Back home

I was really tired.

Takeoff from Prague:

At home in Finland everything seems strange. Hollow. Pale. Passive.

Sar-El was one way to spend my holiday. To help, participate, support and meet new people.

I miss back to Israel.

fri, 18 july

Breakfast and shopping. When we arrived to Allenby street, there was police cars blocking the way:
Police did clear the street. What is going on? No one speaks english. Maybe they suspect a bomb:
Robot inquires if it is a bomb, perhaps just a bag or empty cardboard box:
Better safe than sorry:
Everything OK:


Too bad, later that day I saw my friends for the last time and did not say any proper goodbyes, I hate it. Before midnight I took taxi from Beitoded to airport, cost 120 shekels, 22,8 euros. I feel sad. Fun stops here. I'll bet no one understands me at home.

thu, 17 july, pt. 2

Work is done and now it is time to have fun! I look horrible but I feel marvelous!

We had some fun moments in the beach.





After I got sand all over me again I went to meet one of my facebook friends. Had excellent chicken sandwich and orange juice. Yummy.

thu, 17 july, pt. 1

Last hours in base.

You should have seen this guy in his multicoloured pyjamas:
Our fearless leader:
Cleaning time! Inspectors are coming today:
Girls at our work shop did thank us. They ask if I could stay and work for them because I work hard and learn fast. We did thank them as well, we were glad to help them and this country.

Big boss. Thank you.
My room, all packed and ready to go.

wed, 16 july

Our last full day in base. I dont want to leave. Not yet.

Flag raising:
Me testing innumerable helmets:
Our barracks. My door first on left, room number 5:
Saying goodbye to sweet girls we met was hard, and brought tears in our eyes. But here we are smiling:

At evening meeting we got our group pictures, contact lists, diplomas - in deep appreciation for volunteer work in Israel. We did raise small offering for our fearless leader.

Last sunset in our base. Even though it looks like a prison:

tue, 15 july, pt. 2

Mazkeret Batya:


Blooming trees were beautiful but it was way too hot and boring. Best part of this day was having falafel with friends in Bilu juction shopping mall.

tue, 15 july, pt. 1

Wow it was hot day! At work we clean up places a little bit. I did heat plastic soft covers to helmet's earphones, my fingertips were burning. After lunch we went for half day trip. First to Weizmann science institute, where sadly we did not get to see any science stuff but Israel's first president Chaim Weizmann's (1874-1952) home museum instead. Oh well, it was OK.
Staircase in Weizmann's house is beutiful:
Garden:
Looking good!:

Next to museum of Mazkeret Batya. Now I got bored. Old house, old items, too much blabering, it took ages and I did not get anything from it. Old potty:

mon, 14 july

This morning there was that tall officer present during flag raising. He does not speak english but he likes us volunteers. Soldiers are scared of him, because strict discipline. Again he wanted to see straight lines and soldiers had to move back and forth to make him happy. Ooh I like that man! OK, finally everyone stood still and it was extremely quiet. One of our volunteer's phone started to ring. I wish I could disappear.

Here is our shelter work shop before cleaning:
Me working on helmets:
There is bees everywhere. All you need is drop of juice on the table and they come out of nowhere. At evening meeting we talked about propaganda, how centain media twistes information and pick and choose facts. Some ignorant people who does not know real facts or has never been in here, can easily get wrong impression about Israel. All I can say is dig the truth up, then you will know.

sun, 13 july

We had to be at Ramla bus station by ten. Pizza for breakfast. It was a good weekend, some left their stuff in hostels, wallets underneath matress or phone chargers in somewhere. We got three new people more in our group. Back to work with helmets again. From our small base it is few minutes walk to dining room in big base:

Big base:
Green parrots:

Doggie in our base:

sat, 12 july

In the morning our kind taxi driver took us to place where we could get sherut to Tel Aviv, he had something else to do. We paid him 250 shekels, just because he was so nice to us. I also have his addres so I can send him postcard from Finland.

Few minutes walk from our free Sar-El hostel, in old Jaffa, near clock tower is good place to eat for 18 shekels, about 3 euros. We came here every day to have warm stuffed bread.
On Allenby street we usually meet our funny and crazy friends. Sit down and relax. Watch people come and go. Stare those sexy brown eyes. *melts* Have a beer or few. They also bring food on the table so we can play Fear Factor!!!

Think I will move to Hawaii, hare krishna!:
Little green pet:
Toilet in that bar on Allenby is the worst I ever seen! There is no proper door and it is so small I can barely get my big ass in. Smell is absolutely terrible, indescribable. No toilet paper - or seat. And it is dirty. Phew!
At some point things started to get little bit too wild for me on Allenby street, so I took a taxi and went to Beitoded. Some rooms have air condition, some dont. Men sleep on third floor, women on fourth. Matresses and pillows are dirty and I dont think they wash those sheets after use. On fourth there is also big roof terrace. Here is my room:

fri, 11 july, pt. 4

We were trying to get in Tel Aviv. Late at friday evening we took sherut from Nahariya to Haifa. Driver said there is no other possibility to get from Haifa to Tel Aviv but take a taxi. We did not think it was a good idea, and decided to stay in Haifa for the night. Called our friend, but no answer. Great, what now? Sleep in the park? In beach? No way! We waved taxi to stop, asked could he take us somewhere cheap hostel or hotel just for one night. Taxi driver was really nice man, he drove us around Haifa for free and took us to his home to sleep for 150 shekels. His family was in Paris at the time. He had three storey house in hills. We got the ground floor for ourselves with two bedrooms, furnished and all equipments. We almost could not understand how kind and helpfull he was. We got hot shower to wash that sand away and soft bed to sleep. View from his terrace:

In the middle you see black area with no lights. Huge green and blue tanks are fuel, so there have to safe area around them in case something would happen.

Living room in upper floor, really nice:

fri, 11 july, pt. 3

On some sort of pier we sat on a bench - enjoy the view and sun. Then we went too close to water and huge wave splash onto us! Wow it was fun!
We were in Nahariya, sabbath begins soon, no buses or trains, no place to go. So what do we do? Eat Pringles and drink cheap white wine!
Sun sets down. We went swimming. Crazy idea but it was really fun!
If you went to stand into water high to your ankles, wave comes and wets your chest. Back current was so powerful it knocks you down. And remember, swimming is not allowed here.
I got sand in my pants. All my clothes and stuff like phone and camera are wet. Fine, salty sand sticks on your skin and it does not come off. It is dark and we dont know were to go. Brilliant.

fri, 11 july, pt. 2

Here used to be UN-house where all UN-people met each other, had parties every week, go to finnish sauna and get our mail and everything. Today there is no light blue United Nations flag on the pole:
Seems like this house is sold to apartments. I saw many postboxes and kid's bikes on the yard. Here used to be rows of tables and benches. No more parties and fun:
Nahariya beach:

Lebanon border is close: