Netanya seashore the morning after the storm...
Posted by Dave

Nir in gear with "Bingo," at Road Radio 90FM. Read the blog further down for details about this and the rest of the series of images.
Posted by Dave

Netanya seashore before the storm...
Posted by Dave

Radio 90FM's DJ Nir Eichel with family at their Netanya studios. See blog further down for details.
Posted by Dave

Netanya: IKEA, bowling & 'Emtsa Ha'Derech'

Been away from the keyboard for a few days, as Mazal, Inbal, Avner and I took off a few days at the beginning of the week as guests of the "Hayeinu" cancer-support organization.

Family counselor Ze'ev Weingarten arranged a three-day stay at the "Blue Weiss Hotel," a classy serviced-apartment/hotel in Netanya, at full-board in a two-room suite facing the sea. Sorry - they don't seem to have a website up at the present time... hmm.

After settling in (along with near gale-force winds and rain from the first big storm of the season - but great weather for ducks), we did what any self-respecting Israeli does when visiting the Netanya environs: we stopped off to gape at the home furnishings at IKEA, that Swedish Mecca of the Near-East, of course.

Those clever Swedes, (all together now kids - let's hear those Sesame Street "Swedish Chef" 'oopie-doopies' ring out!) after dissing Israel for years with the Arab blacklist - even reportedly refusing to ship here from "up there," they all-of-a-sudden decide to open a major outlet at the busy "Poleg" Junction along the Tel-Aviv-Haifa highway. Hard cash on the hardwood talks louder than scores of political yammerings, huh guys?

Next morning out, we went over to "Ye Olde Industrial Zone," where we were first on the lanes at the Netanya Bowling center. Since it was Mazal's first time bowling, she, of course, rolled a strike. Notice those final scores. Read 'em and weep, boys...

After showing off all our best "Flintstones" twinkle-toed bowling technique, we headed back down stairs to Netanya's own "Emtsa Ha'Derech - Road Radio - 90FM." For those reading this abroad, what's referred to here as, "regional radio," means that local stations are free to set their own content and playlists, get local advertisers etc, but link up to a national radio network on the hour for "Channel 10 news."

Co-owner and program director Margalit Hadar graciously gave us a tour of the (impressive) facilities, stopping to sit in along with 11-year veteran DJ Nir Eichel during the broadcast of his "Bingo" morning-drive game show. It was great being back behind the mike - even if it was someone else's and I kept my mouf' shut...