Tel Aviv - 21 April

Day 23

Within minutes of getting off the sherut we found Vered. It was so weird to see her again after meeting her 2 years ago in Floripa Brazil, but by the time the day was out we were all caught up on the gossip and having a fantastic time!

It was a Saturday when we arrived and all was shut as most people observe shabat. It was also raining with some incredible cracks of thunder - so after one failed attempt to go out we decided it best just to stay in and instead Vered treated us to some delicious home cooked food and excellent Israeli wine.

I also was having a crack at trying to talk some Hebrew but just sounded like I was trying to cough up a lugie!

Day 24

Vered had taken leave from work to spend time with us and as the next day Susie was not feeling well with fever, just myself and Vered ventured out for some shopping (where I bought beautiful heeled boots for $70 and cool threads from Israeli Fox) and sight seeing (we never did find the anzac monument in the park!), tasting of sabich - a pita with eggplant, mashed potato, egg, mango chile sauce and tahini which tasted so good (and where we got chatting to a guy who used to live in Australia and was in the band 'Old Man River'), finishing off with a drink on the beach (having my first and hopefully last taste of 'Arak' which is like Ouzo) - fortunately after a rainy start the day had cleared.

That night another delicious home cooked meal, more delicious wine and her friend Offer joined us.

Day 25

The following day we went to Jaffa where we met up with Nidhi, Erin, G. We had lunch at Pua which was within the flea market and decked out with an eclectic mix of items. I had pumpkin dumplings with coconut and coriander which was devine and can't stop thinking about it!!! We then walked around the old port with Vered guiding us - all where so interested in what she had to say and loved her company!

That afternoon we farewelled Nidhi on her bus back to Jerusalem and I and had dinner with Erin and G within the Neve Zedek area at Suzanne.

We then farewelled them and watched a dance performance that Vered had bought us tickets for. It was very left of centre and thought provoking. We also met Vered's cousin who works with the group.

We walked back to Vereds taking in all the different neighbourhoods. Spotting a 'Max Brenner' that I thought was Australian but actually started in Israel!

Day 26

Vered took us by taxi, tain, tram to the airport. We'd tried to sneakily leave money for her as she'd fed us and paid for our bus fares but she got mad at us!

It was sad to farewell her as who knows when we'll meet again but great to visit and spend time with her.