Traveling as a Director

I had always picture and experience to Israel as a pleasure, always came just incharge of myself or a friend... never of 46 teenagers!!! yes you are reading right... 46!!And so we left Miami on Wednesday June 13. It took us 2 hrs to do check-in, why??? because it is a slow process, although 3 people were helping us, more than half of the group had overweight, and well... they are kids.By the time we all were about to do through security one of the kids was left at check in counter with a madrich because a new manager came and said that none of the kids can leave the country without a written authorization of their parents... did we have them?? of course not... some fighting done by our travel agent lady and we were good to go.

The flight to NY was short but hectic... the kids were singing, talking, playing with each other... imagine the excitement they had. the flight attendance hated us, they had no patience for the kids.

Once in NY we had to change terminal and do checkin with ELAL... not an easy kjob and even a harder one when you have venezuelans. It tooks us 2.5 hrs. longs and slow, we did security ate some food, and as we are about to get on the plane a group of religiuos men about to pray decided it was a good idea to open the emergency door. so happy it was not our kids!!! :)

All splitted around the plane, with a middle seat (how much I hate them) the plane took off to the amazing land!!! of course i slept the whole plane!!! no doubts... not like a baby but pretty comfortable.

We got to Israel tire but excited!!! Happy to be in this amazing place. We went straight to ירושלים!!!!!

We did an amazing activity were we blindfold the kids and make them walk and listen to three stories of people who have never been in Israel. The stories are short but moving. After the stories we ask the kids to turn around and take the blindfolds and they are facing the kotel. It was amazing!!!!!!!

We got to the hotel by 1am. Exhausteddd. Im happy that I made the room divisions and they are all happy about it. :) I'm happy I how I know my chanichim.

Chocolate cookies with withe chocolate chips

2 2/3 c of milk chocolate chips
1/4 c of unsalted butter
2 large eggs
1/2 c (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tsps vanilla extract
3/4 c self-rising flour
3 1/2 ounces white chocolate chips

Preheat oven in 350 F.

Stir 2 cups of milk chocolate chips with butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth; cool for 10 min. Beat eggs and brown sugar in large bowl until well blended. Beat in chocolate mixture and vanilla, then flour. Stir in remaining 2/3 chocolate chips and white chocolate chips; let stand 10 minutes.

Place parchment over baking sheet. Drop cookie dough by a tablespoonfuls. Bake until cookies look puffed and slightly dry on top, about 13 mins. Transfer cookies to cooling rack.

Home made Flan

As for every dinner, I brought dessert. Not just any dessert but one that I make.

I been always curious to learn how to make Flan. Not from the package, but from scratch.

I adopted the recipe from a book:

1 3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
1 c of whole milk
Pinch of salt
1/2 vanilla bean, cut length wise
1 c & 7 tblsp of sugar
1/3 c of water
3 eggs
2 eggs yolks

In a small stainless steel pot place 1 c of sugar and the water. In low heat until sugar is all dissolve. Bring it to boil in hi heat until it takes a dark maroon color. Remove from heat an place in bowl making sure to spread on the sides. Throw away the excess.

In the meantime, in a medium saucepan combine the heavy whipping cream, the milk and the salt. Remove the seeds from the vanilla bean and place it on the saucepan. In low heat bring it to seemer and remove from heat. Let it cool down for 30 min.

Whisk 7 tbsps of sugar, eggs, and eggs yolk until all blended together. In small additions add the milk without making foam. When all blended, pour it into the bowl.

Fill a Pyrex half way with water, and place the bowl on it. Place it in the oven and let it cook for 40 mins or until center is set. Remove from the oven and place it on a cooling rack. When it cooled down place it in the refrigerator until it gets cold.

Add Dulce de leche and whipping cream and served.

Enjoy!!!

Funny stories/facts

First thing we did when arriving to a coffe shop, restaurant or hostel: ask for wifi.

How many times romi bump into things in the street? 3: a street light, a bench, and a person.

Do we know how to use the car's hand brake? NO. We drove for 30km with the hand brake on. When we arrived to the car rental to return the car it smelled like burnt. A Strong smell.

GPS: I did not want to have a gps. I had driven around Israel before without getting lost. Let's just say that this time we really got to see Haifa!!! Jajaja.

Karla visited and prayed in more churches in the last ten day than in te last 10 years.

We learned that: when you ask an Israeli for directions even If they do not know they will tell to keep going straight.

$$: always always always bargain the price. Start half from what they ask as if not walk away. They will lower the price themselves as you walk away.

We learned that in Israel they use different volts. As teachers we believe that one learn by experience. I used my hair drier the first night and that was it.

