Yesterday evening Zaza (my neighbor) and me walked to the Nemaal. Only that Zaza didn't know she was going to walk there :D She tought we were going to take a bus and do the walk on the Tayelet. It was only half way down the route that she told me this. Hahahhaha.... But she was great - never complained and to my repeated question to inquire if she was tired she consistently answered 'no'. Still, I could see the look of surprise on her face LOL. Earlier yesterday afternoon H. had already told me over the phone I am "lo normali" for letting a first time 'walker' walk "so far".

We had so much fun. We laughed the whole time eventhough her life story ain't that funny at all... We were constantly making fun of ourselves and I thoroughly enjoyed that. Humor is like a vitamin shot to me and wow... did I get a lot of vitamins yesterday-evening. We also both agreed that we were both born too early in time with all those handsome young men around and about, because in 'our days' men weren't that goodlooking (sorry, male contemporaries :p ) -

We walked for four solid hours (she walks slow) and I think she was exhausted when we were back home. I could have walked on for another 4 hours..... I also tried to tempt her to climb the crane in front of our house but I think I need some more time for that since it was met with an absolute 'no' :D

Today I set out early again and it was wonderful to be able to wear my sandals again instead of having my feet locked up in closed shoes. It was very cool when I left (around 6:15) but it warmed up gradually. And, although I had myself splashed wet again by the now much cooler sea, many people are wearing long sleeves and even jackets "because it is winter". Wellll..... *_* it was 26 degrees!!

On the way I saw this Bulbul (photo 1) who must have tought he was a star performer since not only had he positioned himself on top of the world (the peak of a palm tree rather) but he also sang so loud that I couldn't possibly have walked passed without noticing him.

I spoke with 2 fishermen I know (the rest wasn't there, not even my fisherwoman -the one that feeds first class shoarma to the fish). Fish was "slow". They complained.... (as usual). As I walked on I saw the remains of a crab on the wavebreaker :-( (photo 2).

The waiter at AotB was not working behind the counter when I ordered my Capucinno but he told the girl who took my order to give me an employee's discount. I keep on being touched by this gesture. I think it is soooo sweet. I also wonder why I am so lucky to receive this special treatment.

On my mezah were 2 fishermen I don't know but they didn't bother me and I laid down and acted as if I were alone. The sun was mildy warm and the water was cool. I had a crab creep up to my legs that were dangling down the side of the mezah and we both scared "da shit" out of each other. That was rather funny because we simultaneously 'withdrew'. Hahhaha... An Egret was parading on the big mezah and together with the rays of the sun made for a great photo (photo 3).

In the pond I noticed a rather big fish between all the small and medium sized ones that were swimming around with sunshine on their shoulders - this fish had no sunshine on his shoulders and when I looked closer saw that his tail was missing and was a bloody mess (photo 4). Poor fish......

And the last photo (5) is of a woman I saw a few times before that I photographed because it goes into my file of 'praying on the beach' - When I first saw people praying on the beach I thought it was rather 'strange', but after some thought, if people meditate, jog, walk, dance and do yoga on the beach, why not pray as well?

Drama-day

Had bad mood so decided to walk to the Nemaal before going to work and perhaps I could see the sea in the rain. Little did I know, when I complained to myself while walking in the sun that this was the second day in a row that I missed the rain, I would end up soaking wet - with water pouring off me and my clothes clinging to me like a second skin. It started with a few drops at the Yarkon (photo 1) where I stopped just a bit to see the Egrets sitting in the rain but soon it turned into a Mabul (with capital M).

Israel's rain always consists of Guliver raindrops, sooo big and fat. While everybody seemed to have vanished from the streets (at least on my route) and only cars raced passed me, I couldn't suppress it and started 'singing' ("my spirit holds the secret I won't be alone, I'll love and live more... love and live forever") and there was absolutely nobody who could hear me (luckily) - This, together with the pounding of the rain on me, gave me a feeling of total, utter freedom..... a being one with nature, impossible to describe in words.

I wanted to walk the big mezah right up until the end, but a fisherman I have never seen before became so desperate trying to stop me from it that I gave in to him :-) So I just stood there at the beginning and it was pure bliss... The sea had turned grey and sounded as if he groaned more than was 'angry' but the wind was fierce and together they made for the best concert I could have wished for.

Photo 2 of the sea and photo 3 of the pond, both in the rain.

