Last day of the trip. We made our way to Tel Aviv in the morning and visited Rabin Square, where Rabin was assassinated in 1995. Then, we went to the Old City of Yafo (Jaffa). We saw a group of kids, probably high school-aged, and one of the guys on our trip todl them he was a famous kickboxer or something and they all believed him and asked for his autograph. Cruel but funny.
From there, we went to Dizengoff in Tel Aviv to shop and have lunch. I met up with Iris there and finally got to spend a couple of hours with her. Not nearly enough time, of course, but better than the previous Friday when she was in such a rush. We saw the Agam fountain in the middle of the square. It’s such a landmark, so run down; once, water flowed and the colours were bright, but then, the paint was faded and the fountain dry. Haval.
After Tel Aviv, the trip was really over. We went back to the hotel in Netanya for a wrap-up session, and did early check-in of our luggage. Dinner was at Yotveta, a nice dairy restaurant that originated on a kibbutz, though it’s now become a chain. Everyone took about a million photos, using up the rest of their camera film (remember film?). Those people who extended their trips left, bringing on the first round of goodbyes. The rest of us rode the bus that we’d come to think of as our home for one last time, to the airport. One of the guys spent time on the microphone imitating Boaz, and we got some stand up comedy routines too.
I nearly cried when we pulled up to the airport and it said “departures”. I didn’t want to leave. We killed time at Duty Free (more Ahava products) and boarded the plane once again, headed for home.