Justlikehome

Tel Aviv has won my heart. Friends had told me that anywhere in Israel would feel like an armed camp. Not true here, at least now. In 36 hours, granted not a lot of time, I have seen people surfing, walking on the boardwalk along the sea, lighting menorahs, laughing on the street and filling trendy restaurants. Since we have been here, I have not seen a police car or an IDF presence. We have been cautious on the streets at night, but not fearful. Today, the Sabbath, we wandered around Allenby Street and I hope to have more time when we come back here the week after next.

Not to dis my home town restaurants, but I have just had one of the best seafood meals of my life, and I'm a Rhode Islander who has only lived on the east coast of the USA. The food was spectacular, good Israeli wine, and the service was fun since everyone who worked in the place was under 30 and friendly. More interesting was the fact that the service was attentive until we started to look for the check. This happened last night also, and we realized that Israelis tend to linger after dinner, drink more coffee and relax. A lesson for Americans. As opposed to the tendency to hustle customers out the door of restaurants, Israelis kind of expect that you'll hang out for awhile.

Tel Aviv is a filled with young people, which is heartening, when you think of the future of Israel. It's a city I want to spend more time in. Tomorrow, off to Haifa, another seaside city with a rich history. Today there was a tragedy when a freighter coming to Haifa from, I think Cyprus, broke up in the rough seas. Several people lost at sea, a familiar story to those of us who grew up in New England. Off to sleep now, with a smile. Great way to spend a 62nd birthday.