Reunited!

I loved introducing Netanya to Dad and Ben!

We ran around on the beach the first night they arrived!

Daddy didn't want Mom taking photos right away - he was so overwhelmed to be together again - in Israel!

Dad and Ben arrived in Israel after 5 days in Rome with Jessica and Michel! It was great to see them and show them Netanya! We took them to the beach right away at night - so fun to be reunited again!

KEY WORDS & PHRASES - AUGUST

• LOTS O LUGGAGE! 
• DON'T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL PILLOW!!
• GROSS VEGGIE AIRLINE FOOD!
• MOM ROLLING AROUND FIGHTING WITH AIR COMPRESSOR BAGS! 

Nervous Time at School!

Today we woke up and went to the beach (yes, again). Then we walked to my new school where we met Yoni the English counselor. When we left, we went to buy my uniform (colored t shirts with school insignia). The school’s name is Itamar.  My main teacher is Michal. 

First Shabbat - just me and Mom (Ben & Dad are still in Italy!)

Today was Shabbat - everything's closed.  We woke up and the landlord came to meet us. Then we went to the beach.

Next, my mom’s friend Itzik came and picked us up. He brought his baby Ilai who is 11 months old. You literally could see through the baby’s skin, that’s how white he was! We had lunch with his wife Anat back at their apartment, then came back to our apartment and went to the beach again and then had dinner.

We were in our pajamas in the evening and saw on TV that a concert was happening 1 block from here, so we put on our clothes and ran to the Square to enjoy it! It was amazing!!

End-of-summer concert in Independence Square, overlooking the Sea.

We were sweating and dancing at the concert!

Public Fight! Public Fight!

Today was our first full day - we woke up at 11:00 local time and had lunch. Then we went to the supermarket. It was Erev Shabbat, so we had to plan ahead for the weekend when everything's closed.  We bought 1 million things. In the checkout line, we were taking too long so the lady behind us started screaming at everyone. Naturally, everyone screamed back. Thankfully, no violence. I think you know what happened from there though…

FACTS & MAPS OF PLACES I'VE VISITED - Netanya

Netanya - Our Home in Israel


We're staying in an apartment overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Our living room windows is wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the Sea. It's got 3 bedrooms and is big by Israeli standards. It's owned by this lady Natalie who is from Russia. It came equipped with pretty much everything we need.


SOME FACTS:
Netanya was founded by 2 Englishmen; one was named Nathan who Netanya's named after. It feels like there are literally a million ice cream stores here. On the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday), everything's closed. Finally, Netanya's located on a cliff with a beautiful beach on the bottom and a really long boardwalk on top with restaurants, wild rosemary and lots of stray cats. It is the beach paddle ball ("machtot") capital of Israel. The Israeli diamond-finishing industry is here. It is in the Sharon Valley, famous for its oranges. There are a lot of French and Russian immigrants in Netanya, and the American immigrants are mostly senior citizens. Netanya is 20 miles north of Tel Aviv and the traffic between the two cities is terrible!

Travel is Exhausting!

Today we got on the airplane to Rome at 5pm EST. It took 8 hours! We got in at 7am Rome-time. Then we had a 4 hour layover in Rome. After that, we got on a plane to Tel Aviv, which took 3 ½ hours.

Finally, we made it to Ha'Aretz!

Mom was looking all the worse for the travel wear-and-tear!

Once we got in to the airport, my mom’s friend Itzik picked us up and then drove an hour to Netanya. He dropped us off in the apartment and we collapsed.

Welcome Home!

So it was CRAZY down to the minute - no exaggeration! - if we were going to be able to buy this house or not, but WE DID IT! Now we are Holdenites! Now both our houses in Worcester and Holden are occupied by new Clarkies while we're away... we stayed overnight in sleeping bags in the new Holden house before the Clarkies moved in...

Getting Ready to Go!

Boy, our house is a mess! We're packing for our trip and also selling our house and getting ready to move to a new house! My old room has been transformed into a white canvas of boring-ness, so it will be "sell-able" according to the real estate agent!

My old "BEFORE" room!