Only when I started walking to work I noticed that walking in a thoroughly wet tight jeans is not really all that comfortable. Not to speak about my feet that literally swam in the sneakers I was wearing. So, I made a small stop at Shuk HaCarmel and got a real good deal on a pushjt jeans and a pair of new sneakers.

The skies were very dramatic today.... just like the phone call I got from my lawyer. Those skies and that phone call made a perfect match.... Pure drama.

photo 4 of the skies and 5 of a kite with Jaffa in the background.

Then, when I saw this (photo 6) ad I had to laugh so much in myself... it truly was a 'climax' - to see that all of the energy of Amsterdam was contained in a tin of beverage.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

When arriving at the Nemaal I walked on my knees almost due to very uncomfortable shoes (who felt very comfortable when trying them on in the shop). Since it was around noon already I had not expected to find any fishermen there but one still stood there patiently waiting for the fish to bite since the early hours of the morning. We chatted some and then I had to go to meet H. - but my feet were so sore, so I just walked barefoot to the Operabuilding.

It never took me so long to get from the Nemaal to the Operabuilding. Wow... that rocky pavement is very hard on bare feet.

I had a lovely time, as always, with H.

Valium

is the evening sky down at the Nemaal.
(and another 'collectors item' car as bonus).

Women walk far

Or: 'go' far
נשים הולכות רחוק
was the theme at the Nemaal today. Only it started when I left - better that way.

Anyway, the book. Of course I bought it today. (Photo 1) - So if by chance someone who reads books and can read Hebrew sees this, tell me. I will send it to you since I am not going to read it. But, I am very pleased how I got my money to her without causing her embarrassment. She seemed like a very sweet lady to me :-)

At the wavebreaker I didn't see any fisherman I know but a Dabur was willingly posing for me, so that made up for that :D (photo 2)

Arriving at the pond I noticed the small boardwalk near the water (as contrary to the one near the shops, up) was totally empty. Real strange, but an open invitation to my presumable artistic 'interpretation' - so, here (photo 3) is how it looked like to me :)

As I ordered my cappuccino at Aroma I saw some unknown fishermen descend to my mezah. Why I felt resentment is still unclear to me, but I did. Maybe I should rent the mezah :D then, at least, I could declare propriety on it, LOL.

They spoke a language I couldn't place and were busy with whatever. I did move away from them though when they threw their lines near me - I really didn't trust their capabilities in keeping those hooks out of my face. Soon they left and one called out to me "Missus? Do you want fish?" I politely said I didn't, only to find they had left their 'catch' dead on the mezah. So sad. If not for food or other purposes why catch them and let them die? (photo 4 and 5)

By the time I left the event being held there "women walk (or go) far" was in full swing. There were going to be rollerskate demonstrations and air-demonstrations but I didn't have the patience to wait to watch for something I take for granted anyway. So, the only photo 'memorizing' this ocassion is photo # 6, from afar ;-)

Stars on the water

Stars on the water (click, click)

was the theme today. Well, the last few days, I think. Photo 1.... The path of the sun reflecting in the sea leads to me. Where I am standing. Is that coincidence or does this happen to everybody (meaning that the path of the sun always leads to the person looking that way?)

I'm so ashamed I couldn't identify if it were lemons or oranges growing on the tree I passed (photo 2) and a little further down the route to the beach I noticed what looked like grapes (photo 3) but I know they aren't (because those are the little buggers that get into my sandals all the time and make the soles of my feet go all black).

Yesterday afternoon they weren't there but this morning: flags were waving in the wind on the boardwalk leading up to my mezah. (photo 4)

Another theme today is the waiter at Aroma-at-the-beach. I know I write a lot about him lately but I am genuinely touched by sweet people. And he IS sweet. He told me he saw me walking in the morning while he sat in the bus. I showed him my photos. But it isn't that. It is because I feel this (very young) man has such a gentle soul.

I am angry at myself. I lied. I don't know how I did it but I didn't want to hurt someone. There is this woman sitting on one of the benches at Nordau Ave. that sells a book she has written. This is not the first time she called out to me. But this time I decided I wasn't going to pass by "like everybody else" because that looks so humiliating. So I approached her and I asked how much is the book. She said "40 shekel". Well that ain't much but, for a book I know I won't ever read anyway I had to do some thinking. So I told her I didn't have money on me (which I did have) instead of telling her I would think about it. So sad to write a book and have to sit on a bench that early in the morning and like a beggar try to sell it. My heart goes out to her. I will probably buy the book, next time...

