Finally, I’m back in summer. After autumn in New Zealand, spring in Japan and some rain in Istanbul, it was about time.

Istanbul had just started to become warmer (and humid) when I was about to leave. Stepping off the plane in Tel Aviv, even though in the evening, I felt I was back in summer.

I arrived at my new place in the heart of the city shortly past 10 pm. My host Adi gave me a quick intro to my apartment. It’s a small but cute place, with the bed on top of the other rooms, that I have to reach through a ladder…

I wasn’t really tired, and it seemed like the city was just getting started for the night, so I decided to stay up and use the time. First with a quick visit to the nearby am/pm supermarket that is open 24/7 to buy the basics.

Then I went up King George Street to the entry of the Carmel Market. I had stayed in the area in 2012 when I visited town for the launch of Madonna’s MDNA Tour.

Back then, on my last night in Tel Aviv, a little pasta bar had just opened across the street from my hotel, and I wanted to see if they were still there: Pasta Basta.

 

Alive and kicking, indeed, the place was buzzing. So I had some pasta and wine, a nice chat with the girl behind the counter, and immediately felt at home again.

I realized that, together with Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv is the only city so far on this trip that is not totally unknown and new to me, but a place I had been to before. This really helps. I quickly got my bearings again and also found another bar I knew, for a final beer.

Back in bed, I had a hard time sleeping – it is really hot. I’ll get used to it – I might buy a little air fan, though.

This morning, breakfast at Loveat, my favorite breakfast place back in 2012, a quick stroll through Carmel Market and then off to Dizengoff shopping mall, to get my Israeli phone chip.

So it’s the usual start in a not-so-new city.

Tonight, I waited for Susanne from Brussels to arrive, and we had a little walk to the beach at nigh, and then a beer on one of the terraces on Allenby. It was great to connect with a friend again, and to hear what she has been up to in the past months.