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Rockin’ out halfway around the world
Two weeks ago I returned from a trip to Israel. It was phenomenal. The best part was hanging out with friends I hadn’t seen in over four years. Practically no time was spent at the tourist spots and instead I became a local while I was there. Don’t get me wrong - it’s definitely enjoyable to see the sights, but I get a lot more out of experiencing what most tourists don’t get to do.
My third day in Israel, I was hanging with my buddy Michael (2nd from the right on the bottom row) and he brought me to a reunion his neighborhood friends have every year. It was good I showed up as they needed one more person to create their human pyramid - a yearly tradition.
It took us three or four tries to get it right, and even then when we held it together no one could take a picture in time! Immediately after this shot was taken we completely collapsed - at that moment I truly felt like a local and forgot I wasn’t.
Shortly after I was asked to teach the guys American football. For the first time in my life I knew I was the best football player on the field (for the record, I played soccer growing up). I ended up giving them the Cliff Notes version of it since I don’t even know all the rules, and we spent the rest of the afternoon fumbling through the game. It was a blast.
I also happen to play a little guitar on the side and mentioned it to one of my new friends. He recommended a bar in Tel Aviv where there is an weekly open jam. So I showed up with my guitar and they put me on stage with three guys I had never met. I don’t speak any Hebrew, but I think it turned out all right - check out the video and let me know what you think (I’m the guitar player on the right).
Without access to a local I would have never found this place and wouldn’t be able to now say that I’ve rocked out all over the world!
This is the type of feeling I hope every traveller gets a chance to experience - that’s my goal with Tourbie.
-Ben
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