The second thing I am angry about to myself is that in the sherut I was laughing with the driver when a person (we couldn't tell if it was a man or woman) stopped the sherut. When he opened his mouth we knew it was a man. You just couldn't tell otherwise. Because I felt I was doing something wrong I tried to make up for it afterwards and told the driver about people being being born in the wrong bodies and such - and it sorta provoked him I think because he got angry at me. But I didn't care. At least I tried to make up for my stupid mistake of being judgmental without thinking.

Afternoon delight

Was at the Nemaal in the afternoon. It was quiet and lovely. Unfortunately on the boardwalk near the pond I discovered a load of small dead fish. So unnecessary. Why? They didn't serve for food, they didn't serve for bait, they just were laying there dead for nothing. (photo 1 - and notice the stars on the water. as if for every fish a star was shining).

Photo 2 = places the fisherman on the big mezah in the spurr of the generous rays of sunshine reflecting on the water.

Photo 3 = just too crazy :D A busstop showing that someone has been creative thinking up destinations for :D
(it says: -bus:
# 63 - home
# 666 - Megiddo
# 42 - the restaurant
# 13 - Hiriya
# 69 - Tel Baruch)

hahahaha

Sunshine on HIS shoulders....

Walking towards the bridge over the river Hayarkon I smelled at one of the flowers hanging from the trees I see so abundantly around. I was so surprised to find they smelled like chocolate. While making a photo of it (photo 1) a wasp came into the picture and decided it was time for his morning shoko.

After some chats with the fishermen and fisherwoman on the wavebreaker I arrived at the pond and saw a very large fish (photo 2 shows his sad face). My heart felt for him. He seemed drugged or something. As I climbed over the balustrade to get closer to him he sort of swam or drifted closer to me as well. It felt as if he asked for help. And then.... it happened: the sun started shining exactly on his shoulders (where he should have shoulders) and flickering stars started to form over the surface of the water near him (photo 3 -stars at right side of the photo and photo 4 of his 'shoulders'). It felt like the fairytale of "the golden fish" (which Russians claim is theirs but I am sure is Dutch). The only wish I had at that moment though was that the fish would be fine and able to venture out to the open sea again...

Sitting at the end of my mezah was absolutely fabulous, like it usually is. I never seem to get enough of it....and, I got, as usual, totally drenched........

Last photo is of two dogs who looked so anxious for their "mom" to get out of the supermarket I had just visited as well that I just couldn't resist but make a photo of those endearing faces.

Sunshine on their shoulders

I REALLY would like to know the name of my Fairytaletree. He intrigues me to no end. His fragrance is different from everything I know. So sultry, unbelievable... and very, very poignant. Photos: of the three melon-like bulbs waiting now for months already to 'explode' in a string of passionate-looking red flowers as in photo 2. One bulb must have sprang already, photo 3 - showing one single flower on top of the rest that has still to come out.

I have a little secret with one of the waiters of Aroma-at-the-beach. Can't write about it but it is soooooooooo sweet :)

It was liberation-day for me all over again at the end of my mezah. Incredible feelings of freedom. I wonder if it's a cycle I go through passing different feelings phase by phase when being there...

While laying down flat with my legs dangling in the water I suddenly saw Kingfisher sat near my head. It was so unreal. They never get even a little close near people and here he was sitting next to me at less than 50 cm away. I think they recognize people only as people when they're vertical and me laying absolutely motionless on the floor of the mezah there had him fooled :P

Being childish:
__________

On my way back I noticed a fisherman having a net out over the railing. It got stuck and he had to go down on the rocks to release it. While on his way back up one small fish escaped through the holes of the net and fall on the rocks. So I swiftly climbed up the balustrade (railing) and descended down the rocks to throw the fish back in the water. What's childish is that I performed this climbing activity 10 times swifter than this young, sportive looking guy and I felt proud in that *blush*.

I think the little fish I threw back must have swam to his friends in the pond quickly and told them about me because when I arrived there they came up to the surface and swam on the water instead of in it, with sunshine on their shoulders......

Freedom feelings

Left house at 07:00 a.m. and arrived at the Nemaal at 08:00 a.m. (I know because someone there asked me for the time). On Nordau I spotted the little bird I have been seeing around a lot lately and have no idea what it is. So here (photo 1) is he, parmantig (there's no English word for that) "crossing the road".

I couldn't believe my eyes: there were almost no people in the Nemaal. And totally none on my mezah. I quickly bought a Capuccino (this gets boring to read but I can't help it: the waiter at Aroma-at-the-beach saw me coming and asked if I was going to order ice-shoko because he wanted to give me an employees-discount again. These small friendly things simply melt my heart. I think that's so unbelievably sweet. So, I have to write this down) and sped towards the end of my mezah.

