Benjamin didn't wait for his elderly parents to wake up -- he went on to breakfast by himself. We woke up at 9:45. Wow. Joined him for yogurt and other dairy offerings and muesli and juice (not the same as yesterday but perfectly satisfactory) and then we set out. Walked south to a film supply store where I realized again why Benjamin is so comfortable here -- Israel is basically unpretentious. They don't make every nook and cranny into a marketing moment. Stuff just looks used or useful, there is a lot of concrete that looks worn and old, but there is plenty of motion and activity, things getting done. It is busy but not polished here in Tel Aviv. We went down to the beach and Benjamin practiced with his cameras while we just sat there soaking up the sunshine.
He had asked a friend for suggestions of where to take his parents who like history. We went to the Yitzak Rabin Museum, Benj navigating and Jon driving and me being driven around like royalty in the back seat. We got audiophones that worked most of the time, telling the story of Rabin's life, and along the way, the story of Israel since 1922. Benj didn't like the architectural decision to start the story at the top of a descending spiral ramp, with little cul-de-sacs of videos and photos along the way. He thought it seemed depressing to go down and down, ending with the assassination and funeral. The peace process hasn't improved since Rabin was killed, so maybe they had a point with the downward spiral. It was a good museum, though.
Then to Yaffa to poke around and have a late lunch. Delicious beet salad, artichoke, fried cauliflower with tahine, mung bean salad, and roasted eggplant. Another reason that Benj likes it so much here: there is very good vegetarian food, easy to find. We wandered through the narrow paths, sat on benches, watched people.
We were invited to dinner at Nir and Hanna's, where Benjamin stayed for his first month in Israel. They are gracious hosts and had prepared a wonderful, big meal for us. It seems backwards, us going to their house to be fed and entertained when we should be doing something for them. Maybe some day we will have the chance. They are in a similar stage of life, their son and two daughters out of the house and gainfully occupied -- their oldest learned German to go to school in Berlin and got a full scholarship as an undergraduate. What is it with these boys who want to study in a new language and go far away to go to school?
Benjamin says Israel is the most American country there is, except maybe for Canada, and that is another reason that he feels so at home here. He really likes it here, and that is good to see.
No comments:
Post a Comment