Israel Trip Introduction

Don't expect great writing for this series of blogs concerning our Israel trip. Just fairly random impressions and experiences that friends and family who would like something more in-depth than the Facebook and Instagram postings, requested.  Postings will be sporadic—dependent on schedule and activities.

I cannot remember ever being so well prepared for a trip on the one hand as far as packing is concerned, while on the other hand being mentally completely unprepared. I knew it was happening but even on the plane from Kelowna to Toronto it did not seem real. We left mild winter in Kelowna (+8) and cold -20 temperatures with blowing snow in Toronto) to embrace day temperatures around 20 Celsius. 

The approximately 10 hour trip and one hour wait for departure while seated in the airplane was much more bearable because of the entertaining and informative Shimi, a young lady with Canadian citizenship returning to Israel to be with a dying grandmother.  The insights were greatly appreciated. ​

​The approximately 10 hour trip and one hour wait for departure while seated in the airplane was much more bearable because of the entertaining and informative Shimi, a young lady with Canadian citizenship returning to Israel to be with a dying grandmother.  The insights were greatly appreciated. ​

Just before we landed, a stewardess handed me a note indicating that my luggage had not made it on the plane!  Took a while to fill out paper work. Then I was handed  a small blue package containing black T-shirt and underwear, razor, toiletries.  

Part of immersion into a new culture is adding vocabulary or at least bringing new levels of understanding to words that are already part of our vocabulary, in this case, the word Shabbat (Sabbath).  We were urged not to delay when we landed because trains and buses will stop running around 2:30 PM and not run again till sundown the next day.  

Well, the lost luggage delayed us. Then the train tracks were being repaired meaning no train was running.  This had a bright spot since the replacement bus was free. We made it to our airbnb with the help of friendly people - many with excellent English.  

Our hostess was in the middle of preparations for a Shabbat meal with friends when we arrived. Our airbnb was located close to the Mediterranean Sea where we enjoyed the sunset, and then a few appetizers before heading off to bed early despite the celebration meal taking place on the other side of the thin wall.  Animated conversation in English - often about God - reached our ears as we drifted in and out of sleep. A neat introduction to the country.

More about the meaning of Shabbat to come.