Day 3 – Tuesday 25th March

Dizengoff Centre and Re-uniting with Friends

I woke up early, and decided since I hadn't eaten much the previous day [how weird is that!], I would go down to breakfast when the restaurant opened at 6:30am. I had porridge again and some toast with blackcurrant jam. Israeli oranges are exported to other nations, and I can see why. You can make your own freshly squeezed juice for breakfast, which tastes wonderful.

After breakfast, I had a snooze, and got ready to go out by 10:30am. I walked down Gordon Street, which is opposite the hotel, over Ben Yehuda Street to Dizengoff Street. This is a shopping street. They have a large mall area that is raised high, and you walk up and over this to get to the stores in two buildings opposite each other. I wandered around for a while, and then decided to have lunch. My first meal in Israel other than breakfast was ... McDonald's. I could have tried other foods, but I was hungry, and thought if I go with something familiar, I would eat it. I pointed at the picture of the three chicken strips meal, and was very happy with that. It cost ILS36, which is quite expensive, but it tasted the same as in Australia or Poland, which is what I wanted.

I wandered into the second building, and as I was leaving there an American Israeli in a spice and tea shop offered me a taste of some tea. I bought some Earl Grey and some that tastes like Apple Cider to bring home. Unfortunately, I thought that my water immerser and cup would take up more room than I wanted, and when I was stream-lining my packing, I took them out! Well, that was a mistake – there aren't tea-making facilities in my room. I will let you ponder my deprivation and devastation for a few minutes...

I also bought a couple of bags of spice mixes – one of them you put on rice and it contains pistachios. I tasted a sample on rice, and it is nice. I think the other one is a similar idea – I can't remember. She is a very good saleswoman – it cost over ILS54 for the four bags. She would have happily sold me lots more, including sage or lemon-grass tea, but I said I didn't have enough space in my bag as I am away for 7 weeks. She asked me where I am from, and when I said Australia, she said she thought it was the kinkiest British accent she had ever heard, and then decided maybe it isn't British. No, we're further south.

Glenn and Virginia were arriving from Frankfurt at 3:00pm. I had told them I would be in the Lobby between 4:00pm and 5:00pm, and they came at about 4:45pm. Glenn checked in while Ginny came over to sit with me. It had been snowing in Frankfurt and was minus 4 when they left – Tel Aviv was 31C, so Ginny had changed at the airport. She said it is a major culture shock to see Tel Aviv, which was established in the early 1900s, after being in a city with a building in the Old City dating from the 1450s. There are a lot of damaged buildings in Tel Aviv, courtesy of Saddam Hussein during the first Gulf War. There is also a lot of renovation going on as you walk around. Another factor is that during the Intifadas in the early years of this century, many tourists did not come to Israel. The economy suffered greatly, but has now picked up and the shekel is very strong.

We met for dinner at 7:00pm and went to the restaurant, where there was a buffet laid out. Ginny and I had a nice chicken and vegetable soup, while Glenn had a salad. He also tried the roast beef and the salmon, and said the beef was really tender. We had some after our soup, and it was incredibly tender. Ginny said it was the best she has ever tasted. I said I think it is because they hang it for sufficient time to ensure the blood drains out completely. God told Moses that the Jews weren't to eat or drink the blood of any animal. Dad went to a particular butcher when I was a teenager because he knew it was hung long enough, and it was tender meat. These days supermarkets don't hang it for very long at all, so Mum usually buys from the butcher.

I noticed Chuck had come in and mentioned to Ginny that he was at the next table. He was with another couple, and she asked if we should say hello. I said no, we'd better let him eat his dinner in peace. After a while, the woman with him turned around, and asked if one of us is Tricia. I guess she heard the “kinky British accents” and realised we were Australians. She is Sharon Stolebarger, the Tour Administrator, with whom we have been corresponding. She introduced us to Chuck, and Dan, her husband, who is the Tour Leader. They are very charming, and Dan came and sat with us to chat about the Tour and some of the things we will be doing.

He encouraged us to go to Joppa, now called Jaffa, and is about an hour's walk from here. Jonah caught a boat from Joppa, when he tried to flee God's instructions to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. Also, Peter was at Joppa when he was shown by a vision that God's gift of eternal life through belief in Jesus was not just for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well, and he went to Cornelius's house in Caesarea after Cornelius had had a dream to ask Peter to come to him.

We told Dan that we planned to go there after our visit to the Tel Aviv Museum of Modern Art so Virginia can see the works by Chagall. Sharon loves Chagall as well, and they bought one of his lithographs in Jerusalem for one of their wedding anniversaries. They will show us the shop in The Cardo in the Jewish Quarter on the tour.

Dan went to get our Tour Notebooks and Chuck came over to speak to us. When he went to get something else to eat, Sharon remarked that both he and Nancy, his wife, are very approachable, as Ginny had told them about our conversation when we first noticed him.

