Arriving in Israel

ISRAEL SATURDAY. MARCH 10

WE ARRIVED IN TEL AVIV AT 2:30 PM ISRAELI TME. WE WERE ALL EXHAUSTED FROM SLEEP DEPRAVATION BUT STILL RUNNING HIGH ON EXPECTATION. CUSTOMS WAS NOT NEARLY AS TOUGH AS EXPECTED. WE WERE GIVEN VERY STERN WARNINGS TO REMAIN SEATED UPON ARRIVING INTO ISRAELI AIRSPACE. IF EVERYONE WAS NOT SEATED, WE WOULD BE TURNED AWAY. THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR! THE AIRPORT IS STRICTLY BUSINESS WITH ARRIVING PASSENGERS. NO COFFEE SHOPS, CHAIRS OR OTHER PLACES TO GATHER. THERE IS ONE WAY OUT. IT IS ALL OPEN WITH GLASS WALLS. NOTHING TO BE HIDDEN HERE! AS WE APPROACHED THE CUSTOMS OFFICER, HE EYED US WITH STERN SUSPICION. HE WAS APPARENTLY READING A COMPLETE REPORT ON US BEFORE FINALLY STAMPING OUR PASSPORT.

WE ARRIVED ON THE SABBATH. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY COMES TO A STAND STILL ON THIS DAY. THE STREETS WERE QUITE. OUR ROOMS WOULD NOT BE PREPARED UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY. WE DROVE UP TO THE LOOK OUT OVER THE CITY OF JESRUSALEM. WE WERE SUPRISED AT THE LUSH EVERGREENS AND GRASS. IT IS A FERTILE PLACE THIS HOLY CITY OF LIGHT.

OVERLOOKING JERUSALEM FROM OUR HOTEL ROOM

WE KEPT WHISPERING TO EACH OTHER, "WE ARE IN JERUSALEM!" WE FINALLY GOT OUR ROOM KEYS FOR THE 21ST FLOOR.DUE TO THE HOLY DAY, THE ELEVATORS WERE PRE SET TO STOP AT EVERY OTHER FLOOR. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH.  TO USE THEIR FINGERS TO PUSH THE ELEVATOR BUTTONS WOULD BE WORK. NO WORK ON THE SABBATH. IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THIS LARGE GROUP (78) DOWN TO THE RESTAURANT FOR DINNER! DINNER WAS PLENTIFUL THOUGH UNFAMILIAR.

PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD WERE DINING WITH US. AS ALWAYS, THERE IS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT. THE LADY NEXT TO OUR TABLE WAS COMPLAING TO THE MANAGER. SHE HAD PICKED UP WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS A BOILED EGG. SHE WAS NOT AMUSED TO FIND IT WAS RAW. THE MANAGER LAUGHED HYSTERICALLY WHEN THE LADY ASKED IF THAT IS HOW THE AMERICANS EAT. WE ARE SO PLEASED TO SHARE JOY WITH OTHERS.




WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT FINDING A BALCONY DOOR FROM OUR 21ST FLOOR ROOM--THEN WE OPENED THE DOOR TO FIND THERE WAS NO BALCONY--JUST AIR WITH METAL BARS, THANK GOODNESS!




THE WAKE UP CALL HAS BEEN RECEIVED AT 5:00 SHARP. IT IS TIME FOR BREAKFAST AND DEPARTURE TO THE DEAD SEA, MASADA AND JERICO