Weekend Update

This weekend was a ton of fun.  After Ul-pan ended on Thursday, I walked back in the freezing cold to the gym, where I have vowed to go at least 20 times/month to get my money's worth.  After working out, I took a shower and saw about 18 missed calls when I got out - Alex and his friend Aaron had gotten in from Tel Aviv and were standing around on campus with no clue where to go.  Oops.

We unloaded their stuff and after a brief tour (I took them back to the gym, they were very impressed with it), we met up with their friend Nikki, who they came down with and who was staying with Kayla.  A group of us headed off to the shuk to stock up on food for the big Shabbat dinner on Friday.  It was my first time at the shuk since I moved in to campus, and I quickly realized two things: 1) everything at the shuk is free if you have quick hands, and 2) 2 arms aren't nearly enough to carry everything.  Luckily I had Alex and Aaron with me, so we were able to divide all the fresh produce and DIRT CHEAP AVOCADOS!!!! amongst us as we made our way along.  The shuk adventure ended at a famous marzipan place, with regalla that cost literally one shekel.  The regalla was delicious, Alex ate 3.  I found another deal that seemed too good to be true: they were selling 6 packs of beer in cardboard boxes that came with free Doritos!  Of course I had to buy a box, just for the Doritos.  Take a luk at the shuk:

Do you notice anything about that picture?  Look to the right, at the rectangular sign with blue lettering.  IT'S THE NACHMAN'S!!! THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!!!

Thursday night was a pretty typical Ben Yehuda night.  It consisted of us hopping from bar to bar, settling at Zoli's, and having trouble getting in to at least one club.  The highlight has to be a random Nachman girl who joined our table at Zoli's and started helping herself to our popcorn, before getting bored and throwing kernels at us.  She started a mini food fight and then vanished in the chaos that followed, leaving us all to wonder why we started throwing popcorn at each other and where 3 shots went.  

Friday morning Alex, Aaron and I went to the Old City and, after some aimless meandering, decided to follow the funny hats and sure enough ended up at the kotel.  We all did tefillin and for the first time I actually read the Hebrew myself instead of having someone recite it for me.  The guy just handed me a booklet, I guess after two weeks of Ul-pan I now look like I can read Hebrew.  After the kotel we were starving so Alex found this amazing bagel place that overlooks the wall.  We had gigantic lox bagels that were probably the best bagels I've had in Israel, but Alex was on a mission and immediately next door to scarf down schwarma and falafel.  So much good food.  With our stomachs full, we decided now would be just as good a time as any to try to get into the Dome of the Rock.  I led them through the Muslim quarter (the same area where the confrontation on Hamerkaz happened, but this was during the day with tourists all over, not at night, so we were fine), and we found the gate.  We take two steps towards the gate and the security guard gives us a once over and sees three Jews wearing Northfaces, then tells us in English "Closed.  Only Muslims."  We didn't try to press our luck because we were clearly not Muslim, but I plan on returning with Isaac and a few other people and it is now my goal for the semester to get into the Dome of the Rock at some point.  It'll happen.

Friday night we shlepped all the produce to the girls' room and we started cooking.  There were 8 of us, and we cooked for a solid hour and half.  I chopped up the veggies and scooped the avocados while Alex did something to turn the chicken from pink flabby meat into delicious tender strips.  The dinner was delicious and we just hung around and talked for a few hours after.  It was very relaxed and overall an amazing Shabbat meal - the only thing was there was a miscommunication regarding bread crumbs, so we couldn't make schnitzel, and we forgot to use the onions.  But it was a legit feast, with a gigantic salad featuring every veggie imaginable, mashed potatoes with hot sauce, chicken, wine, pita, and hummus.  I was proud of everyone involved for putting it together.

This morning (Saturday) we went to an amazing look-out spot on campus and took some pictures.  We wanted to go to the amphitheater because that has the best view, but school was closed on Saturday and not everyone was up for climbing the gate.  It was probably a good call, because you really shouldn't mess with Israeli security.  After we took pictures, we went to the tiny falafel shack that's a few minutes walk from our dorms, and scarfed down 9 sheckel pitas and 12 sheckel falafels.  It was perfection.  Alex fell in love and is going to insist on going there every time he comes down now.  How can you resist the Falafel Guy??!!

Overall a very solid weekend.  Between the shuk, Ben Yehuda, the Old City, touring campus, and making a feast on Friday night, we did a lot but it felt very relaxed.  We had a quality group of people together.  Hard to believe Ul-pan starts tomorrow, but I'm already looking forward to the next couple of weekends:

Next weekend - Skiing/Snowboarding Shabbaton at Mt. Herzl, Shabbat in Tzfat (I have to go back)

Weekend after - Negev hike/campout retreat

Weekend after - Tel Aviv, or maybe Petra (that is happening soon)

Only 2 more weeks of Ul-pan, then finally I start classes and have some more free time!  We have a 3 on 3 basketball tournament this Friday so I'm gonna go practice with my team, Ben and Max, in a few hours after Alex gets up from his nap and they all head back to Tel Aviv.  Alex will help me with my take-home Ulpan test first though.

Oh, and for those of you wondering, yes it did snow.  Just a little, and it never really accumulated on the ground.  It's back to being sunny and nice out, still a bit chilly but I'll take it.  Hopefully that's the worst weather we get here.

SHALOM