Katamon

We are settled into our apartment here, which is small but very comfortable. We decided not to get a car (gas here is 6 shekels/ liter, which comes out to about $6/galllon...), so we are learning our bus routes and are enjoying finding our way walking through Jerusalem's curvelinear streets and footpaths. The neighborhood, Katamon, is great and we are having a lot of fun exploring our new environs. 'Katamon' is a distortion of the Greek words kata-monis, meaning "near the monastery," which refers to the San Simon monastery just up the block from our apt. The lands of this neighborhood were bought by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the late nineteenth century and the Greek Consulate stands today around the corner from us. Best find so far: Shosh cafe 3 blocks from our house–open early, open late, breakfast all day/night, great fresh food, great coffee, tantalizing sweets, lovely young owner Nir, outlets for Daniel's laptop.