Summer Holiday

We went to North Berwick on Thursday, which is a small beach town on the northern tip of the Firth of Forth. It is very similar to towns on the Old Mission Peninsula of Michigan for those who are familiar, and is where the Scots go on vacation. Weather was good for a change, and I met some very nice families, one of which gave me a fried egg sandwich and tea on the beach.

Meeting the Locals

After the rest of the VisCom students got here and we came down to Edinburgh for a guided tour bus and a photo scavenger hunt, it was time for the first real assignment. Yesterday proved to be more difficult than I anticipated. We were paired up and sent to make portraits of two different people and record an interview with each one. Francis and I met some elderly locals in a pub in downtown Musselburgh, and Neil, an 18-year-old bagpipe maker on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. I thought the rain would never end and we would never find a second subject, but both happened, thankgoodness. If nothing else, we got a better feel for the area and got a chance to talk to people and hear their lovely accents.



Neil's workshop

On The Road Again

This past Sunday I traveled from Tel Aviv, Israel to Edinbugh, Scotland. It was one of the longest, most exhausting, most frustrating days of my life. I am not about to write the whole story here, but ask me about it sometime. Regardless, in the midst of my frustration I did manage to make some pictures.


Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel


Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt, Germany. Took a bus to the plane. It was wierd.


Finally arrived in Edinburgh and Musselburgh, Scotland. The light is beautiful, and the sun doesn't set until about 10:30 p.m.

Grandma

My grandma was born and raised in Afula, Israel. After all, her father did found the town. The two of us are not particularly close, mostly because we don't live close. But we did have a nice time shoe shopping and eating falafel in the town she knows so well.






Also, for the last week I've ditched my zoom lens and grip. My shoulder is grateful for the rest, and it makes me think about my images more (I already can't chimp due to an accident in Spain...). I forgot how much I love my 35 f/2.

Sachne

Sachne is basically a huge swimming hole in a Nature Reserve in northern Israel. I was there when I was 8, but didn't remember much so it was nice to go back. It was very beautiful, and the water was warm and full of fish who enjoyed nipping at my feet to say hello.







This Persian family invited us to join their party. I wanted to play that fiddle so bad...

Afterward we went to an Arabic restaurant on the way home. I don't think we even ordered anything, they just kept bringing us food. Our table was full of a thousand little plates of who knows what. It doesn't matter, it was delicious. So was the coffee.

Kibbutz Zikim

I went to visit some family who lives in Kibbutz Zikim, near Ashkelon and about 1 mile from the Gaza border. Times are peaceful now so it was okay to go. Dagi, who was born and raised on the Kibbutz, took me to the top of a hill and said "stand here, and you can understand our problem." Indeed I could. When Hamas was firing missiles into Israel from Gaza, their shorter range rockets were aimed for Ashkelon, where there is an important electrical plant, but often missed and hit Zikim, which is unfortunately in the middle of all this. They have adapted by building safe rooms in each house.






I climbed this ladder to get the last two shots.


On a lighter note, Tsvi showed us his extensive garden, including many green houses.

And Gali took a plant home.

Tal

I've been in B'nei Dror for the last couple days with some family. They introduced me to Tal, who isn't a blood relative, but from the time we've spent together, I don't know how that's possible. It's great to be with someone close to my age and who has so many of my same interests. The last couple days have been a blast. Thanks for everything!