A Land of Different Things to Different People

To Mike, a return to another life time

To Me an experience to be remembered for a life time

Well here it is . . . the long awaited letter about our trip to Israel. These always take a while to get started because there is so much to say.

Left San Diego Tuesday, March 7th. We traveled from San Diego to Dallas/Fort Worth, through Gatwick, England and into Tel Aviv by 5:00pm Israel time Wednesday. There is a 10 hour time difference between San Diego and Israel. We encountered more security in England than anywhere else on our trip going or coming. Every security check point in Europe insisted that film goes through the x-ray machines! No arguments and so in it went and I figuratively held my breath.

Israel has changed in many ways since Mike was there 20 years ago. We arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, checked out our rental car (An Avis/Mazda:Just a little run about) and headed for the general direction of our Kibbutz . . . Shefayim located just north of Tel Aviv. In due time, with a few extra twists and turns, we arrived and checked in and COLLAPSED!

All of our accommodations included breakfast so on Thursday morning, we joined the residents (and attendees at a conference) in the dining room at the appointed hour for our breakfast buffet. Fresh fruit, orange juice, grapefruit juice, eggs, pickled and smoked fish (not my favorite although I did "nibble" a bit) breads, cheeses, a mixture of diced cucumbers and tomatoes (a favorite faire at every breakfast). Our biggest problem was getting to the dining room and eating ahead of the smokers (oh yes if you don't smoke, Europe and the middle East can present problems).

In early civilizations destroyed and rebuilt, there is a layering effect where new buildings were built over the old ones. Hence the various civilizations and eras can be reflected in the sizes and types of stones that make up the walls of the city, the shops and houses.

Page 2 of our Israel Trip