The land that changed my life, part 2

Ahhh. An upscale mall in Tel Aviv. This was also the only place in Israel I found Max Brenner, an Israeli purveyor of chocolate that's very popular in New York, for sale.




Here I am trying to choose. As you can see, it was a taxing decision. My only regret is not buying more. (Photo credit to NS)




My dad always told me that Tel Aviv is Israel's version of Miami Beach. He was right, and it may have been the place, geographically, that I was the most comfortable. I really felt like I was home.




I found this delicious looking chocolate pastry at a bakery in Jaffa and decided to give it a whirl. I split it with my friend and it was honest to God one of the best things I've ever eaten. We spent the remainder of the trip trying to find it again and were actually quite successful... many times. This seems to be a popular delicacy in the holy land. Like a chocolate croissant but SO much better.




We only stayed in Tel Aviv for one night, but we got to go out! It was chilly, but we sat outside and drank Cape Codders. I flirted with the bartender so he'd make mine extra strong. The bar was sort of terrible, but it didn't matter.




This was right after I FINALLY found Patron (and paid more for that glass than I did for the dress I'm wearing that I bought that day at the Tel Aviv Mall). I think the clock had just stuck midnight and we were celebrating one of our boy's birthdays, hence my "WAH" face. (Photo credit to GB)




This is Tel Aviv's Kings Square, where Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. It all felt very familiar to me as our tour guide was telling us the story. I did a monologue of his granddaughter's eulogy for 8th grade speech and remember feeling really naive yet being so moved by it all. I loved the heart painted on those steps.




I miss Israeli iced coffee dearly. This was taken after our visit to the Holocaust Memorial, which was a very long and emotional few hours. Personally, it was the most difficult part of the trip for me. I felt incredibly lucky to have so many new friends comfort me as I stood and sobbed in the middle of the museum. We were in dire need of a treat by this point.




Yitzhak and Leah Rabin's graves at Mount Herzl.



Still more to come!