Off the grid.

So, as usual, it's holiday season again in Israel.
I've been on break from school for about two weeks (Happy Passover!) and the holiday seemed to magically bring with it the beginning of summer- the weather has been beautiful (warm enough to go to the beach!!!!) but not too hot yet.

For the last weekend of vacation I was lucky enough to be invited to a "canta"- which means a bunch of Israelis camping out on the beach, eating tons of meat, drinking tons of alcohol, and chilling out hardcore- this is my scene. My phone died, and for three days I was completely off the grid (and totally happy).

the men TCOBing

the tent city in the dunes (the guys in the corner are grilling meat. this picture was taken approximately 30 min after arriving to the beach)

this kite was helpful for finding your way back to the tent city

yes. someone brought an inflatable couch. these people meant business.

you have to be serious about sun protection.

matcot at the sea (matcot is a paddle/tennis situation)

I'll take my coffee on a sand dune any day.

The weekend was exactly my speed. We went to a beach north of Tel Aviv that was so beautiful and MUCH less crowded than the beaches near my house. The speed of life slowed down for a few days and I could've stayed forever. I loved not checking my phone or email or blog for a little while. 90% of the weekend was in Hebrew, which was overwhelming at times, but most everyone spoke some English, so I wasn't isolated by any means, and it was really good exposure to the language.

I've made a point to not discuss my dating life on this blog because some things are private, and because there hasn't really been anyone worth introducing all of you too. However, things have changed a bit. I would be remiss if I went on and on about how great this weekend was without telling you about the part I liked the most- this kid:

I would like to introduce my public to the new man in my life- Itzik. His friends organized the canta. He's so cute, right? I know. Trust me, he's worth introducing to you. He's my new best friend, and he makes me so happy... (and between you and me? when he kisses me I can feel it all the way into my toes).

Happy birthdays!

This has been my weekend to celebrate other people's birthdays.

Friday began with a lovely brunch for Jen- one of my favorite people.

Jen talked me off the ledge once or twice when I first moved here and had the

inevitable and occasional "oh shit" moments. Just look at this natural beauty.

Yom huledet, Jen!!!

The birthday brunch was followed by some birthday day-drinking at a bar called Hemingway's with Stacy .

We got our drink on around 3pm, and justified it by saying we were celebrating a birthday (for someone I literally have met once) and the fact that we turned in our Political Econ final.

Afterwards I immediately went home and fell asleep. At 6pm. Shabbat shalom!

Saturday was Stacy's birthday. She is a vegetarian. So she decided to have her

birthday party in a bar/club that is literally in the back room of a deli.

The bar is called....you guessed it:

Deli.

So we drank, then ate (at the deli, obviously) and made merry the whole time.

Happy birthday, Stacy!

Also- look what I found.

Someday maybe I'll catch him in the act...