Yesterday, we took a trip to the Arab city of Taibe (pronounced "Tai-beh"), where we visited the Mathaf Al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Museum), a private home where this elderly couple lives. The gentleman of the house, a very adorable, somewhat deaf man called Hajji (not his real name, but a way to address someone who has made the hajj, the religious pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia), gave us the tour. He was a ceramics artist in his younger days and made these huge cisterns, as well as other kinds of pots. He also has a collection of traditional antique objects used for household and agricultural purposes.
Next, we visited the family of our teacher Sabrin. She also lives in Taibe. Her family was so sweet and taught us how to make zaatar, a traditional Palestinian flatbread made with thyme (zaatar means thyme).
Sabrin's aunt (right), mixing dough
Sabrin's mother (left), showing my classmates Arielle and Tamar how to press the thyme (zaatar) into the dough
Sabrin's eldest daughter, age 13, holding Sabrin's 3-month-old neice
Hajji showing us an antique butter maker
Hajji showing us a sign that says, "Welcome, guests of the museum."
Hajji standing next to one of his huge ceramic sculptures. He said some of them weighed a ton or two (I don't know if he was exaggerating, but they were pretty big)
A huge ceramic sword decorating the front of Hajji's house
The archway to his home. It says "Mathaf Al-Aqsa" (Al-Aqsa Museum) in the center.
A photo of a gold-plated car from the Gulf region, with a saying (in red) that basically says something along the lines of "money poisons the heart."
A sack used for carrying water or milk.
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