If you’re in Tel Aviv right now – Oh my god! I’m glad I didn’t get blown away by the storm. I foolishly thought I could go to lunch at a cafe today and only made it 200 metres before my umbrella packed in, I got totally soaked (poor choice of footwear, too) and had to leg it back home through giant puddles and horizontal fucking rain. So glad my evening plans seem to be cancelled, as I’d hate to have to go out in this again. I hope it’ll calm down a bit tomorrow as I actually have classes and stuff to go to and it would be nice not to drown. It’s amazing how this country shuts down when the rain finally comes, though to be fair when it rains it does so pour here – none of that lame-o drizzle you get in the UK. Better drainage never hurt anyone, though. Having to step through rapids whenever you cross a street is one of those fun Tel Aviv experiences I really didn’t miss.
In other sad news, updates that will be going into the next monthly update of the guide are the fact that the Prozdor Bar is now on Herzl street (but I won’t re-add it to the guide until I’ve checked it out). Apparently, you can no longer dance there, which I’m sure does something to the dynamics of the place.
Also in even sadder news, my second favourite cafe, Hanasich Hakatan is no more as of a week ago. It might reopen soon at a different, somewhat less magical location, so I will update some more if and when it happens. Sad and even sadder that I wasn’t there to give it a proper send off. Sometimes it really does suck that I’m only here part of the year. I will miss their lovely garden which probably won’t have an apt replacement in the new location, but I do hope they reopen because they had the most amazing vibe. Apart from anything else, it gave me a reason to go down Simta Plonit (vaguely translated into something like “anonymous alley”) which is my favourite street in town. I wonder what will replace the cafe. I hope it doesn’t suck, though it’s got a tough act to follow.
Oh well. Tel Aviv, this is for you: