Wednesday; art galleries, good meals (of course) and family!

SLL: what would you imagine me to start with?  A sun so bright- and so enticing that no matter how tired, I had to get up and drink coffee in the soft breeze, warm sun and clear air.  The traffic sounds are muffled by all of this environment and a view of the sea.  paddle boarders and kayakers can be seen on the water from the terrace. 

We walked north along the tayelet toward Gordon; Randall remembered art galleries on Gordon Street from the last time we were here.  beach goers are few, but, some people are in the water.  chess players, walkers, bikers, line the walkway along with the runners.  At Gordon, we turn into 3-4 galleries; paintings in rich colors from the last 100 years and sculptures; we ooh and ahh over so many paintings.

we stroll along Dizengoff Street, south toward home; natural food stores are in almost every block and at Anise, we are coaxed into getting a membership- I can't imagine why- but, we do and buy GF bagels and rice milk; every natural food store needs our undivided attention. 

In this part of TA, the streets are a bit quieter, the shops more like boutiques; shortly we are back walking through Dizengoff Center. 

this fountain is an old and famous one in Dizengoff Square.

All the bakeries are selling donuts- foods made with oil- are a big hit at Chanukah- latkes (potato pancakes) and sufgoniyot- Jelly filled donuts- are abundant.  All the bakery windows are filled with the fragrant donuts and I have never seen them so ornately decorated.

 



we make our way home; and relax.  we are travelling tonight about 20 miles north of the city to visit with our distant cousins.  we are excited.  we have brought  a suitcase full of orders and gifts.  It is 5 years since we saw them last.

they are making a big dinner; and the entire family is coming. 

we have a great time. we are all thrilled to see each other and celebrate.  Mickey- my distant cousin, is a painter and a therapist; her paintings adorn the walls.  She showed me some of her work; I love its whimsy and color. She teaches women about expressing themselves through their art. Her studio is packed; I would love to come paint with her sometime. 

Hillel, Tal, Corrine (Mickey and Hillel's daughter) (Tal is her husband) and Maura:

Mickey, Shiri (Mickey and Hillel's youngest daughter)- and their friends Mallory and Doug.  Mallory and Doug are scientists who moved form the U.S. to Israel some years ago. 

 Quite a feast: 

Mickey's oldest daughter is Liat- she is finishing her Ph.D in cinema and architecture;  she wrote her dissertation in English.  Her husband, Meir is an architect.

We ate and talked until late; another wonderful day- and night.  Tomorrow we are off to visit a Kibbutz with Maura that is located about 70 Kilometers south of Tel Aviv.  Be'eri is one of the original kibbutzim created in 1946 in the true model. In 1946, 11 kibbutzim were created and started immediately after Yom Kippur.  Be'eri is successful and still exists though somewhat modified from the original model.  Yival Baer will be our guide; Maura will interview him and we will tour the kibbutz.  Her focus is on the environment and ecology; so we will see what this kibbutz has done regarding recycling and re-using.    Yival is responsible for all the recycling on the kibbutz.  He is a leader in the country on the subject and action.