Have just arrived in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is more alive than I've ever seen it. The vibe is pumping with people on the beach, working in cafes, shopping the shoukes, riding their bikes everywhere (shared bikes just came to TLV) and fashion is finally coming! Beautiful Israeli girls are strutting around with their dark sephardic skin, beautiful long wavy hair, in rompers, hot shorts and baggy t-shirts, paper bag pants, high waisted tight skinny jeans, and for the first time ever HEELS! Israeli girls have gone from beautiful to sexy in a year.

Spent the day yesterday with Eli's family: three baby cousins, aunt and uncle, sister, and her adorable Israeli boyfriend Oded. Per Oded's suggestion we took a trip north of Tel Aviv where there are two fortresses from the BC era and just past it hidden away are large lily ponds full of people swimming. There were groups of Ethiopians there, immigrant workers on their days off, lots of Israeli children frolicking around in their underwear as they always do, people brought food for the day, music, there was everything except American tourists (with the exception of myself). It was a wonderful way to spend my first day here. To remember why Israel is so special. As Dalia, Eli's aunt said it is a place where you will get cursed out in line if you dare to even look like you might try and cut someone, but you will be offered food and shade by strangers. We shared out water mellon with the people next to us who offered to share their umbrella to give the kids some shade from the scorching sun, which I was well protected with 50 SPF from. Children are running wild, slipping, jumping into shallow areas with sharp rocks, and no one is flinching. I'm reminded of the way we worry at home, a place like this would surely have a life guard, if it would exist at all. Eli and I chat as we sit on the rocks about what a nice way this is to grow up and how refreshing it feels to be far away from shops and the other material aspects of life--although of course they are not far away just back in Tel Aviv, but still we both agree the importance of them feels much less important in Tel Aviv compared to New York and LA--for Eli and I who battle with ourselves to stay out of stores this feels like a blessing.

Back in Tel Aviv, we join Tali at Streets on King George for some lunch. Tali looks like she is on the verge of a break down from studying for her board exam so we convince her to take a break. She has half a water mellon served with fresh cheese here. Our waitresses are stunning and we are all ooo and awww in over them. As Shabbot is coming to an end the shops begin to open along King George and Dizengoff and the streets begin to get more crowded--by the time I walk to Tali's house later King George is hopping--every patio of every restaurant is packed.