Yesterday was an epic day in Tel Aviv. I had the ability to wander around for about 5 hours taking photos, recording audio, and capturing video. I also had a little extra time to shop for everyone!
The tent city there was unbelievable. It just kept going and going...
During the hottest part of the afternoon, most people weren't around, but by around 4pm the crowds started to gather for a pre-Shabbat rally. This was the first time I saw anyone getting into any serious discussions, like, grabbing each other by the shoulders and having a heated debate. I was able to capture some pretty good photos of the crowd. Check out my most recent gallery for a couple of my favorite portraits.
After the rally, I went with Paz to a movie screening at the cinemateque in Tel Aviv, a really posh theater for independent films. He had worked as assistant photog on it. While there, I met a few of his friends and co-workers and managed to get more leads for interviews in the coming week.
After that, we headed back to his parent's house for a delicious Moroccan Shabbat meal. And when I say delicious I mean I'm still drooling at the thought of it. So good. SO much food. It's true what they say about Jewish mothers: they feed guests delicious food until they're about to pop. And then they serve dessert.
Although his parents didn't speak much English, they were very nice, as was his 17 year old brother. We bonded over our love of dogs (they have a black-pug-thing) and a discussion of current affairs and politics. I even picked up a little more Hebrew (my vocabulary now consists of the words for: who, what, where, bathroom, yes, no, thank you, sorry, love, cute, I am, house, coffee, good morning, good night, together, earth, bread, persimmon, sugar, television, mermaid, bimbo, cigarette, precious gold...and maybe one or two other not so useful things.)
Today, after having a nice breakfast with his family, we went to Ashdod to have coffee in an open-air cafe on the beach. There was a really refreshing cool breeze.The Mediterranean is so unbelievably beautiful.
Tonight, we're heading to visit his Aunt and Grandmother in Be'ersheba before going to the really REALLY big protest that starts at 9pm (after the Sabbath ends.)
Then, on Monday we're heading back to Tel Aviv so I can interview his 28 year old sister. Then, she's taking me around town and to a rehearsal (she's a bass player in a rock band.) We'll spend the night again in Gan Yavne, and then head to Jerusalem early the next day so I can possibly get into the Dome of the Rock (non-Muslims are only allowed in during the morning hours.)
And that's as much as I have planned. Oh! And I have a one-on-one interview with one of the main protest organizers. Woohoo!
Until later,
Ciao ciao
PS. That photo is of the sign right outside of the Kibbutz that shows the road to Gaza. Yeehaw!
