My last Shabbos in Israel (for now)
Auntie Clara had told me that (sephardi) services were scheduled for 7:30am but that they were having brunch afterwards at Entebbe restaurant at 10-10:15am or so. Like I said, had I know it was going to cost 95 shekel to get there, I would've woken up for shul, but you can't change the past.
I caught a cab and we found our way to the restaurant in Ohr Yehuda (way outside of Tel Aviv). I ended up getting there around 10:30am, a little late, but they didn't mind so much. They had just been worried. Uncle Arthur said that if he were to travel around with anyone, it would have to be me because I can always find my way to wherever I'm supposed to go... I laughed but it's actually quite true. I have a pretty good sense of direction.
Lunch was wonderful. I said hello to the whole family (and friends that were there as well, probably 30-40 people) and started eating food. Salads of all kinds, chips (fries), vegetables, fruits, drinks, and those were just the appetizers! The kabobs came out - beef (so good), chicken, and liver (Julie, Amira, and Ilana kept trying to get each other to try it, but it wasn't happening lol). Uncle Arthur and Auntie Clara DID eat some, but I just can't imagine eating that stuff. Oh well. After that, the cakes came out. As if there wasn't enough food :). YUM. The marble cake was the best (had two pieces of that bad boy)...
Afterwards, I hitched a ride with Shoshana and the close family headed over to Saba and Savta's house, of which I have heard so much. It is gorgeous. I took pictures, but they really won't do them justice. The house is big and stunning (Ron gave me the grand tour), and they have fruit trees growing in their front yard (including pomegranate trees!). So cool.
I ended up playing shesh besh with Rotem (another cousin), and she beat me (though in my defense, she must've gotten 7 sets of doubles, three of which were sixes; considering that, she still only beat me by about 7 pips). I then played Ron best of three. I won the first, he won the second, and he JUST BARELY beat me in the third. I was laughing so hard during the second and third games because Ilana and Amira were imitating Ron and what was going on in his head.... there were some points where I was laughing so hard that I couldn't roll the dice. :D
The rest of the time we were there, we all sat on the patio and chatted (all the while eating leftover wedding cake - YUM). It was so nice just hanging out with my family - I hope I can do it again soon. I plan on getting all their emails and keeping in touch with them.
Unfortunately, we all had to leave the house and head back. Everyone was pretty tired (including myself), and so I squished into the Gaba van (and Ron held my leftover wedding cake that they gave me) so they could drop me back at Hillary's apartment. Amira passed out in the car, and Ron asked when I was visiting him in Chicago (ASAP!)... though he is coming back into Detroit for Thanksgiving. YAY!
I got hugs and kisses (and more thanks for coming to the wedding stuff - though I really think I should be thanking them) from the family and hopped out. Really sad that it was the end of the wedding stuff and the week - so were they. I wish it didn't have to end; I love them, being with them, so much. Went to the apartment just as Hillary got home.
We just kinda chilled out for the rest of the day - though we did take a trip to the mall again to try and find a good movie (none we wanted to see) and find Hillary some jeans (no such luck of course; jeans run long here, like for my height, and Hillary is a good 6 inches shorter than me), but we did find her a few shirts since tomorrow is her first day of school - very exciting!
We didn't stay at the mall long. We were both getting pretty irritated at people. There were so many people walking around, especially with little kids, and people have a tendency to stand in the middle of walking lanes and block your path. We eventually gave up and just went to Mega (grocery store in the mall) for some food. I got two more yogurts (looove Israeli yogurt) and we headed back to the apartment.
By this time, I was exhausted and tired. I didn't stay up too much longer, even though I wanted to stay up and watch Game 1 of the World Series (it would've gone from 2am-5am). I just kinda sat around with Hillary, chatted with her, and just chilled for my last real evening in Israel this time around. I like my job and my friends back in Michigan, but I'm really bummed that I gotta leave here already.