I am so wound up from my busy day that I am having trouble getting to sleep. Today after being picked up at the airport we went to Paul's cousin's apartment for a short rest then out with the adult children for a trip to the open air market in Tel Aviv. Oded, Haddas Etai and Nilli are all delightful, warm and kind. They speak great English which is a big plus because my Hebrew is non-existent. The market was bustling with pre-Shabbat shoppers all bundled against the unseasonable cold. It was a feast for the senses with the candies, olives, breads and produce all piled high. When we had finished wandering the stalls we drove to the old city of Jaffa which has been a seaside port since the time of Solomon. Currently the small harbor doesn't get much seafaring traffic but it does pull in a share of tourists who walk through the warren of twisty passages past fascinating ancient architecture which now houses trendy art galleries and restaurants. We had the streets to ourselves as we walked down to the harbor where the Mediterranean was roiling and tossing under a dark stormy sky and we made it back to the car just before it started pouring.
I barely kept my eyes open in the car on the way home. Mascha prepared a tasty erev Shabbat dinner for us and I excused my self to crash so I can get up bright and early for the next adventure.