A rainy day

Day 663 - first day of rain since we came here. Not a heavy one, just drizzles all day long. We walked the Jewish quarter and were amazed by the beauty and the richness of its history. We kept our  method of getting lost in the city and find new streets we haven't seen yet; this is how we stumbled on the Jewish area.  We realized it is a very unique way to see a foreign place - getting lost and coming with no preplans. We see buildings we have no name for them, so we appreciated them (or not) for how they look and not because a famous name or story is attached to them. We find little known local pubs, some looked like we were the first foreigners to enter them. We go to neighborhoods were people actually live, enter minimarkets and local coffee houses, take the tram feel the city, it's people, it's rhythm. We are doing it now for three days walking the streets for hours and so today we decided to enter one of the many Thai massage parlors, I admit it is touristic but needed. We each got an hour of massage and it was so wonderful.  I don't know why they have so many Thai massage parlors and Thai restaurants, what is this fascination with Thai things but I never saw so many Thai things in one place. Tomorrow we decided finally to take the city tour so we will know what we have seen so far plus we'll catch up on all the stories. Now that we experienced the city as it is today we are ready to head about its glorious past. So Ed will also ask our guide about the Thai mystery.

I am thankful that even though it was a little rainy and colder we still got to enjoy this amazing city. I am thankful for new areas, new places and sites we discovered today. I am thankful for great lunch and equally good ice cream  we had, for long and very serious talk we had. I am thankful for a great massage that made us feel like walking on a cloud later; a very needed one apparently. I am thankful for two more days we have here to enjoy before heading back home. I am thankful for a wonderful day with my daughter.