Ode to Tel Aviv

Today I'm checking out of the David InterContinental after a 18 nights stay.

First thing I saw in the mornings is the sea. Then I get out of bed, overlooking the beach from the 17th floor.

It's such a nice beach - you know, a proper aqua blue color, with proper yellow/white sand, and huge waves crashing on the rocks (where there are rocks, of course).



It's so different from Sandymount beach that I got to know quite well while in Dublin! And even though I really enjoyed Sandymount beach, I have to say that the Tel Aviv beach is just so much more beachie - so much more the right kind of beach... What can I say, I'm biased!

Donkey vs. Cinema

Here's a story I heard from a friend yesterday:

"You know my grandfather and his family used to live in Jaffa in the 1930s. They had a donkey back then.

However, when the riots started (mid 1930s), they had to run for their lives, and left their donkey behind. They went to seek refuge in the North of Tel Aviv. Can you imagine - seeking refuge in North Tel Aviv? Hilarious!

Anyway, when the riots had calmed, my grandfather and his family went back to Jaffa. They started looking for the donkey they left behind and someone told them he saw a donkey in the mayor's garden.

They then went to see the mayor's donkey and realized it was indeed theirs. They asked the donkey back. The mayor was reluctant to give the donkey back, since he grew fond of it.

After reflecting for a while, the mayor said: 'I want to keep the donkey. I am willing to give you Noga Cinema in exchange.'

Her grandfather was thinking of the mayor's offer for a moment, then made up his mind: 'Thank you for your generous offer, Mr. mayor. However, we want our donkey back'.

This is the story on how my family inherited donkey leftovers rather than a cinema that had become a successful, famous theatre (Gesher)."

Free Hugs Day- Dedicated to the Israeli Free Huggers

We're moving to Herzelia

I started packing already, and it seems like I have so many things hiding inside my cabinets. Things I never knew of their existence. But I packed them anyway. When we'll be in Herzelia, I'll find someone who'll find it useful and treat it right.
Herzelia is just too far for me. I still don’t know how am I going to get there every morning, but I'm quite sure I'll be spending some time at traffic jams.
I'll be riding my bike less and less now, probably during weekends only. Such a shame…

I was visiting the new building this morning, for a guided tour, so on Sunday, our first day in Herzelia, us, the HR people will have the answers to everything, and where's what.
It's weird, because I'm a bit excited, probably because everything is new and very pretty, but then I think about the time I'll be spending on my way to and from work. It might take over an hour to get there or making my way back home.
I know, I'm a bit spoiled, but what can I do?... I'm living in Tel Aviv, I'm allowed to be spoiled. That's why I live in Tel Aviv, to be close to everything that's important. And then the company I work for is changing its location outside of Tel Aviv! Not a smart move…

But now is the time to go home, so Cya!