Odessa, Ukraine!

“Booliltsya Deribosivskya” This is the main walking boulevard in Odessa, Ukraine. More than a decade ago, we lived just off this main street in the downtown area. My, my, how it has changed! There are so many modern restaurants, shops, and stores now. It is really hard to believe. Many beautiful, old buildings are being…

haiku: relativity

relativity is gray and lacks the sharpness of life black and white

Dizzy

This is how I feel right now… a bit dizzy…  saying good-bye to our daughter and dear friends in Israel, packing once again and heading out to another airport that will not take us home, rather further away from home… I am tired and ready to sleep in my own bed.  Still eager to see…

Jerusalem Streets in Early Spring

The poppies are gorgeous in Jerusalem now. Yesterday was such a great day for us–very relaxing. We took time to walk through the Germany Colony, take photos, explore shops and restaurants, and sit in an Internet cafe for a few hours. Wayne had a frappacino and I had a fresh carrot, apple, and ginger juice….

Old City Jaunt

On the second day of spring, the weather did not disappoint in Jerusalem. Bright and sunny… warm and with a refreshing breeze every now and then… It was the perfect day for an Old City jaunt.  We settled into our hotel and headed out for the Jaffa Gate. Just inside the archway is a bagela…

Sir Winston

Before the sun disappeared below the horizon of the Holy City and Shabbat officially began, we had a very interesting experience. We were invited to have coffee with an Arab family that lives just outside of Jerusalem. The husband is a one of the few Arab judges in Israel.  The Arab culture is extremely hospitable,…

haiku: sabbath

sabbath peace settles flecks of gold, copper, and light pierce the dark of night

Red Pepper Soup

Can you tell I like soup? Many recipes posted on this blog are soup or stew. That’s because I really learned to cook while living in Ukraine. Soup is a staple there, so I developed an appetite for it… maybe even a flair for it… This is the recipe of a friend of mine that…

Outing…

We took a little drive today outside of Jerusalem–Beit Shemesh–to a kibbutz with a winery and restaurant. They also have a country store, comprised of spices, dried fruit and nuts, teas, grains, etc., some of which they grow on their land. Unfortunately, I couldn’t buy anything because we are loaded to the max and still…