Tel Aviv Diary - March 18-22, 2013 - Karen Alkalay-Gut
March 18, 2013
Have I ever written the same thing twice on these pages? Well it looks like I'm going to be doing more and more of it in the coming months. The new government looks like it isn't going to be doing much to change the situation. And when Obama comes by this week, he's going to have a tough time smiling. Once more we've taken a few steps to the right. We will not be around - we're going on a'roots' voyage. Of course we'll be online but not about Tel Aviv. The Tel Aviv Marathon has been cancelled this week because of the expected heat. And we will be plodding along in the snow. Learning even more about Jews than we learn every day here.
March 19, 2013 The Times today says we're not excited about Obama - it's not true. The reporters did a survey in Jerusalem which isn't Israel and they are not happy about the big disruptions in their lives just before the Passover holiday (Even my online supermarket warned that they might not be able to deliver in the Jerusalem area on the days Obama is here). I know, I know, we're not expecting him in the same way we did when he was first running for president and he was the underdog with all kinds of plans and expectations. But we have much more to gain or lose now. March 20, 2013 We're thrilled. The children singing "Tomorrow" to Obama in English, Hebrew and Arabic, the president planting a magnolia tree in Peres' garden, the long letter written in the guestbook at Peres' house - every detail of this introductory welcome has warmed the cockles of our hearts. But now comes the business part. We're not very sensitive and discreet - and are apt to step over the lines of proper behavior without a moment's notice.
don't forget - i'm leaving tomorrow night to Budapest, unshaven, unkept, exhausted from a hard weeks work, and now to meet all the sons of natives who threw our cousins into the river. i'm going to need a long drink and quiet days at the hotel before i can face the streets. March 21, 2013 Well my friend Rachel did it again. For her birthday she took her girlfriends on a surprise trip - this time to the Bau House. It is really eorth checking out their site hrtr