Karla learned than visiting a city that you have to walk it is better to wear comfortable walking shoes. :)

If you are smiling and positive people will actually help you and go the extra mile for you.

When you travel you should be open to new foods. Otherwise you will miss really really good food!!! ALL THE MEALS WE HAD WERE AWESOME, even Mc Donald's. Jajajajaja

iPhones are magical. They are like little computers. There are applications for everything. We downloaded the blog app, hotels app, weather, maps. 😉

It is worth to ask to block a middle seat in a 3 seats line. I wish I could take a picture of how we slept on the longest flight ever.

A Romi todo le huele a chivo!!! First thing she does when she gets in an airplane is complain about the smell.

Our third partner in crime: Galgagalgalatz!!! (Israelies will know what this is)

Karla looks like a terrorist!! She got stopped in every checkpoint, including a 45 mins interrogatory in Eilat's airport, searching through her dirty clothes, and questioning the need and precedence of the 235 bottles of holy water she bought in nazareth!!

We look brazilians.... People will look at us and they would immediately shout brazilll!!

Israelis might not know a lot of Spanish but if you don't buy anything from them they will call you "tacaña"

Karla is worth two mules (according to the Jordanian who wanted to buy her)

After extensive research our committee has come up to the conclusion that 99.99% of Israelis guys are HOT

Karla will be AA's newest member after her uncontrollable desire for goldstar

Romi's ability to eat falafel is a little bit concerning... She's an addict

Hostels are only acceptable when you have a private bathroom (according to Karla)

The best blogging happens after you take a 3 hr nap in tiberias.

As much as we love kids, we learned that the furthest we will go with kids within the first five years of life is Disney world!

Day 9: Beautiful and Last day!!!

After sleeping more than 10 hrs like babies, Karla thought it was a good idea to wake me up. She is soooooo policatlly correct. Jajaja.

We got dressed and went downstairs. Probably Nadav (who was sleeping in the room next to us) woke up because of ours laughter. Jajaja.

We had breakfast with the Nadav's parents. We forgot to mention that on Friday they invited us to go to the Israeli Museum with them.

During breakfast Nadav's mom insisted that we should go, but the dad did not wanted to go. He wanted to rest she wanted to go out and do something (this situations sounds familiar, Jajajaja). After breakfast we went to the car to grab all the souvenir bags that we had there and it was that time that we really dreaded: packing.

We went to our room, we put some music, Nadav joined us and while we talked we packed. What a mess!!! So much stuff everywhere.

Once all packed the family invited us to walk around Ein Kerem. It is a little, cozy and beautiful town. It was an Arab village before '48. And later the Jews took over it. There are some churches.

As we walked around they tooked us to see one church but nobody new why it was important. Soooo, I took my iPhone, looked for wifi (luckily there was) we were able to learn about it.

The other church was hugeeeee. It had beautiful paintings.

The last church was so tiny, soooo cute. It had a holly pool inside a cave. It was amazing to get in there. Of course nobody went in, I did step in the stairs for a silly pic.

Such a nice family!!! They brought cookies and tea for the road. Super cute!!

We got home around 4ish. Had lunch with Roni (Nadav's little sister). After that we did Havdallah. Yoni, Nadav's father, gives a blessing one to each member of the family and he even gave us a blessing. It gave me gussbumps. Such a nice experience!!!!!

On Friday for dinner Yoni had made tahina. It was delicious. He was soooooooo nice that he made a jar for me and a jar for Karla!!!

We chill a bit more, and sadly it came time to go.

Nadav is such a nice person that he drove us to the main highway we needed to take. Hugs, kisses on the shoulder and we continued our road to the airport.

Bye bye Israel.
Bye bye amazing friends, it was great to spend time with you, catch up, laugh, walk around, and have so much fun.

I'll be back in June!!!

Day 8: Dead Sea, Massada, Tzur Hadassa

FYI: be ready to laugh.

As I start writing this post and Karla is sitting next to me we are already laughing. What an adventure.

Nadav told us that he will pick us up between 8-8:30am. We were ready by 8am waiting for him. This is when I took some of Karla's pictures sleeping. he arrived by 9am and Karla had her coffee and some burekas for the trip.

Destination: Dead sea.

The road was nice. The change from city to desert happened in a matter of a blink of an eye.

We saw quite some mountains and talked about how most of the country is desert and Nadav told us the efforts the country is making in order to start using the desert smartly, and encouraging people to move to it.

Upsssssssss. There was a police check. (side note: Nadav has rastas which for the police means that he could have drugs). Mom we had no drugs, don't worry!!!! :)

The police officer asked us to park the car. Thank god Nadav was driving and the police approach his side. I would have totally panic!!!