After a few schlucks I decided to lay down some but after a while I paid attention that there was a continuous clicking sound under or near my head. When I elevated my head a bit I saw a small dead crab that probably had been lying under my neck or on top of my head under my hair. I was shocked :-( I thought I had killed it :-( I pay so much attention not to step on the tiny little black shells that are cluttered all over the mezah because I know crabs hide in and under there and here I was having killed a crab with my head :-(

Only later, after having 'buried' the crab in the sea, I found out I couldn't have killed it and it probably was dead all along. He was totally white and crabs can't turn white so fast -like in 10 minutes or so- after dying. As I laid back again I could still hear the clicking sound ocassionally near my ear, so it must be that those little black shells make this sound every so often because there was nothing else there but them.

It was a very liberating morning :-) No-one around wherever I looked around me (except 2 or 3 fishermen on the big mezah who I pretended weren't there) - and a feeling of total freedom - opposite the vastness of the gorgeous sea and shiny schools of free fish that came swimming past all the time. Janis Joplin was wrong. Freedom is not just another word for nothing left to lose. No way! Freedom is the most exhilerating feeling there is.

On the way back I saw this beauty (photo 2). I talked to him (I bet nobody would like to be caught dead with me - I am such a huge embarassment in that aspect) - but did not stroke him because how can I be sure he would like that, so I won't force those things. As I was talking to him I thought "I wonder why he raises his tail?"................... Well, I soon found out, LOL. Wow, does that smell, hahahaha

Impressions or illusions

I think I left around 06:00 a.m. this morning.

Just before the bridge of the Yarkon river I looked up at an installation that carries advertising posters and saw this rope hanging down from it as if saying to people "help yourself" - "compliments of the Ramat-Gan municipality". (photo 1)

Didn't stop for long over the Yarkon because it saddens me to see the increasing rate of pollution. It had a thin film of some oily substance on its surface besides the water level being extremely low. Why doesn't anybody care?

After a regular stop at my fairytale tree I saw yet another 'collector's item' car. This time a green Opel. Somehow this model is familiar to me, but I cannot think of the name. Cortina perhaps? (photo 2)

The walk to the beach passed fast. I was there before I even noticed. The sea was kind. I had some smalltalk with my fisherwoman and at the wavebreaker another fisherman showed me his catch - Buri (photo 3). They looked small to me but it is a fisherman's pride to eat what he catch so I never said anything. Bon appetit.

"Remind me of your name" said the girl behind the counter at Aroma-at-the-beach as she took in my order without me saying a word. Hahahahha as if she ever got it. This time around as well she guessed wrong :D But they honestly are so terribly sweet over there. Last time one of them gave me a 'employee's discount' when I ordered an ice-shoko and moved his head towards mine to whisper "don't tell anyone, hey!" - Soooooo cute.

I had the time of my life at my mezah. The water was fairly clear and schools of Buri's swam by one after the other. Just too many. When a wave was forming they floated up on that wave and with the sun reflecting on their shoulders (so to speak) they became like long stretched beads of shiny diamonds. Just too beautiful for words. (photo 4 doesn't even come close to what they looked like with the naked eye).

While sitting there (only 2 fishermen were there when I arrived) I saw this huge Buri swam by, I mean the size you see at your plate when in a restaurant. I never saw a fish this size swimming in the sea so without even noticing it I shouted "wowwww" - and the fisherman next to me said it was a Buri. I couldn't follow it swimg back to deeper waters since he asked me to untie him. He had caught himself on his own rod. The hook was on his back so he couldn't release himself either :D

Then we saw a Tsaraf or Tsafar (darn, I forgot) - a snakelike fish - swam by. The sea is always full of surprises if you pay attention, and today I certainly had a good day in that respect.

Photo 5 is of some decent netfishers (I have decided they are not decent since they use the nets) - They are 'decent' because a bleachwater jerrycan was floating on the sea and they picked it up.

Photo 6 is of how busy my mezah was by the time I left and photo 7 is of what I feel is 'my world'.

When I sat waiting in the Sherut until it would start on its route, a man -reasonably old, like me, and ..... very drunk- came up. He wanted to enter but then noticed something. He said to one of the men sitting at the little kiosk while not driving the Sheruts "you are an Arab" - "what are you doing here" - turned to one of the other men and repeated what he said and mumbled some more. He finally took off and didn't enter the Sherut because the driver was Arab. This was my cue.

