Laundry Night

I think one of my favorite parts of this trip is attempting to blend in with the locals at this little cafe and bar across the street from where we get our laundry done.  While Will and Zara look after my laundry, I am sipping on some hot wine with cinnamon and catching up with my family.  Last time I was here, I got dinner with these phenomenal tunes they play, but unfortunately I have just eaten dinner...I'll probably still get something shortly if I can decide.  Today was breathtaking.  We went back to Akko, but got a full/behind ropes tour of the underground crusader city that has been and is still being excavated today from the previous director of the IAA.  He has been excavating this site since 1993, I believe?, and walked us through the city and made it come alive and find its place in history in my mind.  For those who do not know, I love the idea of hidden passageways and cool underground lairs, and this place was just that.  So many layers of city and history!  I spoke with a marine biologist named Stefan who was working with Koby about getting dive certified over one of my breaks from teaching this year, but I'm not sure if that will end up happening or not.  We had very good hummus today, perhaps the best we've had yet (which is saying a lot, since we eat it every day at at least one meal).  We got to see where Dror worked for a while, the new headquarters of the IAA on Akko which is still being renovated, and we watched a team of reconstructing masons as they chiseled at rocks that would fill the holes of ancient walls.  I really could spend some more time here, but I am excited to move on as well.  I think one of the things that has made this trip memorable is simply my hair.  I've never gotten more attention for it in my life.  Luckily, I was with a group the whole time, but I don't think three quarters of the odd conversations I've had with locals would have happened to me if they hadn't come over to ask me about my hair.  It's funny the things that you possess that seem so commonplace in one society and so exotic and interesting in others.  Tomorrow we sleep in for the first time, get packed up, and go to the beach.  I think we were going to see a museum, but I'm not sure anymore.  I plan to enjoy the day and maybe try to spend the last of my shekels...