All Entries in the "Updates" Category

War in Tel Aviv! It’s OK, it’s the 2010 Water War!

Last week saw the annual water fight in Kikar Rabin in Tel Aviv. It’s fast become an annual happening in Tel Aviv (I think it only started 4 or 5 years ago, if that) and plenty of photographers turn up. Guess that might be something to do with those wet t-shirts…Here’s a clip to give you a taste of what happened.

Sunflowers and Cherries

This week it’s all about sunflowers and cherries, the last two remnants of slightly cooler days -  before the long hot summer comes and smacks us in the face! Both the fields of sunflowers in fields around where I live (and elsewhere throughout Israel) and the containers of cherries in the local shops don’t last long, but while they last they’re very very sweet…and just a reminder of the amazing variety of fruits and flora in the Holy Land!

Meet Julie, the igoogledisrael.com bitch

With us now for approximately a month, Julie is the in-house alarm system that will hopefully prevent another break-in…and she’s pretty cute too!

Independence Day Chorus Line

Yesterday was, of course, Independence Day in Israel, the day of the grill and of eating as many kebabs as is humanly possible. It’s a nice little holiday with lots of food and socialising and no, I’m not offended by the fact that Israel is celebrating emancipation from its British Mandate slavemaster. He, he.

Here on the moshav, they make it all communal and everyone takes part. Me, I had to prepare a table or two, but it was the wife who gave it her most…check out the clip of her below as she struts her stuff to an Arik Einstein (an Israeli icon from the 60s and 70s) number. You can guess which one’s her, right?

Remembering: Yom HaZikaron (Remembrance Day) in Israel

Another “only in Israel” moment, as the country slows to a crawl and remembers its fallen soldiers and then heads into party mode tonight, to celebrate Independence Day (this year Israel celebrates 62 years of freedom!). But that’s quite a contrast in emotions and attitudes, all wrapped up in the space of 24 hours.

Me, I don’t know anyone who’s had the misfortune to have lost a relative or someone close, though one of the wife’s classmates was killed during his military service and we used to visit his grave on Yom HaZikaron. Today we’ll probably catch some of the very moving documentaries broadcast on TV, before heading into a party atmosphere for the shindig on our moshav later tonight. More of that to come in the shape of pics and videos…

Remembering: Two minutes in Tel Aviv

Holocaust Day in Israel is taken very seriously, as I’ve mentioned before. Here’s a clip of the main traffic artery in Tel Aviv grinding to a standstill yesterday as the sirens wail. It’s quite a stunning reminder of how the past still plays an important role in Israel’s present…

I was actually on the road up in the north of Israel when the sirens went off. I stopped at the side of the road, but to my surprise many didn’t. As they often say, “only in Tel Aviv”…

Remembering: Holocaust Day in Israel

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel. One of those powerful, moving days that means so much, yet is hard to describe in mere words…

The tales of heroism and of youngsters surviving the traumas of Nazi death camps (shown throughout the day on national television) is a chiller, and gets me almost every time. You don’t have to be Jewish to feel the goosebumps down your back and to wipe away the tears welling up…

Calm down ladies…the world’s sexiest man is in Israel!

As we speak, Hugh Jackman is in the Holy Land, giving the Israeli ladies something to smile and knee quiver about. Voted by People magazine as the Sexiest Man Alive, the X-Men star is in Israel for what seems like a fleeting visit.

I couldn’t spot any story online about his visit here, but did catch something on the news, as a couple of women in the frame behind him swooned and quivered. Whatever the reason for your visit Hugh old chap (I can say that, he’s older than me…), enjoy!