He showed his driver license and his army ID which stated that he is an officer.

They asked us to stepped out of the car and told us they will search the car.

I have to admit that I was a bit nervous but it was a very funny situation. As the officer searched Karla's bag she kept asking him to please be careful with her make up, that she has nothing else other than her make up and girl stuff.

It took no more than 3 mins and off we went to the dead sea. The color of the water was beautiful an the sun was shinning over the Mountains of Jordan.

As we approached the public beach of Ein Gedi the car that parked next to is asked us about what happened before that the police stopped us and that we looked suspicious. Jajajajaja

Karla went to put her bathing suit on and Nadav and I went to the shore. Karla had a blast in the water. She even became friend of a "viejo verde" Jajaja who was asking her to give him a kiss... Jajajajaja.

Romi took some pictures and collected some salt rocks. Just a little souvenir.

We continued to Massada. We were lucky to have a blue sky. Karla took a short nap and I tried to take a picture of me jumping but we failed.

As I was trying to back up to set the camera in autoshooting I did not see the bench and felt backwards. Jajajaja of course those things happen to me. Jajaja

From Massada we tried to take Karla to ride a camel as it was in the to do list. As soon as we approached the bedouins tent she felt that it was like a circus because of the thousands of tourist who were riding the camels and refused to do it.

We went back to Jerusalem to picked up Nadav's car and we followed him to his house.

Wowwwwwwww. What a nice family!!!! We have nothing other than good things to say. Since the minute we walked into the house we felt welcoming and the warmth they spread around.

We ate something because we hadn't eaten all day. We took a shower and got ready to welcome Shabbath.

We had a beautiful Israeli Shabbat dinner. I love Shabbat dinners (i really hope with time I can start having more dinners at my house). They made such a great effort to speak English and to communicate with us. We spoke about the difference in the educational system between Israel and the US. We also talked about what we do in the US, and life.

Nadav and Karla were tired but Nadav insisted that we should do something because it was our last night. That been said, I supported Nadav's idea and we went to his friend's house.

His fiends were nice. One of his friend looked like Karla's friend and she could not stop looking at him: he probably thought that Karla liked him... Jajajajaja. It was a very relaxing night. We went back home by midnight.

Day 7: Jerusalm

We woke up, to another amazing Israeli breakfast: shakshukka, salad, hummus, tehina, eggs, bread, cheese, coffe, tea. Yummmmmmmm.

By noon we left to Jerusalem. Objective: walk around the 4 quarters.

We went to the Jewish quarter first (with the promise that we were not going to stop at any shop from the armenian quarter)

On a side note: the ARMANIAN quarter made us think of Any and Ali!!! We missed you girls!!

We did not stayed true to our promise and stop at shop to buy the last souvenir we needed. From there I did not let Karla stop anywhere else.

Jack was having his Bar-Mitzvah at the Kotel. We stood there for a while in order to enjoy the celebration.

Karla wrote her wish on a receipt from McDonald's and she approached the Kotel for the last time in this trip. It was a Beutiful day to be at the kotel, sunny, clear sky, and not too cold.

After the Kotel we wondered if the Dome Of the Rock was open. An Arab guy saw us looking at our travel guide and asked us what we were looking. We asked him about the Dome of Rock and he took us to a higher part of the square where got a really nice view of the mosque, and the Kotel.

We then walked towards the Christian quarter and Karla got to see Jesus' tomb and to bless the fabric she had previously purchased in Tel Aviv.
I never saw Karla praying sooooooo much as she dis on this trip!!!

As we walked around the Christian quarter it started raining, and the pouring. Of course every time it rain we did not have our raincoats with us!! Jajajaja

We were waiting inside a candy wholesale store. The owner started talking to us and told us that in the church in front of us was a nice cafeteria. That been said we fought it was a great opportunity to connect to the world ad have a little break.

It was very quiet, with nuns walking everywhere, and VERY expensive.

It was getting dark and Nadav (a friend who I met 2 years ago) was waiting for us. He gave us the address as I chatted with him on whatsapp and we decided to start walking towards the car.

We got in the car by 6pm. Google map told us that the drive was 30 min which ended up in almost 3 hrs and we never arrived to Nadav's house. We got sooooooooo lost that we could not even get out Jerusalem.

We went back to our friend from the parking spot and looked for a hostel where to spend the night.

Nadav was sooooooo nice that he came to meet us in the city and we all went for a drink to the same bar he had take me and some other friends 2 years ago. We had a great time!!!!

Nadav left early and we went back to the hostel. The problem that with the 2 mojitos & the 2 beers none of us was tire.

