We arrived in gorgeous Tel Aviv on Wed June 7 to sunny, 30C weather which was a bit of a shock after the last couple of weeks of cold, wet conditions in Ottawa.

We were too early to be allowed to check in at the hotel, so we left our bags and went to the beach where we staggered down the boardwalk and admired the Mediterranean.

We didn’t really plan much for that first day, but we did try very hard to each let go of our tendencies to Type A behaviour, and to uh, relax?

Of course, nothing soothes my angst better than food and drink (eating my feelings, always and forever). In the dead of winter, when we are at our most miserable and feel close to death by hypothermia and SAD, D and I cheer ourselves up with memories of a restaurant here that we love so much we eat there multiple times per trip like stalkers. This is a lively place on the Old Pier, called “Benny the Fisherman”. We always order the whole grilled fish, which is accompanied by several different salads/veggie treats that are SO GOOD, we have to be careful not to be completely full by the time our fish arrives. The best part is that you have no idea what they will bring, just that it will be from 9-12 super delicious little samples.

Thankfully, Benny’s is a nice walk from our hotel, so we work up our appetite on the way over, then work off our dinner on the way home. How convenient!

Last night, we came across a wedding ceremony on the terrace of a restaurant that is on the way to Benny’s. We stood and watched and listened to the rabbi performing the ceremony, the guests participating in the responses, everyone singing at the end of the ceremony, the bride and groom kissing, and finally, the groom breaking the glass at the end. I cried. There, I said it. I was so moved by the joy, by God’s presence at the wedding, by the beautiful singing, and by all of us strangers stopping to watch and applaud the new couple that I CRIED. Needing tissues and being unable to speak and almost gasping kind of cry. It was ugly and embarrassing, so please don’t tell anyone. Anyway, Mazel Tov to the happy new couple!

I am slowly being fried by the hot sun, but I will not be defeated! More to come on some nerdy historical stuff that we did.