Sale at the Interchange

Ikea's big winter sale was mainly a pretext for a trip to the Poleg interchange zone  located south-east of the central city of Netanya.

The coastal route leading to the interchange, passes by some notable places: Levinsky college of education, Cinema City Glilot, high-tech zone with Microsoft's imposing building, 'Gaash' mineral springs Spa, Wingate  physical education institute and other.

The weather was wonderful!  Warm and sunny. I could hardly stay indoors on such a beautiful day.  On approaching Ikea, I  felt caressed by a very gentle breeze coming from the sea. (The latter is  not too close;  good thing, as it's winter  and easy to catch a nasty cold from the encounter with the Mediterranean).

Before entering the store, I like to take the time and contemplate the palm trees and the flags. I do so from under an adorable, slightly distant tree overlooking the Ikea complex.

tree overlooking Ikea complex

'Poleg' is a major central interchange leading north, and Ikea store is adjacent to it.  Every year the  area gets some new comercial companies added , becoming crowded, and somehow unesthetical. According to  economic articles, Ikea, with its beautiful blue/yellow colored complex is considered  key factor in the development of the  vast industrial-commerce area by the Poleg interchange. It certainly attracts a lot of customers.

There are some well-known firms (Ace, Office Depot, Auto Depot..) and less known firms and shops here, as well as bank,supermarket, and institutions.
I was rather surprised to see also the one and only popular "dollar store" Max, in a huge building ( huge, certainly compared to its branches in the city).

column with part of the business' names on it

Max  "dollar store"

Acostel, Optical center, H&O, Fox, WeShoes, Superfarm, Supermarket

Red  'Sale'  posters were greetting customers  not only at Ikea but also at some fashion stores. 

red Sale posters at Ikea

Sale posters at a fashion store

At Ikea, I intended to buy a certain new light fixture to replace an old one, but I was told the last one got sold out shortly before my arrival at the store. Pity. I might try my luck at another Ikea store (this one is the closest to my hometown). 
I didn't come home empty-handed though;  bought some trivial, things like a door entrance mat, some glass / metal candle holders, AA alkaline batteries, and a few other small items.

Inside the store - a festival of consumerism.; no other phrase would describe that better. And, of course, no one dares leave the place without sampling some swedish meat balls, soup in a bread bowl, salmon delicacies, and other swedish specialties at the store's cafe-restaurant section.  

When I leave Ikea, I take another look at the palm trees and flags, but this time from across the Exit direction.

                              

'Silver' which is 'Gold'

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There's a brand called Silver Line that makes me  happy due to its cheap prices and good products. It all started  with my buying their computer periferials, especially, keyboard and mouse, for my desk computer.  The product could last forever, if you don't happen to spill some liquid over it. And if that, God forbid, happens, I always have a spare one. 

Then, I spotted Silver Line nirosta pots (nirosta - a specific type of stainless steel alloy)  -  light and easy to clean. 
Pots and pans are a different matter; I don't want them 'to last',  as their bottom gets toxic after a lot of heating - and that, regardless of their brand, quality and price. 
(I once overheard a doctor saying that women tend to ignore the danger of applying hair dyes, wearing a bra, and... cooking in pots).

It seems Silver Line has a hand in almost any Home category, and its products are sold almost everywhere in my country;  at big chains like Home Depot  and Ace, at discount stores, and in small shops.

At first, I thought a chinese company was behind the Silver Line products.  Lately, I found out that an israeli company called Benda was boasting of being the "mother" of the Silver Line brand.

The truth is, in today's global world, one can never be completely sure of the origin of a brand or the company manufacturing/selling/importing it - and, frankly, I don't care, as long as the product meets my requirements of price and quality. If there's a problem with it, I'll just return it to the store.




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The ' Faceless' Conductor and the 'Oldie' Singer

On a  lazy day, I like to stay for a while in my pajamas, near a bowl of popcorn and/or a bowl of fruit salad, and enjoy some musical performances available  on Youtube. Here's a selection:

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One of my favorites is Rondo Siciliano. This orchestra has all the right 'ingredients': a beautiful soprano singer, a charismatic violin player, a good choir, but... a somehow, faceless conductor.That is, we're seldom shown his face.  Sometimes, like in the video below, we get a glimpse at his profile. He's mainly'n the dark, his back at the audience, tall and stiff, with only his hands moving. That's the basic, effortless technique in conducting, we're told.

The Storm violin (Vivaldi)

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Unlike the above conductor, the 'chief' of another favorite orchestra (a much smaller one,  a band , called  Pink Martini),is omnipresent. He usually opens the show, closes it,  jumps on his chair, moves every part of his body, especially the hands (he's the pianist) .

Quite an attraction, I would say, although not as much an attraction as the lead singer, Storm Large. Oh, my, she's good, very good, and...sexy (see the  tattoo on her nude back).

'Amado Mio' ('My beloved') with singer Storm Large

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The croatian cello player, Hauser,is too theatrical for my taste,regardless of whether he performs solo or in a duet. And yet, I keep watching him again and again (especially in Adagio). I suppose it's the combination of his acclaimed virtuosity and his obvious  beauty that attracts me to his videos. The conductor, a woman for a change (short cut hair, masculine black outfit...), 'watches' carefully over him. Shall we call her Maestro or Maestra?

Adagio (Albinoni)

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And last but not least, the famous  american 'oldie but goodie' Cher. What a performer!! She completely dominates the scene with her voice and presence. She  glides around with such easiness and elegance! ( no need for all the fuss around her, made by male and female  flamenco dancers;  they are all, however,very exciting, especially the one with the scandinavian looks, opening and leading the show!).

Dov'e  L'amore (Where's love) with Cher

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