We decided to sat in the lobby and used wifi. It is then that I received Zach's msg and it happened that he was only 5 blocks away.

We went to meet him at waffle bar. Yummmmmmmm. Nothing better than a dulce de leche waffle at 1:30am. Zach was with 2 friends who were sooo nice. We chat for a bit, and now it was time for bed.

Laila tov!!!!

Karla atraves de los días

Las fotos que van a ver a continuación es solo una parte de la documentación obtenida de Karla vivenciando momentos únicos en su vida.

Please miren q las ultimas fotos son nuevas!!!!! Jajajajaja. La de puntos rojos es q se tapo con una pashmina nueva para poder dormir mientras Nadav manejaba y yo le charlaba. Jajajajaja

Day 5-6: Jerusalem ירושלים/ Tel Aviv & Wedding ;)

On Tuesday night we got into a fight an Karla decided to travel on her own.

Jajajajajaja, Noooooo, just kidding. No fight, but since I was having the wedding on Wednesday night with Karla we thought it could be a good idea for her to go to Eilat on Tuesday night an during Wednesday visit Petra. We were going to meet back again in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night.

Sooo, Karla left on Tuesday. I met Zach (my friend whom I had volunteer in Ashdod). We had a great night talking and catching up. It's been a while and lots of things had happened.

It was nice to see how good he is doing. He got a job that he loves and that makes him grow as a person and professionally , his Hebrew is amazing, totally fluent (when he came he spoke a tiny bit but worked very hard in order to learn more), he has an amazing partner that is soooooo sweet.

It was nice to spend the day with him!!! :)

On Wednesday I woke up in Jerusalem you can see my post beautiful day. Soo I went to the Kotel and spend some time there and after I did some shopping ;), I was needing some therapy. Jajajaja

By noon I decide to get in the car and drive to Tel Aviv calmly and enjoying the day. As I got to Tel Aviv the sun was shinning on a beautiful blue sky. I couldn't wait to park the car and I literally ran to the beach.

Ajjjjjjjjjj. It was amazing!!! :) It made me soooo happy and relax. The beach was quiet, the water was blue with tons of waves. There was a bar and I decided to sat there and enjoyed the day. The problem: I had to order something. It took me may be 30 secs to realized that a glass of red wine was the perfect match.

I stayed until 3pm. From there I went to grab the suitcase from the car and to the hostel to check in and get ready. As soon as I got into the room I couldn't resist the temptation of a short nap. No alarm clock.

I woke up in time to go the salon. 2 beautiful and sweet men took care of me. It had never happens to me that a braid was done by 2 people!! Jajajajaja.

I picked up the boys: Pablo, Anu, Aleg. All together we drove to the wedding.

So many emotions!!! Re unionnnnn, the wedding!! A completely state of happiness!!!!!

At the wedding I also met Fer, Ivo, Mati, so many people from my childhood!!!! :)

Ur and Noe looked beautiful. Both of them looked nervous but were able to still managed it.

We sat on the 2nd row. Ur looked soooo nervous that he could not look up straight. He was sooo cute. He looked at us for comfort and he totally found it. We were at his wedding in Israel. 5 of his very good friends who do not live in the same country. Priceless!!

The ceremony was nice. A mix of Hebrew and Spanish. Wowwww, people do talk during the ceremony, so Israeli!!!

Full Party mode we dance non-stop till 3am. Practically we were the lasts to leave. I had a great time. I was very very happy to be able to be at the wedding and share this special moment with Uri and Noe.

I arrived at the hostel and my partner in crime was already there. :)

Day 4- Tiberias, Nazareth & Modin

As a side note: this entre was written in The Church of annunciation.

Amanecimos en Tiberias, después de conocer a un israelí hippie q vivía en el hostel donde paramos. Osher, nos pregunto si en argentina, Venezuela o sur América se hablaba latín... Jajajajaja.

En la mañana recorrimos Tiberias. La mama de Karla nos encargo agua del río Jordán, conocido como el kinneret que es donde Jesús fue bautizado. Las escaleras para acceder a la playa estaban cerradas asiq le pregunte a un mesero como ir y simplemente me dijo q saltara la reja.

Como buenas niñas q somos le hicimos caso y saltamos la reja para juntar agua del kinneret.

De ahí nos fuimos a la iglesia de la multiplicación que es donde Jesús de un solo pan y pescado alimento a todos sus discípulos.

Próximo destino Nazareth: teníamos el mapa pero como a mi me gusta preguntar un lindo hombre nos indico el camino y nos dijo q lo siguiéramos. Así fue.

En Nazareth visitamos la iglesia de la anunciación dode vivió la virgen Maria. La Iglesia es hermosa y muy muy grande. Tiene esculturas regaladas por diferentes países con la interpretación de su virgen.

