Tag Archives: traveling

i’m not done traveling

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18

I mean, I am, for now.

But even though I am so fortunate to have traveled a lot in my life (a lot! I am so lucky), I am not satisfied yet. There are so many places that I wish to see, you know?

My uncle once said, “travel is the greatest gift you can give to your children.”

I totally agree.

Here is a little list of countries I wouldn’t mind visiting…

Russia (duh, Russia)

Australia & New Zealand

Scotland

Morocco

Turkey (well, I’ve been to Turkey. But I was 3 so I don’t remember)

Egypt (with Mike! Woot)

Romania

India (just so I can ride an elephant)

Aruba & British Virgin Islands

England

Fiji

Italy

Dubai

scenes from today

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6

{view of the Mediterranean from the apartment. Herzliya, Israel}

{brunch with old family friends at a kibbutz between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem}

{sunset at the Herzliya marina}

{if you ever find yourself near Herzliya – or any other city with a Max Brenner – you have to go. It’s pure chocolate bliss…even though I am now only allowed one percent of the menu}

This trip to Israel was definitely quick. We didn’t really do any tourist-y stuff (besides go to Jerusalem) for a few reasons: {1} I have not been feeling well {2} we wanted to rest and visit friends {3} we only stayed for three days.

I hope we’re back sometime soon! It really is a lovely country and I wish I could’ve captured more with my camera…

And now I am taking the most obnoxious flight back to America by myself…eek. I don’t like flying alone; not at all.

the shuk

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9

{walls covered in evil eyes and hamsas are kind of my version of heaven}

This trip to Israel has been and will be fairly low-key.

Yesterday I slept for about 15 hours or so at our apartment (and I don’t ever sleep! World’s number one insomniac, here) and we will not even be visiting our hometown of Haifa (is it still a hometown if you left when you were really little?).

I hope somebody finds a cure for Crohn’s disease soon.

…

Today we went to Jerusalem (I think today was the coldest day the Middle East has ever seen). I both love and hate Jerusalem. I love it for its historical and spiritual meaning (and okay let’s be serious – what I really love is the “shuk” – or market – in the Old City). But I hate it for its religious and political tension. I do not particularly care for politics. I just want everybody to love each other and get along (I may have been a hippie in another life).

We had a good time eating our body weight in hummus and pita bread, haggling with an old Arab man at the shuk (the confused look he gave me when I bought both Christian and Jewish items was priceless), breaking umbrellas (seriously. The weather was horrible) and chatting with a very nice Irish couple we met that honeymooned in Iran (…all I can say is I’d never heard that one before).

athens grew on me

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16

Today we had plans to visit Acropolis and the Parthenon. We did, but it was raining cats and dogs. I wore my faux fur coat…so I looked like a wet puppy. It was terrible.

Last time I went to Acropolis (two and a half years ago), I leaned against a column when there was a sign that clearly stated no touching is allowed. Oops. It really wasn’t on purpose (I mean, it was, but I didn’t realize I was not allowed to lean on it because I never read signs…). I got chewed out pretty badly for it.

Anyway, today it was raining so badly…Ariela’s Ugg boots were soaking wet, so we hailed a taxi back to the hotel.

Well.

My friend Alex, who is half-Greek, says that I have a thing for Grecian taxi drivers. I totally do. They are some of the funniest and most interesting people I’ve ever met.

Today, our driver was Giorgi. He was hilarious. He offered to give us a tour around Athens for just 30 Euros after we changed into warm clothes.

He also took us to a tavern, invited us over to dinner at his house, told us about his family and gave us his cel phone number.

I totally saved his number to my phone.

Oh Giorgi.

Oh, and also.

I have a story. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

{before}

{after}

Baklava is a dangerous thing.

…and now we head off to Israel!

plaka

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Today may have very well been one of the greatest days of my life.

There are three things I need to put out there in the universe:

{1} I think I single-handedly fixed the Greek economy with my compulsive evil eye shopping. Also, I bought two obnoxiously large rings that my sister and dad really can’t understand. And I know Mike won’t either (sorry Mike. I know you’re reading and you will hate them. But I can’t help myself).

And…today, Papi was looking at fancy schmancy gold chess sets to buy for his girlfriend (psh, WHATEVER Papi. I got Mike a shot glass. So there.), and the sales lady was hitting on him so hard my sister and I couldn’t take it. Like, we were literally rolling on the floor laughing with tears streaming down our faces. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. Not that Papi isn’t cute (I mean, in a turtle kind of way), but this woman was just throwing the most cliche lines out there…oh my God, it was great. You had to be there.

{2} last night I had the most amazing baklava of my life. Words can’t even explain.

{3} I freaking love Greece.

last of mykonos

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6

I am up with insomnia, as per usual, and the stomachache of all stomachaches, so I shall post.

Unfortunately we will leave the island of Mykonos tomorrow…

We are heading back to Athens, where we will visit the Parthenon and Acropolis,

and shop for evil eyes in La Placa (the old marketplace), of course.

The latter is my favorite thing about Athens.

Because I love to buy all sorts of evil eyes. I’ve already collected hundreds and hundreds.

Anyway…

here’s some more eye-candy from our brief stay in Mykonos…

I’m sure this place is one big hoppin’ party during the summer.

athens and the market

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{let it be known that during my last stay in Greece, I was talked into taking a shot of Ouzo and lived in complete stomach agony for the next 48 hours. Not for the faint of heart. Or those with Crohn’s disease}

{this dog followed me around everywhere. We’re tight now}

There are four things I am obsessed with in life:

evil eyes or hamsas,

the motherland (the motherland being Russia, of course. I am not Russian and have never been to Russia, but you know how I like to play pretend),

Greek people

and Jennifer Aniston

(and Nutella, too, but since I am not allowed to have it anymore – hey Crohn’s! – I am still grieving the loss).

So basically, two and a half out of those four things are Greek (“the half” being Jennifer Aniston, because she is half-Greek). Which is why Greece is my favorite place, ever.

Even though I’ve never particularly liked Athens.

But we’re in Mykonos now!

remember when we thought there was a bomb in the metro

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5

…but it was really the metro musician’s speakers?

Of course you do. It happened yesterday. I just try to forget.

I wish I knew his name because I recorded his music. I’d love to give credit where credit is due.

I liked his music. It made me feel like I should ride a bicycle with a baguette under my arm or something*. Definitely something more exciting than riding the metro.

My sister gave him a little money. She said it is because she identifies with starving artists since she is afraid to become one herself.

I mean, she won’t be, obviously. She’ll be an artist, sure, but I don’t think she’ll starve (clearly she is underestimating how much she loves to eat. She will become an investment banker before she starves herself for the sake of art).

*this is a joke. Clearly I am cultured enough to know that this is a silly stereotype and I really mean no harm by it. So don’t yell.

notre dame and neighborhood

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10

We’re sick over here, so instead of taking the trip to Versailles as planned, I asked my dad to go to Notre Dame today, because when I was younger The Hunchback of Notre Dame was my favorite movie (well, after Anastasia. You know how anything about Russia makes my heart race. I’m not even Russian. I think I’m just weird) and my life’s ambition was to become Esmeralda.

It was actually nice, seeing Notre Dame from an adult perspective (wait, that’s weird. I don’t think of myself as an adult). The last time I was there, I still preferred Esmeralda over Jennifer Aniston (I know. It was a long time ago).