Day 1 - Jerusalem
Half the fun may not be getting there. We took a flight on KLM changing planes in Amsterdam to another KLM flight to Tel Aviv. We can report that the airlines are doing an excellent job of filling seats. Each one in our jumbo jet was occupied. Seven hours on the first flight and four hours on the second make for a long day. However, the flight was reasonably priced and was as comfortable as a long flight can be. Lisa, the law student, never at a loss for something to do, was reading her class notes in preparation for exams.
Eventually we arrived in Tel Aviv. Ben Gurian airport still uses buses to take passengers from plane to terminal. Being one of the most secure air facilities in the world, I guess it makes sense to separate plane from terminal.
Heather had a rental car waiting for us at Terminal 2. We arrived at Terminal 1. The airport is not small and it is somewhat confusing to the outsider as to which one is which. However, we soon were on the road with Heather at the wheel.
Day 1 Jerusalem
Day 2 Jerusalem
Day 3 Jerusalem
Day 4 Dead Sea
Day 5 Petra
Day 6 Gaza
Above -
Jack beside the car Heather rented for our adventure. The rental company, as one can see from the sign is Arab. The car typifies the dichotomy of everyday life in Israel between the Jew and the Palestinian.Right - Heather, Lisa and Ellen, with luggage loaded and ready to go.
The trip from the airport to Jerusalem eventually took us to the hills of West Jerusalem. As we climbed the hills, I noticed that the temperature gauge climbing and climbing into the danger zone.
At the top of the hill, I asked Heather to turn into a gas station. I filled the radiator. It helped for some time, but it still ran hot. Since four days from then, we would be driving through the desert,
Heather took the car back to the rental agency.The agency was in West Jerusalem. As we waited, I noticed a brochure entitled "Palestine Today." As the week progressed, we better understood what was considered to be Palestine.