Karla rezo. De ahí nos fuimos a pasear por el shuk y Karla compro un Rosario de plata para armar una nueva tradición en la familia. En el lugar q lo compramos nos dijieron q si vas a una iglesia el cura te lo bendice.

Que mejor idea q ir a la iglesia de la anunciación. Preguntamos en la entrada por el cura y nos dijieron q lo esperemos q ya estaba por bajar. Esperamos como unos 15 mins y en eso Karla ve venir aún hombre q sale de adentro de la iglesia y piensa q es el cura. Le pregunta si es el cura y el dice q si. Bendice el Rosario y toda contentas nos vamos. En lo qe damos 10 pasos se nos acerca un hombre vestido de monje y nos dice q si éramos las chicas q querían bendecir el Rosario. Le decimos q si y nos lo bendijo. Tuvimos tanta suerte q el Rosario fue bendecido 2 veces!!!! Eso es mejor creer.

Ya eran las 2 de la tarde y había hambre. Decidimos compartir in falafel. Nos sentamos en un lugar árabe y le pedimos q nos traiga todo al plato!!! No saben q delicia el humus!! Tenia un gustito como a limón!! Espectacular!!!

La noche la pasamos en un pueblito q se llama macabe-reut q es donde vive la hermana de Vani, Betina con su hijo Iair.

Camino a Macabí-Reut nos perdimos!! Va no es q nos perdimos es q no estaba el cartel de la salida q necesitábamos y nos pasamos un poquito. Por suerte nada grave llegamos a lo de Betina a las 6 pm y Iair estaba esperandonos todo contento. Que lindo q es!!! Es un tierno!!!!

Como Betina estaba dado una clase de ingles Iair nos invito a pasear al
Mall q estaba justo enfrente de la casa. Nos paseo por todo el shopping. Nos mostró cosas hermosas nos explico la diferencia de las distintas kippot.

Volvimos a buscar a Betina y nos fuimos a pasear por los distintos barrios. Una paz había!! Los chicos caminan solos por la calle. Se toman colectivos solos!! Una seguridad
Impresionante!!!

Gracias Betina y Iair por hospedárnos!!!! Nos encanto ver como viven y pasar un día con ustedes.

Day 3: Akko, Rosh Ha-Nikra y Tzfat.

Una vez desayunadas emprendimos
Camino para el norte. Primer destino Akko.

Entre lloviznas y no lloviznas caminamos por el pueblito!!!! Fuimos al puerto donde se ve Haifa. Lamentablemente era muy temprano para comer humusy pitas homemade de ahí.

Seguimos hasta Rosh Ha-Nikra el punto mas al norte de la costa oeste de Isael. No bajamos a las cuevas porq hacia mucho frío pero fuimos hasta la frontera donde estas tan solo a 120 km de Beirut.

Tomamos una ruta q bordea el limite de Israel y el Lebano. Se dice q es como la de los Swiss alps por los paisajes q hay.

Con un sol q brillaba llegamos a Tzfat. Pueblo mistico. Creyente en la kabbalah.

Empezamos a caminar por el artist colony y conocimos a Doron. Un diseñador de joyas de oro bañado y plata pura. Que lindas cosas q hace!!!!

También conocimos a David profesor de kabbalah y filosofia de la universidad. Nos contó q sus padre eran de España y nos deseo Ben viaje y seguimos caminando.

3 mins mas tarde se nos acerca y nos dice q por la buena energía q sintió de nosotras nos quiere dar un tour gratis y de corazón por Tzfat.

No saben lo divino q era. Al principio me dio un poco de cosita porq nos mostró las ruinas de las primeras casas q hubieron en Tzat y como sabían que eran de judio (porque había una mikveh). También nos llevo a un negocio q venden productos para el cuerpo naturales y nos contó que ahí hacen un licor de Etrog. La señorita q atendía nos llevo a probar pero le ponía caras raras a el. Me acerque y le pregunte q si etaba bien y dijo q si q el un simpático y muy charlatán asiq seguimos camino con el. El licor era súper fuerte y acido. Ajjjj, no me gusto pero me dio una ola de calor en el cuerpo q me vino bárbaro por el frío q hacia.

Fuimos a conocer la primer sinagoga de Tzfat. Esa sinagoga es hermosaaaaaaa. Cuando entramos conocimos a Rafi (el señor q cuida la sinagoga) y nos hizo un cafecito.

Lo primero q David hizo fue q nos llevo a una silla grande y nos hizo sentar en ellas. Nos contó una historia y después nos dijo q se dice q una vez q la mujer se sienta en esa silla esta dicho q se casa en un año. Karla y yo nos quedamos duras. Will see donde estamos en un año.

