Sisters go to Tel Aviv! - the city that doesn't sleep. It was just past midnight and the restaurants and bars all through the port district were still hopping! But alas we were tired from our 12 hour visit that took us from the Shuk to the Nahalat Benyamin artisanal street fair, and around town to Dizengoff center. We were joined by Valerie's BFF, Liad and her beautiful baby Liam. It was such a tearful and joyful reunion in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the craziness of the Shuk. 
Liad tapped into her inner sabra and helped us wheel and deal - each vendor seemed to speak Hebrew with an accent of their own - Russian, Spanish, Thai, American or otherwise. Of course as is usual for me, I bumped into someone I know! Our family joke with the kids is that we always bump into people we know wherever we go - it's happened in Israel before, in Paris, in Mexico and in the usual spots like Trader Joes and Starbucks. And this trip is no different. Of course I was goi g to bump into someone! First, Ella and Lior on the plane and today, Sivan, a friend from L.A. It is always such a trip to be on the other side of the world strolling around and then seeing someone you know - as if it were the Calabasas Commons or something! (Like Oh my god valley girl!)
Was so cool to experience. From there we found some street food - Sandwich Druze - probably made the way it's been made for the last several millennia with recipes passed down through the generations.
It is a laffa - a giant crepe with the consistency of pita bread - stuffed with Labne (kinda like Greek yogurt), Zatar (herby spicy deliciousness) and olive oil - rolled up and then devoured. We sat near by and watched these ladies working. They looked as if they traveled in a time machine - straight from a time long gone. As we sat and watched, we imagined their nomadic lifestyle and their ancient ways and then we were completely thrown off by their world when one of them pulled out an iPhone! OMG! WTF??
But that wasn't enough street food. We needed more - falafel? Shwarma? Fresh juice? Arepas from Venezuela? Huh? The corn vendor? So we tapped into our inner roots and headed for the best falafel ever. Spicy and crispy and filled with cabbage salad, hummus and Israeli salad (which they just call salad here!).
And who could forget Aroma coffee, Starbucks' superior cousin. My beloved cafe Afuch (upside down coffee aka cappuccino). Oh how I missed you.
We trekked through town and ended up at Dizengoff Center. Iconic center of Tel Aviv. We did the touristy thing and took our picture because we just had too.
Then if that wasn't enough, our beloved cousin Gavhit joined us! And together we headed to dinner at the Port - Namal Tel Aviv and ate at Benny HaDayag - Benny the Fisherman. What an amazing seafood restaurant! So much so that we want to go back!
We had such a lovely time being together, laughing, joking and enjoying our evening. We made it home at 1 am but could easily have been out all night!