After dessert, we went for a walk along the waterfront. It was a pleasant night to walk, and there were a lot of people around. Tel Aviv is like most other modern cities with a thriving night-life. Dan had told us it is safe to go for a walk.

Day 2 – Monday 24th March

Eretz Yisrael – The Land of Israel

I remember when we went to Britain in 1997, I was walking down a street in London, saying to myself – “I am in London, England, on the other side of the world”. It seemed so amazing that I could leave Australia, and a day later, I could be in a land with thousands of years of history. You feel that 200 hundred years for white Australia is so insignificant.

When we were in Moscow, I mentioned to a couple of ladies on the tour, as we were walking in the Red Square, how surreal it was. This was a place I had only seen on TV or in books, and here I was, walking near the Kremlin.

I am in Israel, the land of my Jesus – where He lived and died and was resurrected. And of course, it is the land to which He will return... I don't know if there is a term for something beyond surreal...

The plane landed around 7:30am. It didn't take long to go through Passport Control and collect my bag. I went to the ATM to withdraw some Israeli New Shekels, and then got a cab to my hotel. There were signs saying Ashdod and Jerusalem – Bible towns. It cost ILS130.

When I checked in, I mentioned that I really wanted a cup of tea, and was told that I could have more than that because breakfast was available until 11:00am. They have Porridge, but is called Oatmeal here - with sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle. I think it is my favourite breakfast. I also had a slice of bread that looked like it had alfalfa sprouts in it. It was savoury – it was nice, but I am glad I didn't have anything on it; it wouldn't have tasted very nice with jam.

I rang Mum to let her know I had arrived safely, but left a message as she didn't answer. When I was ready to go out, I asked at Reception about getting a bus to visit Avi Wasserman, as I had arranged to buy some of his spindles. I walked to Ben Yehuda Street, which is the next street from the hotel. I was told to catch #200 bus to take me to the Central Bus Station, and then to get a bus to Ness Ziona. Avi had told me to ring him and he would pick me up at the bus station there. The Tel Aviv bus system is a bit too complicated for my brain. I eventually asked a girl at a bus stop which bus I needed to catch to the Bus Station, but she didn't know. She was very nice, and asked a couple of other people for me, but they didn't know either. I decided that it was too much for someone with jet-lag, and returned to the hotel.

I walked back along the waterfront and bought a bottle of water and one of lemonade and a packet of chips. I wasn't really hungry and just wanted a snack. This was ILS18.

I rang Avi to say I couldn't come because I couldn't get to the Bus Station. He was disappointed because I had come so far, and suggested I get a taxi from the hotel to the Bus Station. Of course, something so simple hadn't occurred to me. The taxi driver offered to take me to the town for ILS140, but I declined. The fare was just over ILS31. The Bus Station is huge, with floors of shops. In most public buildings in Tel Aviv, there is a security guard at the entrance to check people's bags and their person. It is unfortunate that it is necessary, but under the circumstances, it makes people feel safer.

I got on my bus and paid ILS10 – much cheaper than the taxi would have been. Avi had told me I could ring him from the public phones – there are no longer are public phones there, as most people have cell-phones now. As Avi doesn't use the bus, he didn't realise this. I asked in a couple of shops for a phone, but they didn't have one there for public use. I forgot to bring the instructions for using my global roaming, so couldn't work out how to ring Avi on my mobile. I then decided to ask the young man in one of the stores to ring Avi for me, and I would pay for the call. He told me I didn't have to pay, and rang Avi to come and pick me up. I bought a bottle of water because it was over 30C and I was thirsty. It was 7 shekels so I gave him 10 and said to keep the change.

Avi came and drove me to his house. It is lovely, with beautiful woodwork cupboards and a dining table he had made. He and his wife are very hospitable, and gave me a cup of tea and some nibbles to eat. They have a friend from Germany staying, to whom they have been showing Israel.

Avi had three tubs of spindles for me to try. I like to spin finely, so I chose to look at one tub of smaller spindles. I bought a couple of Israeli Olive-wood, one of English Yew, and an Israeli Rose-wood decorated with real pearls. Joy, you can have your pick of one of these. Joy bought me a spindle when she and Les went on a Fibre Adventure to the Shetland Isles last year. It is made with drift-wood found on Fair Isle.

Avi took me back to the Bus Station to return to Tel Aviv, and went to put me on the right bus. The man drove off while we were saying good-bye! Avi then saw a Sherut pull up. This is a shared taxi which holds 10 people, and picks up and puts down along the bus route to the Central Bus Station in the Israeli towns. It is faster than the normal buses. It cost the same as the bus.

Back in Tel Aviv, it was nearly 7:00pm, and I was shattered. I got a taxi from the Bus Station to the hotel. The taxi driver had told me it would cost ILS50. I knew that was too much, as I had paid 20 shekels less to get there. By rights, taxi drivers should use their meters, and not quote a price, but I was too tired to argue. I just wanted to go to bed. He was very nice and chatty, and showed me the main streets in Tel Aviv, with a bit of a history lesson thrown in.