David contó sobre los detalles que habían en el aaron a kodesh que eran todo engrave en madera. Nos enseño sobre el judaísmo y el significado de ser judio: "been Jewish is not about the kippah or the peyes. It's about everything, it's a way of life" David.

Nos enseño sobre kabbalah y como la kabbalah existe de diferentes maneras. Esta la kabbalah de la Torah, la de interpretar a la gente atraves de la cara, el poder leer la mano o el analizar el significado de las palabras atraves de sus letras buscando la asociación con palabras importantes.

Conocimos al hijo de un señor que fue uno de los 3 primeros q hacían un dibujo sobre algún salmo y depares contaban cuantas letras había en todo ese salmo y así es q armaba un dibujo armado de palabras. Excelente!!!

Quid imps it a cononocee a Abraham el artista kabbalistico pero estaba cerrado.

Nos despedimos de David como di lo hubiésemos conocido de toda la vida. Intercambiamos teléfonos e emails y seguimos nuestro camino.

Destino: Tiberias

Llegamos a nuestro hotelsito sin problemas. Caímos rendidas yo a las 6 me quede dormida y Karla a las 7. Nos levantamos a las 9:30 pasadas del hambre!!! Al ratito nos golpea la puerta un vecino y nos pide fuego. Le dijimos q no y nos invito a ir a su habitación a tomar cervezas y cantar canciones mientras el toca la guitarra.

Nos fuimos a comer y cuando volvimos el estaba tocando la guitarra. Se escuchaba tan bien q nos dio ganas de ir.

Toco una canción de coldplay y en ese llego otro vecino q no le gustaba tanto y nos pidió q la cortemos. Nos pusimos a hablar y nuestra interpretación fue q la mujer lo hecho de la casa por ignorante porq nos pregunto si en América del sur se habla latín o ladino?? Jajajajaja

No nos quedamos mucho porq era como tonto y nos fuimos a dormir.

Beautiful day

I started my day in Jerusalem. Walked around the old city, spend some time in the kotel and drove to Tel Aviv.

Right now I am wnjoying one of the best moments: an amazing sun shinning on me, at the beach drinking a glass of wine!!

Cuanta paz... Que lindooooo. Hay 16C grados. El sol pega. Hay un poquito de viento. No hay mucha gente. Esta j hermoso!!!

A la noche es el casamiento de uri.

Day 2: Shabbat chattan de uri y Haifa.

Yom Shabbat: día de descanso. Amanecimos tranquilas. Dormimos hasta tarde. Único compromiso era estar entre las 12 y la 1 en la asa de uri para un brunch. Así fue. A la 1ish llegamos. Que emoción verlo a Uri!! Se casa!!! No lo puedo creer, me pone feliz por el y es muy lindo estar as compartiendo!!!

Nos quedamos como 2 ha y nos fuimos con destino a Haifa. Nos preguntaron si podíamos acercar a la con suegra de uri q se esta quedando en haifa en lo de las primas.

Le dicen Porota. Tiene 85 años y lo q nos divertimos en esa hora de viaje... Nos contó q la dejo el avión porq una señora de la aerolínea le dijo q ese no era su avión porq leyó mal el papel!!! La forma en q lo contaba fue comiquisisisisma.

Una vez q la dejamos nos fuimos a pasear por Haifa. Y q paseo q dimos!!! Jajajajaja manejar en Haifa es imposibleeeee. Te perderá muy fácil, las calles no tienen carteles.

Recorrimos el Carmel y el Germán colony. Comimos como cerdas en un restaurante hermoso! Nos sentamos afuera bajo un toldo que tenia un heater y llovía!!! Hermosa noche.

Nos comimos un appetizer que pronto aprenderé a cocinar porq estaba delicioso, compartimos una pasta y nos pedimos 2 postres!!!! Y nos regalaron un plato con samples de diferentes masitas...Porq no nos logramos poner de acuerdo. Ba, en realidad no intentamos mucho tampoco!!! Jajaja

Con la panza llena y el corazón contento nos fuimos a buscar el hostel. Imposible encontrarlo, y cuando lo encontramos estaba ubicado en una zona tannnnm fea q optamos por buscar un hotel lindo pero con precio económico.

Así fue. Encontramos el noff hotel y pasamos la noche ahí.

Tel Aviv- Yaffo. Day 1

Creo q con solo leer día 1 y saber q karla nuncaaaaa durmio en un hostal se podrán imaginar las historias q hay para contar.

