MARCUS' 13TH BIRTHDAY DINNER

MARCUS' 13TH BIRTHDAY DINNER AT NALAGA'AT

Marcus & Alex out the front of Nalaga'at

Marcus and I walking down to Nalaga'at through the Jaffa Port.

For our children's 13th birthday, Alex and I take them out to a nice restaurant on their own.  We took Brigid to Billy Kwong's on her 13th birthday, which was a very special night.

Marcus' 13th birthday was at the end of August but we agreed to go out for dinner together when in Israel.  We decided to try something a little different.  Down in Jaffa's Old Port there is a restaurant called Nalaga'at, where you eat in complete darkness and are served by blind or partially blind waiters/waitresses.   One of my favourite movies, “About Time,” opens with the main characters meeting in a blind restaurant so I’ve been intrigued by the idea since seeing that movie.  Nalaga’at also has a theatre next to the restaurant and run a very successful show played by deaf, blind or deaf and blind actors.  It's meant to be amazing and is the only show of its kind in the world.

So off we walked down the hill to Nalaga'at on Thursday night, not knowing quite what to expect.  We were greeted by a woman who asked us to fill out a form noting which main course and dessert we would like.  I went with the "Surprise" meal, where you have to use your sense of taste and touch to work out what it is.  A woman explained to us that we would be assigned to a blind waiter and that it is important that we not get up from the table once we are seated in the pitch black restaurant space.  We quickly understood why they stipulate this…

We were met by our blind waitress, Ruth, who was an older woman.  She got me to put my hands on her shoulder and then asked Marcus and Alex to do the same behind me and follow her into the completely darkened restaurant space, like a train. 

It was truly one of the most bizarre experiences of my life.  We laughed so hard.  It really is an incredibly special experience having no access to sight, which heightens the use of your other senses.  Once we got past the weirdness of it all we started talking with Marcus in a way that we so rarely get to do.  Not being able to see someone’s facial expressions, and not being distracted by the people and movement around you, means that you are 100% focussed on what the person sitting next to and across from you is saying.  Marcus opened up to us in a very special way and it was a bonding experience for all three of us.

We laughed heartily as we had to pour our water in complete darkness.  Alex and I chose to eat with our fingers, as it was very difficult eating with a fork.  We tried each other’s desserts, speculating on what the ingredients were to my delicious surprise dessert. 

It was such a unique experience that we talked about the idea of bringing the whole family back for a Christmas celebration.  Who knows, but I’m so grateful for the experience we had with our fine, young, 13 year old man. What a beautiful young man you are Marcus and how fortunate we were to spend such a memorable evening with you.  Here’s to the next chapter of your life. 

Marcus &Alex - waiting to go into the darkness....

Inside this interestingly shaped room is the restaurant where you sit in complete darkness.

Big smiles all round after our dinner together.  How short do I look next to my 13 year old son!!! I'll fear there's a lot more height to come.