When we started driving (I was the only passenger for some time) I asked the driver, who I saw was fairly upset over the incident, if he was Arab. He said 'yes'. I asked him if he would mind if I asked him some questions and he didn't mind. So I asked if he felt any discrimination and/or racism against him because he is an Arab. His face went very sad.
him: "yes..."
me: "where, how?"
him: "at work, outside work..."
me: "how does it express itself?"
him: "at work, I experience it...."
me: "remarks? not acting nice because you are an Arab?"
him: "yes. it's everywhere. a lot of discrimination, not behaving nice when they see I am Arab"
me: "what do you do when this happens?"
him: "I either say something about it or just shut up, let is pass by"
me: " what can be done to make this disappear?"
him: "peace. only if there will be peace, this will go away"
me: "but that's hard. that's not in our hands" (meaning it depends on the politicians)
him: "that's right. we cannot do anything. khalas, that's life"
me: "why wouldn't people want peace?"
him: "all the Arabs want peace. ask around. I have my blue card, I am Israeli, and all the Arabs here want peace."
me: "but the jews don't want?"
him: "no, I wouldn't say that. part of the jews want. I lived here all my life, this is my life. there are many jews who want peace. but... "
Another passenger boarded the Sherut and I quickly thanked him for being so honest with me.

Still don't get how people can hurt other people based upon labels without looking at the individual, the person. That's sad. This man was very sweet, very friendly, why would anyone want to discriminate or scold (like the drunk old man) him is beyond my comprehension.

Neighbor: are you going to walk to the beach now?
Me: yes, do you want to come?
She: what? you don't wear sneakers? :D : D :D


====================================

Today was hot. At least I found it hot. And leaving late, 09:00 a.m., didn't help. The Yarkon was even more dirty as usual but I saw many Black Crowned Night Herons flying over it and sitting on its banks. The rest of the crowd was there as well: the Kingfisher, the Pied-Kingfisher, a few Lapwings and a few Egrets. The BCNH are real impressive while flying over. Their wings span well over a meter is my cautious estimation.

There were many people at the Nemaal. So I sorta sped towards 'my' mezah where it was quiet but for 2 fishermen. It was nice and cool and the sea was fun. Not too wild but still wild enough to send his waves over the mezah and made everybody wet :D Not only me, who intentially let this happen. He became wilder towards the shore - the waves turned into furious, white, energetic foam and it felt like a jacuzzi over my legs I had dangling over the mezah's side.

That's all. A nice and quiet morning.

A little beach, a lot shuk

Because a date I had canceled I decided to walk the "Shuk-route" to the beach. And indeed I did spend some time at the beach but the major 'event' today was the Shuk. I was not prepared for the huge masses of people walking the streets in Tel-Aviv today (due to Hol-Ha-mo'ed) and was totally taken aback that my usual route was absolutely swamped with people. I met a Brazilian-style music band with dancers and I bet those dancers must have endangered the traffic underneath the bridge (from the Yizraeli Center) they were performing on because their music and dance was getting you totally absorbed in their sounds and movements, whether you wanted to or not.

After having bought the shoes I intended to buy at King George (and I was lucky: they were the last pair) I crossed into Shenkin where it was totally impossible to walk on the pavement - so strolled along in the middle of the road. The atmosphere was so cheerful, so happy - so contagious...

When crossing towards Shuk HaCarmel I saw this man. I was captured not by his weird outfit or by the fact he was going to set up a performance of some kind, but........... by his smile. There were many performers doing their acts at the little square in front of Shuk HaCarmel but he truly stood out. Probably for most people because the eccentric clothing he wore but for me, as I said, because of his smile. So catchy!

I photographed him (see below) while he prepared for his performance and would have loved to photograph him during it as well, only... he sort of 'detected' me (I was standing from behind a lamp post) and he started smiling, winking and throwing kisses at me (what made the crowd around him look at me, me - shy me) so I was too embaressed to take the camera out again and after a wink and smile in his direction I sort of ran away from the curious eyes of the public.

The Shuk itself was cramped. People couldn't move. I think it took me at least more than half an hour to go from the beginning till the end. But, it was w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l! People were happy. I was happy. I am so blessed that I am made part of this.

Photos of
- as said: the performer with the wonderful smile and one of a little around the square
- and a hoopoe (on a field between two high roads) that looked me straight in the face when he heard the noises of my camera - as if he asked "whadda'ya looking at?"