Empezamos el día con q Karla se va a bañar a un baño compartido porq ella no se puede ir a dormir sin bañarse y no tuvo agua caliente. Imaginense todo lo q me dijo (no hace falta aclarar q fueron cosas no muy lindas) sobre el hostel. El tema fue q la asistente principal con un Master en teacher leadership no supo abrir la ducha correctamente. En fin, son cosas q pasan hasta a las mejores personas.

Dormimos unas 4 horitas porq como era shabbat había q empezar el día tempranito. Arrancamos con un desayuno a full en el hostel y nos fuimos a caminar por las calles de Tel Aviv. Destination: el shuk.

Primer palabra en hebreo en el vocabulario de Karla. Amo los shuks, son tan divertidos, tantas cosas para ver y probar al mismo tiempo. Compramos almendras, pasas de uvas y pistachos. Todo muy rico.

Entramos a un negocio de telas porq la mama de karla le pidio tela santa. Karla as i said a master teacher creyo q el lugar era un fire hazaard y no se sentia miy comoda.

Seguimos camino hacia el new upcoming district: Nevek Tzedek. Que lindas cosas q venden ahí!!!! Me enamore de una escultura q vale aprox $12000. tengo un gusto baratito.

Nos fuimos a Yaffo caminando por la costa q se veía hermoso con todas las olas.

En Yafo compramos un poco de pashminas ya q carecemos de las mismas, Jajajajaja . Comimos un shawarma q estaba muy rico. Después del shawarma Necesitábamos usar el baño y de la única manera fue q compráramos un café q a la hora de pagar Karla se confundió una moneda de 10 centavos con una de 10ש. El hombre salió a buscarla para que le dejáramos el monto indicado.

De ahí nos fuimos al independence hall. Llegamos medio de casualidad porq el mapa no esta bien indicado. Al llegar un hombre de edad mayor nos dice q esta cerrado. Con mi modesto hebreo le explico q solo le quiero mostrar rápido y me comenta q hay q pagar. Le pagamos y cuando entramos tenemos la suerte q hay un grupo de Taglit sentados con un guía q les esta contado la historia. Nos sentamos ahí como 45 min. Que bueno q lo pudimos escuchar porq nos dio muchos facts q yo no sabía y le sirvió a Karla para conocer mas de la historia de este bello país.

Cuando salimos ya con ganas de comer algo dulce decidimos entrar a un bar a comer algo. Nos dicen que hay 9 mesas antes q nosotras y en eso se larga una lluvia zarpada Asiq no nos quedo mas q esperar.

Una vez ya en la mesa y con los brownies, el te y el café pedidos encontramos wifi. La tarde perfecta: coneccion al mundo, postres y lluvia afuera.

En lo q nos dimos cuenta el lugar se vacío y ahí fue cuando karla empezó a comprender el significado del shabbat. Nos quedamos en el café unas 4 hs.. Tan cómodas estábamos q le pedí a uri q me llamara al restaurante así hablábamos por tel!! Jajajajajaja. Hasta los meseros nos hacían chistes.

A las 7:00 pasadas de cansancio nos fuimos al hotel caminando lo cual tardamos 1:30 hs. Llegamos al hostel
Pasadas de cansancio y nos tiranos dn la cama un rato.

Como a eso de las 10pm a mi me empiezan a dar ganas de salir a ver q onda un ratito. A tomarse una copa de vino, pero para ver un poco de gente. La convenzo a Karla, nos vestimos, nos arreglamos y nos fuimos en un busca de un bar q tenga buena vibra.

Encontramos un lugar en una esquinita, hermoso. Entramos y nos sentamos justo al lado de una mesa de israelíes grande. Mojito y cerveza en mano se nos acercan los 2 americanos mas bobos del bar. No sabían donde quedaba argentina, ni Venezuela. Nos preguntaron donde estudiamos. Contestamos FIU, piensan por 15 secs lo q es y como no saben nos preguntan. Respondemos q es Florida International University y nos preguntan si es solo para International students!! Jajajajaja... Ahí fue cuando yo le termine de perder la paciencia.

3 mojitos mas tarde nos pusimos a charlar con los israelíes!!! Q buena onda!! Nos quedamos hasta q prácticamente no quedaba gente en el bar y nos fuimos a comer unas burekas a un negocio a 2 cuadras. Llegamos al hostal a las 3:30 pasadas de cansancio.

Para haber sido un primer día, caminamos un montón, comimos cosas típicas y extras, nos reinos mucho, conocimos gente local y por sobre todo no nos matamos. Chiste... La pasamos muy muy bien.

Traveling con Karla: Israel

El miércoles 11 en la mañana embarque con Karla hacia un nuevo viaje, destino: Israel con un layover en Bruselas.

