Saturday brunch, more humus, and a jog along the promenade.
It’s Friday. In spite of being officially a free citizen hours after landing yesterday I end up in a somewhat self imposed quarantine. The flat is comfortable, plenty of food, and I rather enjoy not having to do anything or be anywhere for a change. I have a yummy breakfast on the balcony soaking the sun and watching the market go by, and take the day slowly staying in.
I have similar designs for a calm Saturday morning but I am meeting mom for brunch and it turns out booking a place in Tel-Aviv on a Saturday morning is anything but relaxing. I’ve gone through the ‘best brunches’ lists, read the reviews, got the recommendations from friends in the know, but it’s impossible to get hold of anyone over the phone let alone find somewhere with availability. I settle for Benedict on the corner of Rothschild Boulevard and Allenby Street. They don’t take phone bookings and in spite of my best intention to get there early and grab a seat I’m number 17 on the waiting list and mom is due to arrive any moment. I hope for the best and sit at the nearby ‘reasonably pleasant but middle of the road’ Arcaffe with my weak decaf cappuccino (I know I know). If there is something more challenging than finding somewhere for brunch it’s finding somewhere to park, and so by the time mom joins me we get the notification that Benedict is ready for us. Phew.
It was wonderful seeing mom, but with all the excitement I have a mild headache now and I have a meeting later with my friend who is the director/writer of the script I’m learning so I go home for some rest, I want to be sharp. The script is for a short presentation of a children’s musical play that is being submitted to one of the big theatres, it’s in ten days time and I am stepping in at short notice to replace one of the actors who was unavailable. It’s a fun little part, but there’s only one rehearsal with the rest of the cast the day before, and I haven’t been on stage for a while, so my excitement is mixed with a degree of apprehension. I just about recover from my headache by the time he arrives, but rather than going through the play we end up in Abu Nassar restaurant in Jaffa. The table is filled with yummy appetisers and by the time the main course arrives I’m pretty much full. We’ll discuss the play tomorrow.
I’m back home and it’s late, but I promised myself that I’d go for a jog and I do. I’m terribly out of shape, but even my short run and a few moves at the outdoors gym by the sea do the trick and I’m refreshed and filled with a sense of achievement. I must do this again soon. I walk back to the flat along the beach and through the abandoned market. I go to bed tired but content.
