Old Camp Swig Friends

So as I was shopping with Kiva for party favors in the shuk for his B-Day party, I bumped into our friend Osnat from Camp Swig who we hadn't seen in 14 years. Still I recognized her immediately behind her small table of hand made Jewelry at Nachalat Bin Yamin. Delighted to see each other we made plans to get together. Here you see Freda who was also at Camp Swig with us.

Here is Osnat.






















Like so many thoughtful Israelis, they brought Bamba a peanut butter puff snack that our kids always appreciate. This by the way is Banana Beach just North of the Dophinarium.

Heading to Nazareth

We hit the road today in our little Subaru hatch back. Our car was kind of small and as you could see there wasn't much room for luggage. But sometimes a suitcase can make brothers closer. Driving in TLV was a little wild. In minutes I was honked at and Israeli drivers lived up to their reputation as some of the world craziest. In truth however this was just a warm up for the drivers in Nazareth where almost no rules seemed to apply. I had no choice but to drive over street median, down impossibly narrow and steep streets and finally up a stone staircase to our parking space.

Sarah promised photos of Fauzi L. Azar Inn. Here you see the kids playing after the long drive.

The walls are incredibly high.

This is the common room just outside our room. For more about this great guest house visit the link below http://www.fauziazarinn.com/

In Nazareth

We left Tel Aviv today with regret to leave our friends Kevin, Danielle, and Zev and Ruthie. Even though we spent time with them everyday for the last 3 weeks, it went by quickly and we drove away with sadness. We will miss having playmates and babysitters and drinking buddies. But wow and OMG, Nazareth is cool. We are staying at Fauzi Azar, a 200 year old stone courtyard house with skyhigh ceilings painted with wonderful cracked murals. Yes, I'll put up pictures soon. And we wandered through the mostly closed up souk to the Basillica of the Annunciation. Let me tell you, the Christians know how to throw together a worship space. The building is beautiful and fascinating and NOT OLD! I mean of course it's old; its built on centurys' old destroyed churches, but this one is from 1969 and there are amazing mosaics from all over the world. We had a great but expensive dinner of humus with goat meat. And tonight we will be drinking water with nana (mint).