Post Athens wrap, hack, Be'er Sheva encore!
*Hacking cough intro*...
I suppose pulling repeated all-nighters (about four) in the last two weeks all contribute to that wearing effect...and getting sick. What a way to start off a new year, huh?
Anyway. I got back from Greece today! From Athens, more specifically. A couple things--Tel Aviv airport is perhaps the best airport in the world to fly out of in the middle of the night. At the normalish hour of midnight, not a soul is alive there--or so it seems--then, at 3 or 4 a.m....suddenly, the airport is swarming with people! (Did I already post this? Perhaps, I'm too lazy to look over at my previous post...so sorry if I'm repeating my wonder and praise here.) Everybody is off at duty free getting in their last minute shoping...and I too fell prey to the pull for cheaply and well-marketed items *shame-filled glance downward.* In all honesty though, I've barely bought a thing after traveling around for more than a month!
In any case, I was in the midsts of my Athens update. I'll be brief and enigmatic here. Let me just say, that I found the mere image of myself a week earlier in Egypt, juxtaposed against the reality of my stay in Greece--quite amusing and ironic. My stay in Athens was everything my stay in Egypt was not. It was a vacation from my vacation--and one I sorely needed. A soft bed, sumptuous meals, complimentary and kind treatment, a fitness center and a pool (!), the comfort of traveling with a family member...
I saw a lot of sites, a lot of museums, but will have to go back to Greece and "do it" properly--head off to the islands, revisit some museums...All in all though, it was an excellent vacation, and now I'm suffering from a small bout of withdrawal and separation anxiety. Oh well, more sleep and meds (yes, I'm forcing myself), should do the trick. Also, this quality Internet time. =)
On another note, getting back into Israel was possibly the easiest it's ever been for me. Maybe five or ten minutes at passport control! I guess it gets easier everytime. All the more reason to revisit Israel...again and again.
Well, tomorrow the new year starts and I'm excited about spending my holidays here in Israel for the first time. I'm lucky to have an awesome host here who is juggling my stay, a move, a broken nose (and surgery!) as well as med-school classes and the holidays...at the same time. I hope to repay her for her kindness and make myself as inobtrusive and helpful as possible during this time. I fear I've already somewhat messed up--I met her at the hospital to use the net and bring her her lunch...and I didn't actually make the sandwhich (it didn't cross my mind!)...just merely threw in the semi-frozen bread, cheese and avocado in a bag and brought that along. I also forgot the fresh avocado on the counter at her place. Ach.
Anyway, tomorrow the holidays start, and I think we're going to be cooking something up. I hope my health holds up...and things aren't too crazy tonight at the market (ha)...
Will update more later! Starving...
I suppose pulling repeated all-nighters (about four) in the last two weeks all contribute to that wearing effect...and getting sick. What a way to start off a new year, huh?
Anyway. I got back from Greece today! From Athens, more specifically. A couple things--Tel Aviv airport is perhaps the best airport in the world to fly out of in the middle of the night. At the normalish hour of midnight, not a soul is alive there--or so it seems--then, at 3 or 4 a.m....suddenly, the airport is swarming with people! (Did I already post this? Perhaps, I'm too lazy to look over at my previous post...so sorry if I'm repeating my wonder and praise here.) Everybody is off at duty free getting in their last minute shoping...and I too fell prey to the pull for cheaply and well-marketed items *shame-filled glance downward.* In all honesty though, I've barely bought a thing after traveling around for more than a month!
In any case, I was in the midsts of my Athens update. I'll be brief and enigmatic here. Let me just say, that I found the mere image of myself a week earlier in Egypt, juxtaposed against the reality of my stay in Greece--quite amusing and ironic. My stay in Athens was everything my stay in Egypt was not. It was a vacation from my vacation--and one I sorely needed. A soft bed, sumptuous meals, complimentary and kind treatment, a fitness center and a pool (!), the comfort of traveling with a family member...
I saw a lot of sites, a lot of museums, but will have to go back to Greece and "do it" properly--head off to the islands, revisit some museums...All in all though, it was an excellent vacation, and now I'm suffering from a small bout of withdrawal and separation anxiety. Oh well, more sleep and meds (yes, I'm forcing myself), should do the trick. Also, this quality Internet time. =)
On another note, getting back into Israel was possibly the easiest it's ever been for me. Maybe five or ten minutes at passport control! I guess it gets easier everytime. All the more reason to revisit Israel...again and again.
Well, tomorrow the new year starts and I'm excited about spending my holidays here in Israel for the first time. I'm lucky to have an awesome host here who is juggling my stay, a move, a broken nose (and surgery!) as well as med-school classes and the holidays...at the same time. I hope to repay her for her kindness and make myself as inobtrusive and helpful as possible during this time. I fear I've already somewhat messed up--I met her at the hospital to use the net and bring her her lunch...and I didn't actually make the sandwhich (it didn't cross my mind!)...just merely threw in the semi-frozen bread, cheese and avocado in a bag and brought that along. I also forgot the fresh avocado on the counter at her place. Ach.
Anyway, tomorrow the holidays start, and I think we're going to be cooking something up. I hope my health holds up...and things aren't too crazy tonight at the market (ha)...
Will update more later! Starving...
posted by IJW at 5:00 PM
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