My first day!

I stumbled off the plane, through customs, and onto the first train I came across (thankfully it was the right one.) Then, disregarding the advise of a friend I met on the flight, I decided to try walking to the bus station rather than heckle with the taxi drivers. Amazingly I was able to find the station without a map and no sense of direction!!! I got on a bus, when scenery started to look familar (thank you google map with images!) I hopped off and wandered for about 10 minutes in Old Jaffa before I found my hostel.

This is what my hostel looks like

My bed...

Amazing rooftop lounge...
View from rooftop lounge...

After getting acclimated to the hostel I decided I should ease my mother's nerves by giving her a call. However, I was unaware that Tel Aviv has a payphone conspiracy and that no one would like me!
Here is a typical conversation

Me: Slikha, atah medadr Englite? (Excuse me, do you speak English?)

Tel Avivian who hates me: khah khah, (so so)

Me: do you have/sell a phone card, payphone, band aid, etc.

Tel Avivian: lo! (No!)

Me: do you know someone/where I could find one?!?

Tel Avivian: Lo!

Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?

Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Here is a typical conversation
Me: Slikha, atah medadr Englite? (Excuse me, do you speak English?)

Tel Avivian who hates me: khah khah, (so so)

Me: do you have/sell a phone card, payphone, band aid, etc.

Tel Avivian: lo! (No!)

Me: do you know someone/where I could find one?!?

Tel Avivian: Lo!

Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?

Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Me: Slikha, atah medadr Englite? (Excuse me, do you speak English?)
Tel Avivian who hates me: khah khah, (so so)

Me: do you have/sell a phone card, payphone, band aid, etc.

Tel Avivian: lo! (No!)

Me: do you know someone/where I could find one?!?

Tel Avivian: Lo!

Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?

Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Tel Avivian who hates me: khah khah, (so so)
Me: do you have/sell a phone card, payphone, band aid, etc.

Tel Avivian: lo! (No!)

Me: do you know someone/where I could find one?!?

Tel Avivian: Lo!

Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?

Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Me: do you have/sell a phone card, payphone, band aid, etc.
Tel Avivian: lo! (No!)

Me: do you know someone/where I could find one?!?

Tel Avivian: Lo!

Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?

Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Tel Avivian: lo! (No!)
Me: do you know someone/where I could find one?!?

Tel Avivian: Lo!

Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?

Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Me: do you know someone/where I could find one?!?
Tel Avivian: Lo!

Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?

Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Tel Avivian: Lo!
Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?

Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Me: do you know someone who knows someone who would know where I could find one?
Tel Avivian: Lo!!!

Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Tel Avivian: Lo!!!
Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)


Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Me: besadar, toda, shalom. (okay, thanks, goodbye.)

Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…
Two hours later, demoralized, tired, and with 44 NIS worth of phonecards that don't work, I resolved to lessen the pain by visiting the Mediterranean Sea…

After awhile on the beach I thought perhaps I should go back to the hostel. During this fateful journey I had a few important realizations/experiences that reaffirmed a sort of amalgamation of Newton’s Law of Motion, and Aristotle’s Laws of Association; action and reaction, cause and effect. Appropriated by me, this takes the form for “life lesson” or “realization” and “consequence.” For instance:
Realization: contrary to my Sunday-school teachers’ belief and instruction, in Israel, “Jesus” is not always the right answer.
Consequence: one learns many new swear words in Hebrew.
Or
Life Lesson: Three wrong buses don’t make a right.
Consequence: One gets to utilize newly learned Hebrew swear words.
As I made my way back to the hostel I realized: 1.) you are never lost unless you need/want to be somewhere. 2.) All cats are diabolical and bent on hindering me in anyway they can. 3.) Tel Aviv has no appreciation for the grid pattern in their construction of roads. 4.) Narrow passage ways are fun.
Consequence of the last 4: I got very lost that day:-(
There are not two roads in the whole city that run parallel to each other, I'm sure of it! This combined with the narrow streets and passages throughout Tel Aviv and Jaffa, and the hundreds of cats wandering about maliciously (no doubt released by Jacob Bowers in perpetration for my trip) make it impossible to get anywhere…
that leads to an unassuming staircase

That brings you into a labyrinth of cat filled passage ways where you may die…

Me enjoying amazing rooftop lounge...

One seemingly peaceful street...

but I didn't die... Eventually, with the help of a trusty compass I managed to find my way back to the hostel and call my Mama!!!
The End of my first day!