I like Israeli food. Beautiful Jaffa oranges come from lands that were barren deserts 20 years earlier. The commercially grown oranges are all exported . Egglant is a staple like potatoes are here. My favorite foods were shashlik, lamb roasted on a spit and served in pita bread, and turkey schnitzel. For a while though, I was only eating popcorn until the Israli Government guaranteed my check. Often, many families ate no meat or very rarely, so to make better use of their limited funds. I enjoyed many cheese sandwiches that cost $US equivalent of two or three cents and many excellent pastries like the French prepare. Imported food was very costly as a 200 per cent import tax was imposed, i.e., forget pork, which has two prohibitive strikes against it.
Restaurants, stores, and even dishes are classified as meat or dairy and are only served or used according to that classification. I learned more about this while in the process of renting a flat ( I was tired of the expense of the Dan Hotel). My friend Moshe, who spoke English and Hebrew, went with me to the flat where the landlord and his daughter waited for us. The landlord spoke Polish and Yiddish, while the daughter spoke Polish and Hebrew. Conversations were Carl to Moshe to the daughter to the landlord and back in the reverse order. He would not rent me pots or food vessels, and so on as I would ruin their kosher status through ignorant use, and purification by a rabbi is not a desirable practise. We came to terms and I came to better understand the kosher laws. Fish must have scales and be humanely killed by the butcher (a blow to the head usually). Meat must be from cloven hooved animals. There are foods, vegetables and grains, that are parvre; that is they can go either with meat or dairy.
Jerusalem has it entry blocked on the Sabbath, and the orthodox will not cook or labor or operate any machinery or electric devices. Much of Israel is not bound by such practices but often even Jewish tourists from such as New York will be stranded. Once, on the Sabbath, I entered an area clearly marked in Hebrew as being orthodox. Men shook their fists, yelled and threw stones at me as I tried to leave.
I visited asome kibbutzes - carp raising, farming, and tecnical oriented. Everyone had their roles and assignments. The children were cared by persons other than the parents, although parents could visit their children. I went to shrines at Nazereth, Jacob,s Well and on Sea of Galilee. We were a team of 4 sent to support the Israeli DoD. Charlie Braun and Bill Kile brought their families along. The Kiles left quickly - lack of luxuries, pregnancy, and social life were factors. I took a trip through Beersheba and on to Elat on the Red Sea with the Braun family. The inns were full or closed so the police advised us to sleep on the beach. The sea glowed with phosphorescent coral. I retired for the night in a box and was doing ok until Barbara Braun saw a rat crawl in the box with me. The Camel rides and glass bottoms boats made up for the night's repast. Cesaria on the Med., Hafia and the Dead Sea were among many other places I visited. East Jesrusalem and Bethlehem were still in Jordan at the time and restrictions prohibited my traveling there.
Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan are far from the celebrations at Nazareth. No Christmas trees or other signs of celebration were visible, The Brauns left on Christmas Day. Oh, yes, lizards darted across the ceilings, Chuckie got worms, and the culture was strange, but is was the lack of Chistmas celebration that caused their decision to leave. After they left, I was the only remainer. The Israeli Government gave me a nice New Years basket including wines, fruit and cheeses.
I asked someone to tell me how to say "I do not speak Hebrew." What I learned sounded like "edibear lo ebrit". Later I found out its means: "I shall not speak Hebrew", rather than cannot. Conscription into the armed services included all except the insane or jailed or bedridden. At 18, males and females enter the Armed Forces for pay of about $2 US per month, plus food and housing. The lame and halt were given desk or other jobs they could perform. Many of the soldiers would try to make it home before the Sabbath started. I gave rides to many uniformed hitchhikers. I had been trying to learn numbers and other words. Once when letting off a hitch hiker I said the word for eight rather than goodby(shalosh rather than shalom). "Edibear lo ebrit" must have been my shibboleth, and probably edibear was the appropriate expression.
Passing through London I went and had a meal. And immediately then another. Somehow, I did not understand the serving size. Another time at Henley-on-the-Thames (that is it's name - where the big boat races are held) I ordered the special meal for myself and my companion. Out come wait staff with bowls of food. I think, finally a place with reasonable servings; but, no, one spoon serving and away the bowls go.
First off, it is pronouned Tims(rhymes with Jim's). I was surprised at it's lack of width, even in London. The bridge over it between High Wickham and Henley(on-the-Thames) was being upgraded, scheduled to be completed in two more years. The upgrade was from two tonnes, one lane, to four tonnes, one lane.
North of High Wickham there is the Hell-Fire cave, dug out of salt. The owners claim that B. F. particpated in secret rites there. The club was reputed to have secret ceremonies, and possibly devil worship. I was fortunate to visit many other places: the White cliffs of Dover are grey up close; the Great White Horse was laid out unknown years ago; strange rock formations exist; the spring lambs are lovely; sail boatmens zig- zagging up the Thames; thatched cottages; the Queens horses (mostly small and lean); the coastal resort towns; Kent, the garden of England; Canterbury; various castles; the British Musuem; Kew gardens, Windsor Castle and others, and so on. Editor's note: The White Cliffs of Dover in May 2000 calved. The White Cliffs are now 20 feet farther from France. 90,000 tons (American newspaper) separated and fell on the beaches and sea.
The British penny (back then) was the same dimensions as the US 50 cent piece, while the US penny was the same size as the British shilling. This is just an academic observation based on rumored reports of practiced abuse. I wish I had accumulated more of the British pennies. Dates such as 1902 were not unusual. Many toy shops had imports from Hong Kong, often being just a penny. The gas heater in my hotel room required shillings regularly if warmth was wanted. The hotel had just one bath for floor, but even so reservations were often made a year in advance causing the casual patron to look elsewhere. The hotel did not lock its doors until 10:30, whereas motels (a new concept there) closed by 4 or 5 PM. Oh, yes they say, biscuits not cookies, many other words have different meanings and idioms, and they have High streets rather than Main streets, but then indeed, English is the language of England.
Jet lag and food cannot be found.
I had an overnight flight to England. I go check into
the Red Lion, High Wickham' s premier hotel. Too late
for breakfast, I go to bed. When I wake up it is too
late for supper. A pretty and charming young lady
offers to go with me in search of food after making
it very clear there is to be no hanky or handsy activities.
Oxford, a city of more than 100,000 has nothing open at
10:30 on Sunday night. Eventually, we dine at an
all night beanery on the Motorized Highway, M4.
Quaint hours in England
In the several time in and out of Heathrow Airport, I have yet to
see London from the air. My first stay in London had me checking out
the social life. I was in pub and noticed that it was becoming dead.
When I tried to enter another pub I learned of the closing laws probably
created so some husbands might go home. I am sure the pubs
have different schedules now. Another morning I was
out touring along the Thames and noticed an open pub.
There and then I could not have a draught because I had no
workers drinking card.
Pass the plaice, please.
British breakfast can be humdrum or so-so. Bangers are good if the
are not mostly cereal; my breakfast at the red Lion Hotel in High
Wickham was often enhanced with plaice for an extra shilling.
Plaice is a flat fish of the flounder family and was featured
as a breakfast option. Good too, I might add. Some American hotdogs
taste poorly, but none are as bad as most of the British variety.