Después de hacer coneccion en Philadelphia y comernos un phillie steak tuvimos la suerte de viajar en un avión casi vacío. Nos hagarramos una fila de 3 y Nos dormimos todo el vuelo!!!!

7 am: amanecemos en Bruselas!!! Por primera vez en 4 años use mi pasaporte polaco. Que placer!!! Solo te miran la foto y como sos miembro de la unión europea te tratan súper bien.

Buscamos el tren para llegar a Bruselas. 5.60€ mas tarde nos subimos a un subte en hermosas condiciones el único problema fue q a la primer parada el tren se paro y no anduvo mas por problemas técnicos.

Nos bajamos del tren y se nos pone a hablar un chico q resulto ser un israelí q se mudo a Manhattan. Charlamos un rato y la verdad q nos fuimos porq el pibe era medio mala onda.

Llegamos a Bruselas y lo único q queríamos era un tradicional waffle pero nadie nos podía decir donde se comían; optamos por empezar a caminar por la ciudad y ver q nos tentaba.

La ciudad la verdad q es hermosa!! Creo q en verano debe ser hasta mucho Mas linda porq esta llena de flores y obvio q mucho mas vida. Terminamos desayunando en un barcito q nos rompieron el tissi con el precio y solo nos dieron pan y queso.

Al salir de la estación de tren entramos a un souvenir shop q tenia muchas figuras de un nene con un pitito de diferentes usos. Obvio, q Romi pregunto q era y nos contaron q es el manniken. Hacia allá fuimos... Mapa en mano con Karla siguiendo mis pasos lo fuimos a buscar. El problema fue q yo sabia q estábamos en el lugar correcto pero bo veíamos ninguna estatua de tamaño grande q nos llamara la atención. Paramos en la esquina, miramos el mapa, miramos para un lado, miramos para el otro hasta q venos un grupo de chinos como locos sacando fotos a una fuente q encima esta enrejada y no se ve mucho. Q decepción, nosotras pensamos q nos íbamos a encontrar con un súper nene con un súper pito.

Obvio q me compre, perdón nos compramos el snow globe de Bruselas con el mannekin.

Caminando por Bruselas aprendimos q se habla francés, q están todos con cara de enojados, pero también encontramos un guaffle truck. Que buen waffle!!!! Estaba espectacular!!!! Nos sentamos en las escaleras de una plaza q tiene unos jardines como los de Alicia in wonderland. Karla como es tan buena gente quiso firmar una petición q unos adolescentes pedían h es tan nava q el guaffle se le callooooooo. :(.

Descubrimos q Bruselas en la capital de los cómics y ahí es donde nació Tintin, los pitufos, Betty boop, etc.

En la gran plaza encontramos un restaurancito q nos parecio muy cozy y entramos. Obvioooo q con semejante vista uno se quiere sentar en la mesa de la ventana y mas cuado esta vacia. Le pedimos al mesero q nos siente ahi y nos dice q no. Solamente si pedia comida tenes el privilegio de sentarte en la ventana. Nos tomamos unas cervezas espectaculares!!! Yo una de limón y Karla una de cereza. No saben lo rica q estaba!!!

Ya a las 4 de tarde empezó a hacer frío y nos volvimos al aeropuerto.

Como no habíamos comido nos compramos 2 tostados y 2 jugos por €40. Sin palabras.

El vuelo fue uno de los pocos o no se si el peor de los vuelos q tuve en mi vida. Olía horrible, nenes llorando, los de atrás tiraron la comida, la bb de adelante vomito. Un desastre.

Al leerle a Karla lo q escribí nos acordamos LO MAL q fue ese viaje: cuando nos estábamos subiendo al avión había un gordo religioso (please q nadie se ofenda) q olía a chivo mallllll. La pobre mujer q estaba sentada en la fila de adelante de el le toco q el gordo le pase toda la panza con ese olor apestoso por la cara. Los comentarios de la mujer fueron increíbles!!!

Cuando llegamos a Israel mientras terminamos los papeles del alquiler del auto Karla casi rompe un iPad. Por suerte llegamos al hostel bien y rápido.

En la habitación hacia frío. Solo teníamos un blanket cada una y fuimos a pedir mas. La del front desk (era de finlandia y estaba en israel hace 3 meses por q se enamoro de un israeli, quien no?!?)q le puso la mejor onda nos ayudo a buscar. Pero como no había en ningún lado y no encontraba la llave del closet le dije q traíga un destornillador y los abríamos para. Fijarnos. Desepcion q no había nada, ella siguió buscando y nos encontró 2 mas. Nos fuimos a dormir a las 3 am pero abrigaditas!!!