A 5 Star Desert

We took our trip down south last week. This was my favorite trip last time, and it exceeded expectations this time.

We did a workshop that...a...lets just say, wasn't my cup of tea. It was nice to do different movement,
but maybe the people aren't my cup of tea.

We stayed in a hostel right under Masada. It was a gorgeous place and the landscape is stunning. I never looked at the desert and thought, "stunning"
but it really is.

This is the landscape of the hostel.

We got nice and early and did a hike in the Judea desert. It over looked the Dead Sea, had a rare stream running, (It had just rained) we climbed down some nice cliffs and hung off ledges.
That’ll get the adrenaline pumping.

No, this is not the cliff we climbed down, but you get the picture.

We went to spend the night in a Bedouin Tent. You know, the kind that have one big mattress covered by a cloth tent. We all got a lovely surprise and ended up in what I will refer to as, The 5 Star Bedouin Tents.

We learned about the customs and life style of the Bedouin and had an amazing meal where I got to eat rice with my hands. That had me sold right there. We finished the night off with a bon fire and tried to sleep on our straw mattresses. Don't get me wrong, I was grateful for the hut, but I was sniffling all night from the straw.

I got visit my future pet.

We named her Chaliet, to go with Chali #1 and Chali #2.

We got up the next morning and hiked Masada. It was a beautiful day to do it. The story is brutal on both sides, and standing on top of the mountain, seeing how people lived for years, is a lot to take in. I think it's bad living with same people on a kibbutz, try a mountain top for 4 years.

We finished off in the Dead Sea. Who can't be happy floating on top of water?

A wonderful week. I love Israel :)

The Day Has Come

If there is one thing I don't like about myself, it's that I sleep talk.

Normally I wonder what I say,

(although, Hali's favorite thing is to tell me what I said to her)

I feel bad if I wake someone up etc...

BUT

my speech last night is the one I've WANTED to come...

I spoke Hebrew in my sleep!

.................................................

....................................

.............

.

Thank you very much,

 we like to refer to me as a "speaker".

Israeli Flirting...Or Insulting, I Can't Tell Sometimes

I thought I would start writing down some of the interesting conversations I have. Here’s a little glimpse.

Location: Arab Shuk (market) Tel Aviv
Time: 11:30
Target: Shopping

It all started when buying a skirt. Color, green. Length, knee. The salesman complimented me on being from California (literally) my eyes, so on and so on. (These middle aged men are pretty tricky with the words) After I purchase my skirt, he says some flirtation thing; I am walking away and hear,
"Look at those girls legs! They look like a Football players!!" I flipped around with my mouth wide open and my finger pointed at him. He chuckled and waved me on.

Location: Kosher McDonalds (Heaven help us, they're in Israel too)
Time 21:30
Target: Killing Time

Five of us are sitting in a booth, talking about the show we just saw, when an older man perches over our table and proceeds to stare each and every one of us down. When he sat back down, our eyes about popped out of our heads, wondering what just happened. A couple minutes later he stands up again from across the room and walks towards us staring directly at me. I, of course can't, NOT stare at an awkward situation, so after his second round of staring he sat back down. I am shaking uncontrollably and crying from trying to keep my laughter inside when he turns his head and hisses at us. Yes, HISSES. He slowly walks away again and turns around to get one last look at us as he goes down the stairs...to hiss again. Real life. Sometimes, people hiss.

Location: Kibbutz Ga'aton
Time: 13:15
Target: Get in shape

One of the long time dancers here, has converted a bomb shelter into her Pilates studio (pretty creative) and does lessons that most are taking advantage of...except Hali and I. It's to expensive for us. So, Hali and I have come up with our own Chali Boot Camp (CHC) and you too can be part of this trial run for 0 down, 0 interest, until 2034. (best deal you will ever get) CHC offers a variety of cardio including sprints around the kibbutz: conveniently only 1/2 mile around entire kibbutz. Take in the beauty of nature as you do suicides      up and down the Big Raya field. Test you core strength with the Tree Hustle as you shimmy up the beautiful trees of Israel. For coordination, don't step to far to the left cause there might be some dog poo! And last, but certainly not least, resistance training. Connect with a friend as she holds the many therobands wrapped around you middle, as you try to run away. A fool proof idea.

Location: Taxi Cab
Time:14:45
Target: Get home from Nahariyya

After a morning at the beach, I'm loving our cab driver and how funny he is. He and I were meant for each other. First thing that made me love him:
Driver, "What part of California live you?"
Me, "San Francisco"
Driver, "San Francisco!?!? The city with all the gays..."
Me, "Yup"
Pause with eye contact in rear view mirror
Me, "Are you going to ask if I'm a lesbian?"
Slight pause followed by deep rumble of laughter
Driver, "No, No. I heart the gays. I might be gay. *Wink.  Did you know that 50% dancer women are gay?"
Me, "Really, I had no idea"
Smile on my face.
Driver, "You should know the facts about your own profession"
You know something I love about the Israelis, is when they are done with their artistic profession, or decide to change theirs, they do. One of my teachers has a degree in Neurological Science. I met a cab driver that randomly knows everything about dance and hangs out with all the Batsheva dancers. One driver use to be an archeologist for 20 years in the middle of nowhere and got tired of it. So, although I think this statistic is a little off, I have learned the most from my cab drivers, so I won't totally discredit it. End of story, I asked for his card and he will now be my person cab driver, because I said so.

Location: Masada Youth Hostel
Time 21:00
Goal: Walking to bathroom

We all were enjoying the warm nights air at our hostel in the desert, laughing, laughing so hard we were crying, and laughing so long my abs hurt. I got up to use the restroom when a man stopped me to tell me I walk like a man.....Yup, that's it.

Oh Israel, how I'll miss you when I'm gone.
Many stories to come.