Summary: Taking it easy, getting over jet lag. Enjoying the neighborhood.
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Every few hours we play, "What do you notice?" I notice how much in this city is similar to a big US city: busses, cars, stores, shops, dirt, noise. Aggravated people shouting at each other, happy people drinking coffee with friends. (Read more -- see video)
I notice how sweet the spring-like air feels on my touch-starved skin. I notice that not a single person on the street has met my eyes or returned my nod hello. (Arlington is much friendlier!) But the shop people all speak English and seem to recognize us as tourists (by our befuddled look? by what we wear?) and greet us in a neutral, receptive way. Must be lots of us here.
We slept a blissful twelve hours, interrupted only by a bout of severe foot cramps that struck me in the night. (Odd!) Two blocks away is the beach where I expect we'll exercise each morning. If you want to see on googlemaps, we're near the corner of Ben Yehuda and Ben Gurion Blv. It's a rather ugly strip, lined with interminable concrete high rise hotels as far as the eye can see... yet as we cross the beach, we see the wet sand looks like polished caramel and the water is utterly clear, light blue. Mostly old people (like us?) exercising on this beach. Even the old men are in skimpy bikini bottoms. I find a sheltered spot to dance and Christopher strides up the boardwalk (but made of patterned concrete blocks rather than boards... what would that be called?)
Afterwards we crawl back into bed -- whew! That was exhausting! A bite of breakfast from our hosts's offerings, then out into the world! But we're still clearly jet-lagged, evident by our inability to decide where to stop for coffee. We wander many blocks, soaking it all in, stopping at all sorts of cafes but pushing on. Finally we circle back to a falafel joint right by our apartment. Definitely the best deal in town, and everything tastes extra special. Every small difference is delightful. (Look what they serve with the hummus: a little plate with raw onion and hot peppers! How interesting!)
Afterwards we crawl back into bed -- whew! That was exhausting too! Zonked out for an hour. Then check out the cafe right across the street for a spot of caffeine and internet. Good thing Christopher and my rhythms are so similar. I can easily imagine, were we other than who we are, that one of us could be chafing, "Come on! Don't just lie there! Let's go check out this 2,000 year old historical spot... let's go visit this world-renowned museum..." But we're both completely contented laying low for this day. The three weeks stretches before us with many days for exploring. And chances are, we won't visit a single museum on our trip, and the only famous historical spots will be those shown by our hosts. Just not our thing. We're far more excited by the dates we have lined up to visit fellow Playbackers....
Love our little apartment!
__________
Every few hours we play, "What do you notice?" I notice how much in this city is similar to a big US city: busses, cars, stores, shops, dirt, noise. Aggravated people shouting at each other, happy people drinking coffee with friends. (Read more -- see video)
I notice how sweet the spring-like air feels on my touch-starved skin. I notice that not a single person on the street has met my eyes or returned my nod hello. (Arlington is much friendlier!) But the shop people all speak English and seem to recognize us as tourists (by our befuddled look? by what we wear?) and greet us in a neutral, receptive way. Must be lots of us here.
We slept a blissful twelve hours, interrupted only by a bout of severe foot cramps that struck me in the night. (Odd!) Two blocks away is the beach where I expect we'll exercise each morning. If you want to see on googlemaps, we're near the corner of Ben Yehuda and Ben Gurion Blv. It's a rather ugly strip, lined with interminable concrete high rise hotels as far as the eye can see... yet as we cross the beach, we see the wet sand looks like polished caramel and the water is utterly clear, light blue. Mostly old people (like us?) exercising on this beach. Even the old men are in skimpy bikini bottoms. I find a sheltered spot to dance and Christopher strides up the boardwalk (but made of patterned concrete blocks rather than boards... what would that be called?)
Afterwards we crawl back into bed -- whew! That was exhausting! A bite of breakfast from our hosts's offerings, then out into the world! But we're still clearly jet-lagged, evident by our inability to decide where to stop for coffee. We wander many blocks, soaking it all in, stopping at all sorts of cafes but pushing on. Finally we circle back to a falafel joint right by our apartment. Definitely the best deal in town, and everything tastes extra special. Every small difference is delightful. (Look what they serve with the hummus: a little plate with raw onion and hot peppers! How interesting!)
Afterwards we crawl back into bed -- whew! That was exhausting too! Zonked out for an hour. Then check out the cafe right across the street for a spot of caffeine and internet. Good thing Christopher and my rhythms are so similar. I can easily imagine, were we other than who we are, that one of us could be chafing, "Come on! Don't just lie there! Let's go check out this 2,000 year old historical spot... let's go visit this world-renowned museum..." But we're both completely contented laying low for this day. The three weeks stretches before us with many days for exploring. And chances are, we won't visit a single museum on our trip, and the only famous historical spots will be those shown by our hosts. Just not our thing. We're far more excited by the dates we have lined up to visit fellow Playbackers....
Love our little apartment!
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