EXPLORING

Somethings are the same as home.

Thank goodness for the beach! A relief from the heat and from sibling fights.

Floating on the Mediterranean Sea with the sound of the azan (Muslim call to prayer) coming from the miranet of the mosque on the hill is definitely an exotic experience.  The blending of religions and cultures here is both new and intriguing.  You hear the foreign call to prayer, interspersed with the bells tolling for a Mass to be said somewhere.  We've arrived at the most important time in the Jewish calendar, with Yom Kippur, the holiest of days in the Jewish calendar, falling on Wednesday.  The kids think it's great as they get to finish school on Tuesday at 12noon and have the whole of Wednesday off.  No one is allowed to drive a car on Yom Kippur.  Even the airport is closed!  Because there are no cars allowed supposedly everyone rides their bikes on the highways.  I'm hoping to take advantage of this to explore downtown Tel Aviv on bike without worrying about the crazy drivers.

Last night I imagined that the sound of the air-conditioning was rain falling, washing away the dust from the streets and cars.  They had an almighty sandstorm here a couple of weeks ago (thank God we missed it!) so all the cars are covered in dust . . .actually, everything seems to be covered in dust, although inside people's homes there is none to be seen. 

  http://www.theguardian.com/weather/gallery/2015/sep/08/sandstorm-engulfs-the-middle-east-in-pictures 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euSLCnqzPoU

The BBC reported that "even fighting in Syria was stopped due to the sandstorm."  The thought of all those poor refugees in Jordan and Syria, who are already living in squalor, having a blanket of dust descend upon them, is too devastating.

The children and I are questioning whether it ever rains here.  We wake up to the same weather every day - clear blue skies and a temperature of 31, or if we're lucky, 30 degrees.  Although I have such fair skin I already have a tan after only one week here.  It's impossible not to brown in this climate.

After the children left for school I went out on my own to explore the streets in the hope of finding more food.  I found myself meandering. . .. it seems so long since I last meandered, which is delightful.  Although I love to talk there's something refreshing about not understanding what the men on the streets are saying to you as you pass by.  Because I can't understand them I let go of any suspicions of crudity and just smile.  I sometimes find that people are talking to me yet I haven't noticed.  

It is all a bit of a sensory overload.  Add to that the miles of walking that we do each day and you have the perfect recipe for a good night's sleep.  My body melts into the bed at around 8.30/9pm.  If you want to get fit, don't have a car... my legs ache from the unfamiliar exercise that they get each day but you get to see and discover so much more by foot.  

Here are some photos from my walk this morning to find food.  I'm heading out again now to brave the heat and to find fresh bread.  Thanks to my beautiful neighbour, Ali, I now have an excellent green grocer and one of the best hummus cafes in Jaffa is around the corner.  Now I just need a car to get me to a bigger supermarket, which we will get after Yom Kippur.  While I was exploring I came across a green grocer where I bought some things. Kay, you would have been proud of my elbowing with the many Arab women who were trying to jump in front of me.  I just smiled and then pushed :)  The stores are all full today as not a single shop will be open between tomorrow afternoon and all Wednesday so everyone is preparing their meals.  

A new shopping area

Where I had my coffee & croissant this morning.  Looks lovely inside but you wouldn't be able to tell from the outside. 

A little mosque that I came across on my journey