The American Embassy in Cairo sent out an email last week “warn[ing] U.S. citizens to defer travel to Egypt and U.S. citizens living in Egypt to depart at this time because of the continuing political and social unrest.”
Jordan was definitely the right call.
But in the meantime… I got my summer-after-graduation-Eurotrip that I have always dreamed of. Started in Greece then Munich (the airport is sickkkkk), Nice, La Trayas, Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Bilbao, San Sebastian and… Barcelona. And now I have been in Israel for about two weeks and I’m flying out to Jordan September 1.
I’m going to skip Greece and Munich (it really shouldn’t even be on the list. I’m just trying to make my fb geomap look more impressive.
So… La Trayas. I spent the last days of July out in this small town in the south of France just outside of Cannes with the family of one of my mom’s college roommates, Odette. After reading that my stay in Cairo was to be cut short, and that I was looking for a destination in Europe, Odette emailed my mom telling her I was welcome to join her and her family at their summer home. At first I was hesitant - I was concerned with tainting my carefully cultivated rugged backpacker persona thathas persisted since NOLS and Outward Bound in the summers after eighth and ninth grade. Pshhh, the south of France? Fine, but only if I can sleep on the floor. No pillow. And I am only bringing a small backpack with enough room for Becca Ward’s extra stuff.
But… it would have been rude to decline. I mean, she did say it would be her pleasure… And my mom had mentioned that when she visited one summer there were fresh croissants every morning for breakfast. Needless to say, I emailed Odette to let her know I would love to take her up on the offer. I mean do you see that freaking view?? How could I refuse?
So I arrived in Nice, France where I was met by Denis, a taxi driver whom Odette and her family have befriended over the years and was kindly sent to pick me up and drive me to their house. It was the first time that I wasn’t able to linguistically exploit the cab driver with some sort of conversation about the recent protests in Egypt as the French-English divide proved to be quite strong. I felt very American, as I thought to myself – how annoying that he doesn’t speak English. The drive through these small cities on the southern coast of France was spectacular. Climbing steep, narrow streets up through the hills with an ocean view. Got me second guessing Arabic as my language of study. JKKKK
Nearing the top of the hill, we finally reached Odette’s family’shouse. I should note: I had met Odette a few times over the years and knew her as my mom’s close friend and college roommate, but had few details to fill in the picture. So it turns out that Odette’s parents had built the house about 40+ years ago and had been coming every summer since. Her mother stays for the entire summer and Odette and her sisters come for varying lengths of time to be with their mother and enjoy the tranquility that this town offers. Family comes in and out over the summer, though croissants, fresh fruit and a cup of coffee for breakfast and a sit down home cooked dinner seem to be staples. And the nightly movie seemed to be a rotation of Pride & Prejudice and The Parent Trap. A wonderful 4 days.
From there I took a 12-hour train to Madrid where I met up with my parents and brother, Nadav. We traveled arpund Madrid, Granada, Cordoba, Seville and a bunch of other smaller towns and cities that my parents kept talking about how cute life would be there. I guess it's a certain stage of life. After my parents Nadav and I a few days on kur own before we met up with my grandparents in Barcelona. We decided to travel up to Northwest Spain to Bilboa or “Basque country.” Don’t call it Spain. They get pissed.
We finally made our way to Barcelona where we met up with my grandparents. Barcelona was nice, no doubt, but what really made that leg of the trip was just being with my grandparents. Full days of walking, doing literally everything Gaudi and late night tapa dinners over a bottle of sangria... and my grandparents set the tone. Closing in on eighty and still livin large. How cool is that?
After a long three and a half weeks of travel, I finally got back to Jerusalem for a second round of mangals (bbq) and ma'ayans (natural springs). I have been spending a lot of time with friends from maale gilboa who are at a point in their lives where they recently gotten out of the army and are soon going off traveling in Southeast Asia for the next 4-6 mounts which works out really well for me since they have time on their hands. Every time I am back in Jerusalem they take me in so quickly, inviting me to everything and anything that they might be doing. I really lucked out with these guys. Such a quality group. I find that I want to thank them for hanging out with means being such good people, but I'm not really sure how that would come off. Right? It could come off as a little much. One day maybe...
So my summer reflection: these random moments when routine is broken or there is no plan can be frustrating, unsettling and even maddening. But, with a little luck, they might open up a new door or two. There have been so many people this summer who I had thought I wouldn't see for months or even the whole year who suddenly became defining parts of my summer. Important conversations that I would otherwise never have had. Places I would have otherwise never visited. Obviously I can only say this since it seems that everything has worked out, الحمد الله. But still, it is important to embrace the next step instead of dwelling on the last (I know, deep. Take a minute with that gem). So many awesome things in life.
Off to Amman on Sunday.
