Day 28: Shalom and So Long

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Trip Start May 19, 2009 Previous
Entry Trip End Jun 16, 2009

  Tel Aviv, Israel
Monday, June 15, 2009

(Day 28, Tel Aviv, Monday) As planned, today, our last full day in Israel, is to be on the beach. About noon, we got our stuff together and walked the two blocks to the park overlooking the beaches below. We had intended to crash, um, try out the "Separated Beach," as it was Monday--men's day. As we passed the wall on the "tayelet" (boardwalk) that surrounded that section of beach, we peeked in; inside, while spacious and boasting stacks of beach chairs and a lifeguard, it lacked food service, and we hadn't had lunch yet. The snack stand outside the wall wouldn't do.

So we went to Metzitzim Beach next door, the very northernmost beach in Tel Aviv, just short of the port area and the domestic airport just across the river that marks the city limits. Besides, it had a restaurant. And it was cool to be at the beach from the movie of the same name (vice versa, actually). One last time, we set up camp right on the edge of the water; the guy who collects the payment for the lounge chairs and umbrella came by, as did the waiter; and we took out our books and iPods. The area was busy with families, kids playing in the water. Small aircraft passed by low overhead, just about to land. The wind was steady, and the waves were rougher than usual, maybe a far-off storm we couldn't see, since the sky was clear to the sharp horizon. The sea crashed dramatically against the wall of the port area to our right, and the lifeguard did warn swimmers to be careful or stay away from certain areas. But the cove was such that even hundreds of feet from the shore, the water was still just above the knees (between waves)--I never made it far enough where I didn't have to almost sit down to be immersed in the water.

Six hours later, time to pack up and head home to clean up. Sorry to go, we walked slowly past the beaches and up the small hill, taking a last look at the sea and boardwalk, the matkot games still in full swing below. Surfers were washing off under the public showerheads, and a squirming puppy was getting cleaned off, too.

After cleaning up, we headed on the spur of the moment to the gay community center in Gan Meir (Meir Park). (The cabbie misheard me, although he insisted he hadn't, and took us to Gan Ha-Ir (City Park) instead, prompting a whole re-negotiation of the cab ride and a stop at an ATM.) We found the Israeli folkdancing class we were looking for there, but it wasn't really a lesson, the dozen or so people having been in the class for a year, we were told. So we left, heading down Bograshov St. in search of shawarma for our last meal in Israel. It was proving elusive. We were drawn to a Mexican restaurant, only to turn around and see a shawarma stand back across the street, where we couldn't have seen it before. Fortuitous... We had a nice, quick dinner on the street, caught a cab home, and packed our bags while watching another installment of Israeli "Idol." And Kevin watched online on-demand episodes of an Israeli teen vampire show--in Hebrew, although he doesn't speak it; guess teen vampire shows are universal--as he suspects he will be blocked from seeing them back home by having a U.S. IP address. We said our goodbyes to Malka on the phone, as they were just home from a quick trip to Italy, and it wasn't practical to get together, but we'll see them in September in Seattle.

Tomorrow, our ride to the airport comes at 8:10 a.m., so since the day will be spend in transit, and nothing more of interest is likely to happen (I hope), this is the last entry. Thought it would never end, did you? On the other hand, I sort of wish it wouldn't, since I've enjoyed being back here in Israel so much, and enjoyed writing about it. It's been a really great experience, and we're both sad to leave, though it will be nice to be home and see our friends, of course. Thanks to those of you who have helped us on the trip, especially Sheri, Joseph, Shana, John, Malka, and Leor. Thank you to those who read this blog, and especially those of you who have commented or sent notes or let me know you enjoyed it, which was very gratifying. I hope you all get to see Israel some day soon, and include me in your travel correspondence.

Shalom!

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surfer rinsing off	matkot games on the beach	matkot games on the beach	the gay beach we never went to
last moments at the shore	goodbye, Tel Aviv	the other side of that wild building	art at the gay community center

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