2023 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Housesit
Hooley Dooley - it’s 2023 already!
Having only been back from Mallorca sit for a few days, on Day 2 of the New Year we rode the bikes up the Pyrenees to my French place in Roquefeuil, as the tenant had moved out and we had some sorting out to do. Luckily the weather was still a balmy 12-15 degrees in the daylight hours and it made for a lovely ride.
Time for a quick side track event… “This wasn’t quite the same story on the way back; Andrew left Roquefeuil after a couple of days, it was meant to be kindly giving me some quiet time at my peaceful French village mountain retreat….but with the electricity cut off (contract change over from the tenant), a leaking roof and a motorbike that wouldn’t start I didn’t end up getting much of that! When it came time to leave, having had some help from friend Gary to get the bike started in the first place, I knew it would be risky ‘stopping’ on the ride back to Barcelona. However there was a slight issue with me needing to fuel up - which requires the same key as the ignition key in order to open the fuel tank. Once stopped, she wasn’t in the mood to start again. Indeed 5 hours later of so many excuses from people that they couldn’t help / push / jump start me (think it’s more fear factor in Perpignan than any malice), I had abandoned the bike and was heading to find a hotel when 2 motocross riders came by and with some special motocross techniques - with me pushing my own bike and one of them on it! - we managed to bump start it. Fortunately he didn’t ride off into the sunset and I managed to make the long and cold ride home in the dark, with no stops - but hey, all part of a rider’s tales I guess”.
On with the housesit blog…….A couple of days after the bike drama, rested up back home but feeling like I had been on the move constantly for over 6 weeks, we set off again. An opportunity had come up and we simply couldn’t pass it over. I mean Tel Aviv, a housesit with the adorable Nelli, a gorgeous Vizla pup with boundless energy. A 5 hr flight from Barcelona which only cost the same as flying to Southern Spain and it was just going to be so different a cultural experience for us - so Venga! Let’s Go! and Go we did.
What a welcome we received from homeowner Brenda, including an airport pick up and a Friday feast Shabbat dinner all within a few hours of our arrival, and of course Nelli. It seemed like love at first sight for Nelli and Andrew, her toy throwing buddy. We spent a fabulous 10 days with Nelli surrounded by Brenda’s friends and family members who couldn’t do enough if we needed any help.
We had use of the car which was fabulous to be able to get to Nelli’s favorite walks at the fields and the beach as well as finding a few new walks thanks to google maps. Despite the traffic being so busy, once on the walks they were generally really quiet. So the general routine for Nelli went like this…..chase the frisbee non stop for a hour or so, snuggles, short walk in pm, next day…chase the frisbee non stop for a hour, snuggles, short walk in pm…..for the duration of the sit.
Once Nelli was worn out she would actually sleep for a while so on one such day we snuck away on the bus to Jerusalem to visit the old city. About an hours bus ride away we enjoyed seeing the sites; Western Wall, Old City, the 4 quarters of the Old City: Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Armenian and the bustling bazaars.
We also had time to get into Tel Aviv city and Old Jaffa neighbourhood with winding alleys and craft shops in abundance, so between the daily routine with Nelli and the trips to check out the tourist sights, we felt the whole sit came together really well.
But even when the sit was over with sad faces all round…..there was more to this ‘trip’ yet to go…..
How can you go to Israel and not go to the Dead Sea. A 6 hour bus trip back through Jerusalem took us to Ein Bokek. Hot and tired we were ready for a dip.
Next….on to Jordan