This past Wednesday my roommates and I embarked on a trip that left my mouth agape, my eyes more than a little bit droopy, and my calves pulsing. We braved the walk to Lod (about a half hour, twenty minutes if your walking Debbie and Matana speed), hopped on a train, and headed for Haifa.
Though I have traveled some, I have never stayed in a hostel. Something about sleeping in a room with 10-15 strangers just hasn't appealed too me in the past. However, I now see monetary value of staying in a hostel, and thus, landed myself at the Port Inn Guest House at the base of Mt. Carmel. However, from what my roommates have told me, both extensive travelers and well schooled in the art of hostel hopping, our four bed, private corner suite with a bathroom attached was one of the finer establishments they had found themselves in. The bed was comfortable, the shower pressure was fantastic, and breakfast, well, lets face it, Israeli breakfast is good anywhere.
The man at the front desk of the hostel gave us a what-to-do-in-Haifa pamphlet that we poured over until we decided, collectively, that the Grand Canyon was the way to go. In Hebrew, the word kenyon means mall. Somehow, something got lost in translation and the biggest mall in Israel was named the Grand Canyon. And was it ever grand! The inside was beautiful, though filled with small children, gigantic crowds of people, and of course, dogs. I still have yet to get used to the size of the stores in Israel (due to the cost of real estate) and the fact that despite the small size, approximately one hundred people will try to fit themselves in each store.
Our time in the Grand Canyon was limited. Sukkot was beginning and stores began to shut down at about 2:30PM. We took this opportunity to walk the German Colony, where we found Cafe Cafe, where I found ICED COFFEE! Not only was it truly hot coffee poured over ice, but I could then pick from a variety of flavors, including caramel. It was a great day!
Our second day in Haifa was spent at the Bahai Gardens. We had been there once before with Oranim, but only got to see the very top part of the gardens. This time around, we took a free English tour with about 40 other people through the entirety of the Gardens. It was a nice tour, but walking down the Carmel after just about killed me. I could never live in Haifa.
The four of us went out both nights in Haifa - once to bars, and the second night to a club on the top of the Carmel. I feel it needs to be mentioned that both Matana and I successfully bought and wore "onesies" on the second night, and rocked them, if I do say so myself - though the snaps on mine were quite annoying and eventually became unsnapped and stayed that way for the remainder of the night. Any time I see Israeli women walking around with a tight top, I have to remind myself that it is most likely a "onesie". They are extremely popular in Israel, and they actually look nice, though the concept is hilarious.
The second part of this blog will unfortunately have no pictures, because it was spent during the Hag and Shabbat in Jerusalem, and my camera was taking a Shabbat rest. On Friday morning, Rachel and I took a train to Jerusalem to meet Harris. We stayed at his house that night, going to synagogue and having Shabbat dinner, which was of course, a feast of great proportions, and one where I have learned to love chopped liver! Rachel and I had been itching to go to not only an Ashkenazim synagogue, but one in particular that Rabbi J had told us about prior to leaving for Israel, called Shir Hadash. It was the best service I have been to since being in Israel, and the only service that I have actually been able to understand to a greater level.
On Saturday, we embarked on a trip to the Old City, where we met up with several of our Ramla co-volunteers, and went to Rabbi Eli's house for Shabbat lunch. It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had, as we (about 14 Americans close to my age) ate lunch in his sukkah, with his wife and daughters. I wish I had pictures of it. We then went with Esther and Lindsay to check out the Heritage House, a hostel located inside the Old City where youth travelers can stay, and where they were staying for the night. We joined them at the Kotel and then on the roof of the men's hostel for the meal ending Shabbat and for Havdalah. It was truly an experience.
I am beyond glad that I saw Jerusalem during Sukkot. there are sukkahs virtually everywhere you look, in homes, on roofs, in restaurants. People move themselves outside for eight days, eating and some even sleeping in there sukkahs. It's really an amazing thing to see.
(Again, blogger is not letting me caption my pictures. 1) Rachel, Naomi, Matana and I in the Port Inn Guest House. 2) The Grand Canyon. 3) My caramel iced coffee. 4) Matana and I in our "onesies" - hers was much more Lady Gaga!)
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