שוק, oh how i love you

שוק is the israeli marketplace.  but it's just not any market.  oh no.  it's like foodie heaven but it's still more than that.  they don't just have food, but other things that you can get for really cheap, considerably so.  this was my destination for the day.  i ended up in the city center again today near ben yehuda and king george v.  this is promenade is what is referred to as a tourist trap.  there are jewelry shops, book stores, many clothing stores, cafes, falafel places, etc etc.  what i found most exciting was finding a mcdonald's and a burger king.  lots of food that americans eat are not considered kosher such as a cheeseburger, a meat pizza, and chinese food is definitely not kosher.  i didn't see the menu but before i leave israel, i must try the mcdonald's here.  

i found the chain bookstore, סטימצקי, to buy a lonely planet guide.  foreign books are terribly expensive!  200 sh for a travel guide?  oh dear.  i don't care much for the store but the location.   is located on ben yehuda which is where many orthodox people look to reform the passing people.  there is also a circle of young guys dancing around to music and sometimes, they even drum and play guitar, i believe.  it was pretty cool to view something like that.  

finding the שוק was not hard but an experience.  it was also my first time using hebrew outside my personal bubble of teachers and friends.  i think i did pretty well!  you know you're heading toward the right place when you see a bunch of people carrying colorful plastic bags of various things.  i just followed the trail and the noise.  the שוק is sight to behold.  if not the sight, the smell will certainly get you.  there are various fruit and vegetable stands filled with lots of varieties and cheaper than מיסטר זול.  there are also meat kiosks, which i stayed away from.  cheese stands, nuts stands, fish stands, everything stands.  my favorite though has to be the bread/pastry stands.  oh the goods!  i got myself a sweet challah filled with chocolate, some cinnamon rolls, and various fruit and caramel rugelachs.  i didn't know what things were so i just sniffed and picked what i liked the best.  the challah wasn't what i expected it to be.  my suitemates say it is a challah but to me it's more like a danish bread.  but whatever.  i also scored some bananas!  yayyy.  

i should definitely go back there again and look around more closely.  maybe even get גבנא, a farmer's cheese thing that's supposed to be really good.  now that i have a lonely planet guide, i want to explore more.  school doesn't start for another week or so.  i have time!  מצדא and  ימ המלח, here i come!