He told me after I had my dinner, I could go to “Mike's Place”, a Sports Bar down the street from the hotel. I just said I was too tired even to eat, and intended going straight to bed... Sports and Bar – two things that are so not me!

Virginia's mother was concerned when told that I was planning to catch a bus in Israel, so she will be happy to learn that I made it back without any drama. On Tripadvisor.com's Israel forum, another traveller voiced safety concerns after the murder of the 8 students in Jerusalem this month. Douglas, a frequent traveller to Israel, who will be here again in May to celebrate Israel's 60th Anniversary, stated that in Cincinatti, where he lives, there were 80 murders last year. He said that he feels safer in Israel because of their strict security measures than he does in the US.

Day 1 – Sunday 23rd March

Well, it's just You and me, Jesus

It is very odd to set off on an overseas holiday without Mum, considering she has been my travelling companion on the two previous ones, but she doesn't have any desire to go to Israel. This is partly why we went to Scandinavia and Russia in 2006. I had originally intended going to Israel on a tour, while Mum stayed in London. I changed my mind about that when I saw the Russian tour in the Insight book, as we have always wanted to see The Hermitage in St Petersburg.

To experience Israel with my best friends, though, is awesome. I was so happy when Virginia asked me last year if I wanted to go on Chuck Missler's Tour with them. Then she suggested I go to Egypt too, considering I am so close. She knows I have been fascinated with Egyptian history for years.

Tom drove me to Tullamarine in my car, while James drove with Glenn and Virginia. This meant he could drive their car back, and Tom could drop mine off and James take him home from my place.

After getting our Boarding Passes and going through Customs, Glenn, Virginia and I met up again and had a drink at Starbucks before heading off to our respective flights. Their flight left at 5:00pm, and mine at 5:30pm. The flight was uneventful, and I watched a few movies that I probably wouldn't have chosen to see otherwise. I enjoyed a couple of them – Enchanted, a modern fairy-tale, part animation and part real people. It is a fun movie that most kids and adults would enjoy.

I had no problem suspending belief for this movie, but I didn't enjoy The Bee Movie, after Barry met a human and they could talk to each other. When the girl was walking down the street talking to Barry while he sat on her shoulder, I couldn't be bothered any more.

I watched a movie with “The Rock”, Dwayne Johnson, who played a pro-footballer with an enormous ego, who discovered he had an 8-year-old daughter. It was very sweet and funny.


Bangkok Airport

I had no difficulty finding my way to where I needed to catch my El Al flight to Ben Gurion Airport. I went through the Security check and headed to my Gate. There is nothing in this area except seating. The seats were already taken, so I sat on the tubing that helped to support the glass barriers around the floor. I took out my drop-spindle and started to spin. {I had asked about being able to take it on the plane when I checked my luggage at Tullamarine and was told it was fine}. One of the airport employees put a portable sign in front of where I was, and another one across from me diagonally. I read the sign I was behind from the back – it reminded people to have their Boarding Pass and Passport ready. I didn't read the other one, assuming it said the same thing. [I can hear Mum now, saying, Oh Trish – but it's cool].

We went down the ramp to the next level, where El Al staff were checking the Boarding Passes. When the girl looked at mine, she asked if I had gone through the El Al Security Check – well, of course not, I hadn't read the second sign! A young man led me back up the ramp to the waiting area, and I read the sign advising people to go to the Security Check in the direction of the arrow. It was only a few metres away from where I had been waiting and spinning, but there was a full seat between myself and the lecturns where they were checking people, so of course, I hadn't noticed. I have been telling people for years that I am the most unobservant person they are likely to meet. Ginny finally realised it a few weeks ago when she and Glenn were talking about a new building in town, and she asked me what it was. I said I hadn't noticed it...

The El Al man was very nice and explained he needed to ask me some questions – why was I going to Israel, where was I going, do I have family there, how long, etc. I told him I understood the need for the questions, and that I wanted to be safe too. There was no problem – he asked if I had anything that could be used as a weapon – knife, scissors? I showed him the hook on my drop-spindle, but he said that was fine. I am glad, because I didn't want to have to hand it over.

Back to the end of the queue ... Of course, if Mum had accompanied me, she would have read the second sign and we would have gone through the Security Check in the first instance...
Yes, Mum, I promise to be more observant in the next seven weeks.

The flight was uneventful. I wanted to go to sleep, because it was nearly 1:00am, and I had been up early. The young man next to me was watching movies nearly all night, and for some reason, I could hear some things through his headset. There was a shoot-out at one stage that was a real issue for me... ping, ping, ping, ping ...

To Blog or not to Blog

A few people have asked if I plan to post about my trip, as I did in 2006. I have decided to do so. This way the family can see what I am up to without worrying too much.

The Eee PC I bought is so compact that I can carry it in my hand-bag and make notes as we travel. When I am able to connect to the internet, I can post them.