naps etc. Not to say I don’t want to, it was just nice to be totally on my own schedule.
Anyway, it was rough getting to sleep last night. I think the jetlag set in. I think when you fly to Israel during the day the jetlag is worse, but what do I know. I don’t think I fell asleep until close to 3. I had set my alarm for 9:30 “just in case” but thankfully I did because that’s what woke me up. Oh, unless you count the 6:30am butt dial from Tzvi. I got dressed and went to breakfast. It was just as I remembered… from 5 weeks ago. Guess what, it still takes forever to get your coffee.
After breakfast I ventured out. I took a taxi to the Kotel. I asked the driver to take me to Sha’ar Ashpot, the garbage gate, and he literally had never heard of it. Yes he was an Arab cab driver, but he’s a cab driver in Jerusalem. Also, on the way he told me he lives right outside the old city. He had to put it into Waze. He also told me that he was so tired and he had taken someone from the dead sea and hasn’t slept. I told him that sounds safe. Well, I made it to the Kotel and that’s what matters.
It wasn’t empty but it wasn’t packed. Not too many tour groups, but always a diverse array of visitors. From there I walked up to the Rova and headed to the Cardo to stop by and see Udi at Blue and White art Gallery. Luckily he was sitting outside his shop. I showed him a picture of the painting that we bought over Pesach framed and hung on the wall. He was pleased. I got an iced coffee from the Ne’eman there and then walked up and out.
Time for shopping at Mamilla! Well, that wasn’t the plan but it’s what happened. There is the cutest French kids store that had pajamas I was eyeing on Pesach so I bought them, and a few other dresses, and a matching pajama for me. Then I hit another kids store, and then Steve Madden. I don’t know, the Steve Madden here is so much more pleasant than the one at home. I met a mother and daughter who were visiting from Buffalo. The daughter is in college and spending 3 weeks at Hebrew U. I told her I did that when I was in college and she asked if it was fun. I was like, ‘sure… 15 years ago or whatever it was great… have a good time!’ Then I bought a pair of shoes (30 percent off). I almost bought a second pair because they had the shoes I love but they no longer carry in American stores, but I didn’t.
I continued my walk out of Mamilla and made my way up to Ben Yehuda. I stopped at the store called “Ethnics” where we bought a havadala set several years ago. This time I decided to buy the matching washing cup we’d been eyeing over Pesach but didn’t buy. I also bought a bunch of other gifts. The man said if I paid in cash he would give me 15 percent off, so I did. I walked up and down Ben Yehuda and realized I had been shopping nonstop and forgotten to eat, so I got a felafel from Moshiko. I stopped in Gaya to buy Tzvi some new metal puzzles and then was trying to decide if I should go back to the hotel to drop off stuff or head directly to Machane Yehuda. Well, God made the decision for me because at that moment one of my bags broke. So, I got a cab and went back to the hotel.
I dropped off my stuff, ate my felafel, and went back out to Machane Yehuda. The shuk was packed, as it always is on a Friday. I got some candy, typical dried fruit, and some spices from Oshrat. I also bought challah and some food for tonight. I’ve been trying to decide what to do about meals over shabbat. The thought of spending a ton of money for a shabbat meal where I’d be all alone seemed so sad, so I decided to just buy some stuff at the shuk. I got hummus, Moroccan carrots, schnitzel, and other fried good things. Also some rugelach. I was good to go!
From the shuk I walked back down to King George because I wanted to hit the bakery Gagou. They were basically closed because as I walked in the guy spilled a huge bucket of water on the floor to mop up. But I was able to buy a brioche and a lemon merengue tart. Then I walked down Ben Yehuda again because I wanted to see if I could get a coffee at Coffee Bean, but it was closed. I managed to get one at Katzefet, then got a cab and went back to the hotel. When I got back the security guard gave me a look like “oh, back with more bags?” I smiled and went in.
I didn’t have to get ready for Shabbat or anything so I decided now would be a good time to walk to visit my parents’ apartment. I had taken the key from my dad just in case, so off I went! The washing machine smells and there is milk in the fridge (that I wouldn’t’ throw out), but otherwise it looks good!
I walked home to the hotel, made some calls, and then it was Shabbat!
Great day.