The Israeli-Arab town adjacent to my town of Zichron Ya'akov is called Faradeis, which translates to "paradise". Every Thursday, an open shuk (market) is constructed in what normally is a parking lot along the highway. Both Roisin and I were regulars on this weekday, coming to replenish our stashes of almonds, pecans, walnuts, cranberries, raisons, apricots, and prunes.
We went nuts over the nuts!In addition to nuts and dried fruit, we stalked up on fresh produce: coconuts, clementines, baby bananas, persimmons, apples, and of course, cucumbers and avocados for sushi. The produce man would always greet me and inquire about my parents, as both my parents became and continue to be quite-the-talk-of-the-town being the only Israeli Jew and Japanese couple shopping at the market. The man would always shove an extra bundle of something in our bags just because. We never refused mint or dried dates!
It so happens too that my parents are close friends with the Mawasy family, a prominent family in Faradeis. As a result, Roisin and I received VIP treatment wherever we went with a Mawasy member.
Meet Papa Mawasy - the Intellect!
Meet Mama Mawasy - the Saint!
Meet Mazhar - the Loyal Friend!
With Mazhar, we enjoyed many adventures! You could say we were the three stooges. One adventure was going to the hot springs in Chamat Gedar on the Jordanian border. Another was going to Bat Galim to eat at one of the best seafood restaurants, combined with checking out the stunning views from Haifa's best look-out spot.
The Ba'hai Gardens...
Roisin and I will always remember the crows!
My all-time favourite was being invited by Mazhar's friend to a cave. Yes, a cave! Unfortunately, I don't have photos from this evening, but for fun, just imagine it's a full moon and you're driving into the middle of nowhere, climbing up a hill, and entering a tiny entrance into a cave lit by candles in the many crevices. An impressive sight! Sitting on carpets and cushions, I learned how to play the djembe drums that night, and each and every one of us jammed!
Another fun night was going for shwarma, which put every other shwarma I've ever had to shame!
Swimming in December also never failed to excite me. While at the beach (again the same beach where I got attacked by the mosquitos), we were visited by two large St. Bernard dogs, who clearly ruled the beach.
Everyone wanted to pose with these two celebrities!
Making fresh za'atar pastries was also another amazing experience. I learned how to expand and fold dough, oil it into shape and stuff it with fresh herbs, roll it out and bake it in the make-shift oven by the side of the house. A dish that is made only three times a year. I felt so priviledged!
And our last adventure together was going to another seafood restaurant in Quesaria called the Crusader's Inn. We ordered the seafood platter full of almond and sesame encrusted tiger prawns, deep-fried calamari, buttered-muscles, roasted eggplant, baked potatoes, and fire-heated pita! That night, the wind caused wild waves over the ruins of Quesaria that not a month earlier we enjoyed its calming effect.
We three vowed to meet again in the future, possibly as early as April in Vancouver - another paradise!
It so happens too that my parents are close friends with the Mawasy family, a prominent family in Faradeis. As a result, Roisin and I received VIP treatment wherever we went with a Mawasy member.
Meet Papa Mawasy - the Intellect!
Meet Mama Mawasy - the Saint!
Meet Mazhar - the Loyal Friend!Both Roisin and I became fixtures at the Mawasy household, located in the city hubub. The love I have for this family goes beyond words. Their big hearts, phenomenal graciousness and generous hospitality is what makes them so utterly amazing. At one point, close to twenty-five members of the family were living in the same house. Arabic house construction is quite different than the Western model; instead of each family having a separate house, each family gets a floor - the eldest son having the top floor and those that are still unmarried live on the bottom floor with Papa and Mama. In order to move up a level, you must get married, so there is significant pressure on the remaining siblings who are not married yet to get moving with it! While I was there, the eldest brother moved his family to their newly-built mansion at the top of the hill. Everyone in the family will eventually migrate there, but for now, some prefer to stay close to the city centre, where all the action is!
Although he's a force feeder, I still love him!
Although he's a force feeder, I still love him!
Roof-top view from the mansion...
On a nice day, you can see the sea!
On a nice day, you can see the sea!
With Mazhar, we enjoyed many adventures! You could say we were the three stooges. One adventure was going to the hot springs in Chamat Gedar on the Jordanian border. Another was going to Bat Galim to eat at one of the best seafood restaurants, combined with checking out the stunning views from Haifa's best look-out spot.
The Ba'hai Gardens...Roisin and I will always remember the crows!
My all-time favourite was being invited by Mazhar's friend to a cave. Yes, a cave! Unfortunately, I don't have photos from this evening, but for fun, just imagine it's a full moon and you're driving into the middle of nowhere, climbing up a hill, and entering a tiny entrance into a cave lit by candles in the many crevices. An impressive sight! Sitting on carpets and cushions, I learned how to play the djembe drums that night, and each and every one of us jammed!
Another fun night was going for shwarma, which put every other shwarma I've ever had to shame!
Swimming in December also never failed to excite me. While at the beach (again the same beach where I got attacked by the mosquitos), we were visited by two large St. Bernard dogs, who clearly ruled the beach.
Everyone wanted to pose with these two celebrities!Making fresh za'atar pastries was also another amazing experience. I learned how to expand and fold dough, oil it into shape and stuff it with fresh herbs, roll it out and bake it in the make-shift oven by the side of the house. A dish that is made only three times a year. I felt so priviledged!
And our last adventure together was going to another seafood restaurant in Quesaria called the Crusader's Inn. We ordered the seafood platter full of almond and sesame encrusted tiger prawns, deep-fried calamari, buttered-muscles, roasted eggplant, baked potatoes, and fire-heated pita! That night, the wind caused wild waves over the ruins of Quesaria that not a month earlier we enjoyed its calming effect.
We three vowed to meet again in the future, possibly as early as April in Vancouver - another paradise!
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