Going Cultural

Panoramic view of Haifa port, on a clear day you can see to Lebanon

Minature Torah Scroll and Mantle
Poland 19th Century

So yesterday after my previous blog I decided to take myself off for some culture, first stop Museum of Mane Katz a Ukrainian born Jewish artist who lived in Haifa from 1948 till the end of his life. He studied in Kiev Art School and in Paris, this poor guy tried to join the Foreign Legion but like myself suffered from the short leggie syndrome, so he went back and studied at St Peterburg School of Art. The Museum opened to the public in 1977, and that was my first stop. The collection relates to cultural changes that began at the close of the 19th Century and contains a broad range of religious articles and utensils relating to Jewish culture.

Second stop the was The Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, now here were displayed many, many Japanese Swords, daggers, and special swords for stabbing through armour, also on display were Japanese Fans known as sensu when folding and flat wall fans called uchiwa, there was also a collection of bamboo weaved baskets, they were amazingly intricate in their design, but I was unable to take any photos in this museum so no pics for display. So culture finished with its time to eat, back to my favourite lunchtime spot Habank, and classic shrimp was the order of the day with a side of green beans, I love them but trying to eat them without looking like a coo with green stuff hanging from my mouth is not easy, gonna have to get to grip with them greens. I asked the staff on the way out where I would find the Post Office and nobody seems to know, very odd. But I did find it eventually, only to find that it was shut. Better luck next time me thinks.

I spent the later afternoon sorting Natalie's phone again, I think her and her boyfriend seem to be in competition for who can get things sorted the quickest on the phones.  I have given her a battery percentage now, and as I type I am currently charging her phone through my computer.

When My Beloved arrived home we had an apartment to view and again it was just along from the hotel, we took the car so that we could explore when we had finished.  We were met by three gentlemen and they took us into the apartment, and it was lush but once again it was not big enough for the children we have acquired over the years. The views were stunning over the Haifa Port and each room had an en-suite but the need for bedrooms within one apartment and not in the garden is a must. So we left and said our goodbyes to The Cohen brothers and took ourselves up towards Moriya Avenue which is where I have another viewing tomorrow, this one is on the other side of the mountain but parking may be an issue, so we will see what tomorrow brings. Because I walk everywhere I was able to direct My Beloved through the streets and back to the Crowne Plaza, so funny because that man has no sense of direction and takes in nothing of his surroundings.  As I have said before, spin him round and he wont find his way home.

I had a chat with the Demonic one today, and she is doing fine after her jaw operation, they still have some work to do, but today they managed to get half a dozen people to prise her jaw open far enough and luckily for her the wisdom tooth they were trying to get at popped right out.  Now when I say prise, I really do mean prise, after an incident a long while ago her jaw will lock shut, unfortunately this does not impede the tongue, but this was why she had to get the jaw prised open, so apparently one person was holding down the bottom jaw, whilst others forced open the top part, and when I spoke with her she was still numb and drugged up, but doing great. Tomorrow may be a totally different story.

We decided not to pre book our evening meal, mainly due to the fact that another complimentary dessert would kill us, so we headed up the road and settled on Japanika again, the Maitre De remembered us, and said ah Mr Gerry, apparently a lot of people use this for My Beloved because they cant say his name.  We took seats at the bar this time, and decided not to stuff ourselves silly, pfffft. Our waiter has done some traveling and said he met in with some guys from Scotland whilst in China, but couldn't remember where they were from, but when we come in next time he will have the answer for us.  Everyone is so friendly here and will chat away to you if you are friendly towards them.  We ordered our small dinner, and waited whilst it was prepared, oh dear god, we have to get better with this ordering malarky because what we ordered was not small, and once again we were filled to the brim, thank heavens we didn't have to eat a dessert, I would have just died on the bar stool, but it would have be a glorious way to go. I am now very nearly, almost quite handy with the chopsticks, I even pulled them apart tonight, but stuffing a whole piece of sushi in your mouth to save it hanging off your chin just doesn't sit well with me, small bites that's what I like, but have you ever tried biting through seaweed, not only does it stick to your teeth, it is virtually un-slicable with your front teeth, and getting them chop sticks and the sushi in as far as the molars is bound to cause a gag reflex, so whole it is, makes for a quiet meal time thats for sure.

We arrived back at the hotel and after a little computer time, headed to bed with Mrs Brown, Grandad's Funeral, once again that family had us in stitches, it will be such a shame when we get to the end of the series, I don't know what we will do for bedtime entertainment then.