Aftermath

Again I am happy and proud of these three weeks with Sar-El. I will miss my new friends and truly hope we will meet again. Keep in touch. Send pictures. Spread the word.

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These stories here on this blog are mostly for new people who want to know how Sar-El works and how is ordinary volunteer's life down there. But this is also in your honour who shared these experiences there with me.

We all love and support Israel. And for that reason I feel strong unity with you. We stand there together side by side. We do physical work with our own hands. We make a difference. We are example for the rest. Thank you!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE! If you find any of these writings offensive or do not want your picture here, let me know and I will remove it right away.

Last weekend in Israel after Sar-El

Friday 25.2. Flea market in Yafo. What do they think, who is going to buy that crap. Only reason I went there is because it is right next to our hostel.

Best chocolate cake ever! Oh shoot I forgot the name of this place, but it is first beach restaurant in Yafo. There are couple of them right next to sea, but this one is first one of them when walking from Tel Aviv towards Yafo. Place is almost every time full.

Walk along the beach.
Later that evening my friend was really sick and had a high fever. So I left her suffering alone and went out to have fun. Oh, I'm bad.


Beit Oded free Sar-El hostel.
Scenery from Beit Oded's roof:

Saturday 26.2. It was really windy morning! I did crab few fellow volunteers with me and went for a walk in Yafo.

Old Yafo.

Yafo port. Definitely worth visit!
Go to the wave breaker! You will love it!
Especially when it is that windy. Sound of the pounding sea is amazing.

Taste the salt in your mouth!

Be careful now. Watch your skirt.
Old Jaffa hostel.
Until we meet again.

Getting drunk in some dark, dark, dark bar.
Sunday 27.2. Last day in Israel and sun was really warm already in the morning. I sat on the hostel roof talking with other residents until I was nice and red. I wont go back to cold and dark Finland looking pale.

Loveat cafe near Carmel market. I love this cafe! Now it looks empty, but it is not.
Near Carmel market. It stinks! Man fed the cats, he had cart full of these smelly goodies. Pieces of meat and bones. How lovely.
Cats all over.
Monday 28.2. We had to live to the airport at ridiculous time. Taxi was 150 shekels. Security checks were thorough. Interviews, scans, unpack bags, interviews, repack bags, escorts. Another scans and interviews, take off shoes, scans. My passport check took ages, I have no idea why. I was happy to tell about Sar-El volunteer program and they were like "oooh" and "wow".

Finally all clear. I bought this nice book, Torah stories in English.
Morning prayers.

Thu 24. Feb

Rise and shine! These are our last moments here.

I will miss his humor. Sometimes even his face expression got me laughing because I knew what he was thinking.

Last breakfast. I wont miss tomatoes or cucumbers. And guess my room mate wont miss them either because here she is only pretending to take it, just for this picture.
Flag raising. Three weeks training is starting to show. Everyone was on time - and almost able to make two rows themselves. Good job!
On morning briefing we heard that grad rocket from Gaza hit Be'er Sheva and also news from Libya.

This guy is pro, he has done Sar-El 18 years. Met him on my last Sar-El here. It is funny how you every time meet people from your previous groups. We just can not stop.
Here is our boss Peggy. I will miss her organised system.
Here is our madricha Noam. I will miss her lively and sunny attitude.
Cleaning boys.
Always smiling.
Team Finland! I wonder will anyone of this Sar-El group ever have courage to visit Finland after meeting three of us.
We Sar-Elniks really like our uniforms, dont we.
Aaaaaawww...... Squeeze that fruit!
My room mates. I will miss you! *hugs* It was such a pleasure to meet you!
Bus is here, time to go!
Bye bye!
Heading to HaHagana train station, Central Bus Station and Beit Oded in Yafo.
It is only 5 minutes walk from free Sar-El hostel Beit Oded to our place Old Jaffa hostel. We did not stay in Beit Oded because doors are closed from midnight till six in the morning. I need my freedom. Old Jaffa hostel roof terrace.
Our balcony was in corner of Olei Zion and Amiad streets in Yafo.
Quick visit to Dizengoff and Rothschild streets. Pizza and beer.
Back at the roof terrace in Yafo.
Quick visit to meet a friend of a friend. Hurry back. Amazing adventure looking for a handkerchief.
Meeting other travelers at the roof. When some people got up in the morning I decided it may be a time to go to sleep.