Two Weeks Left and It's Only Getting Hotter

I've lived in the beautiful state of Washington my whole life (minus those first lovely years in Chi-town) and let me tell you - I have never experienced heat like this before. Washington summers are dry and warm, sometimes hot, but never THIS hot. The other day I made sweet potato pasta sauce and I was dripping, completely dripping in sweat. I couldn't even wear my glasses because they were sliding off my face. Thank the holy land lord for AC. And for the Mediterranean.

In order to combat the heat, I've been travelling to some AMAZING beaches to dip in the warm blue waters of the Mediterranean sea. Amazing sea. The most recent beach trip was to the most northern beach in Israel, before hitting the border of Lebanon. The beach is called Betzet.

The first time Eyal and I went there we were swimming in the waves and saw three dolphins ahead of us!!!! It was so so so unbelievable. I couldn't actually understand what it was that I just saw. Dolphins, just playing around in the waves, like me! Totally cool.

Yesterday, Eyal, his brother Omer, and his mom Eti, and I went for a day trip to Jerusalem to see the newly reopened and renovated Israel Museum. The museum is huge and has some amazing exhibits including archeology, modern art, Jewish mystical artifacts, historical Jewish artifacts from around the world, contemporary art, light art, paintings, photographs, abstract, everything.

Here is the link to the museum: click here!

We just happened to be there on the same day as the Jerusalem kite festival that was taking place at the museum so there were tons of wild Israeil children running around. The museum guards and workers were probably having the worst day ever trying to make sure all the kids didn't touch art exhibits.

After the museum we went to the Machane Yehuda Shuk, which is probably close to one of my favorite places in Israel. There are tons of spices and breads that you can smell at every corner. Fresh frutis and veggies are everywhere along with stinky fish and fresh meat. It's just such a hot spot of action and food and more delicious treats. There are always clothing shops, gift shops, my favorite ice cream shop (thanks to my friends in Jerusalem, Hanan and Aliza). I love to coconut flavored ice cream but yesterday I tried Basil ice cream. It was like eating fresh cold basil. OMG good. Despite the presence of a large religious population, the city is very hip and there are tons of events and musical events happening all over. The Hebrew University is located there so there is also a fun young community living there.

Today is the 18th of August and I live here the at 00:05 on September 1st and finally arrive home 30 hours later. I have many mixed feelings right now. I'm so so so excited to go home to my home, to my family. I'm also very anxious to see how my adjustment will be to have such a drastic change again. And how I am going to live without my favorite Israeli snack Milky.

It's chocolate pudding with really really yummy whipped cream on top. It comes in all sorts of flavors but the regular chocolate pictured here is my favorite. Once a day keeps the blues away.

So two weeks left. Let's see how this goes?