I woke up early this morning, restless I suppose, given the planned busyness of the day.
I will try to recap the past couple of days.
We spent the better part of Sunday in Amsterdam, with the majority of that time in the airport. However, those who wished were able to go to Anne Frank's house, which was a really special event for me. The house, and particularly the hiding place, were much larger than I had imagined, yet it seemed so impossible for them to have remained in seclusion in such a space. One of the women in our group repeatedly broke down crying, which is completely understandable given the emotions of the place and the events that created it. I tried to give her comfort, and she explained to me that in her holocaust Studies class, she cries every day.
Along the way to the Frank house, we passed the Apple Store, which was closed. It looked really cool, as it is three stories high and much larger than any other I have visited. Unfortunately, it was closed.
We flew through Sunday night to Tel Aviv, arriving about 1:30 AM local time. Security at the airport was thorough. While we were seated in the pre-boarding area, the boarding area was sealed off and a security sweep was performed, nearly two hours in length. Then, as we went through the gate, we were pulled aside in groups of four, and asked several questions--such as:
1. What is the purpose of your trip?
2. How long will you be staying?
3. Did you pack your own bags?
Also, it was unnerving to some in our group to see the airport security personnel carrying assault rifles, but it seems to me that American police are frequently under-equipped, so it gave me an added sense of calm knowing that the security force was well-heeled.
Once off the plane, we were greeted by one of our guides, who welcomed us with, "Shalom, ya'll"...LOL. I was so tired, it took me several seconds to get the joke, but then I laughed mightily. He got us through the Tel Aviv airport quickly and efficiently, so we arrived at the hotel at about 3 AM local time. I have found that traveling in the Middle East is at a much slower pace than in the States. Maybe that's a good thing.
I woke up early Monday morning, and walked down to the beach, which is less than 1 block away from the hotel. I sat at a picnic table and did some writing, which felt good. The cool breezes and salty smell were invigorating. I mostly reflected about my Aunt Mabel. I have not heard any news regarding her condition since I left.
Yesterday found us seeing several sites, including the old Independence Hall, where Israel declared independence in the early 20th century. There was a group of school kids from Jerusalem there, and it reminded me of field trips I had been on. It also occurred to me that, in a way, this is the most intense field trip I have ever been on...LOL.
After independence Hall, we went to a nature preserve unlike any other I have seen. It was a re-creation of the physical setting of the Bible in all its depth and detail. We were shown a network of natural and agricultural landscapes bearing names that indicate their textual source:
* the Forest of Milk and Honey
* the Dale of the Song of Songs
* Isaiah's Vineyard
* the Fields of the Seven Varieties
* and many more.
After this, we went to Rabin Square, which is where City Hall is currently located, and is the site where Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated in 1995. Our guide explained to us that, perhaps the worst part of Rabin being killed was that at the time the general attitude of Israelis was optimistic of peace. Now, the people seem to be resigned to a life of uncertainty. It will certainly take a charismatic and effective leader to restore the optimism and to bring peace.
After dinner last night, some of us went walking along the promenade. We stopped for some imbibitions, and had a good time.
The currency here in Israel is the shekel, which is exchanging at about 4.7 shekels per US dollar. Prices here seem reasonable, too, similar to Memphis. Amsterdam was much more expensive, as the Euro trades at about .83 per US dollar.
One of my classmates has come down to the lobby, where I am, and the sun is rising. We are going to walk down to the beach and enjoy the sunrise.
BTW...if anyone wishes to call me, my cellphone here is: 011-972-52-052-470-2491
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
I will try to recap the past couple of days.
We spent the better part of Sunday in Amsterdam, with the majority of that time in the airport. However, those who wished were able to go to Anne Frank's house, which was a really special event for me. The house, and particularly the hiding place, were much larger than I had imagined, yet it seemed so impossible for them to have remained in seclusion in such a space. One of the women in our group repeatedly broke down crying, which is completely understandable given the emotions of the place and the events that created it. I tried to give her comfort, and she explained to me that in her holocaust Studies class, she cries every day.
Along the way to the Frank house, we passed the Apple Store, which was closed. It looked really cool, as it is three stories high and much larger than any other I have visited. Unfortunately, it was closed.
We flew through Sunday night to Tel Aviv, arriving about 1:30 AM local time. Security at the airport was thorough. While we were seated in the pre-boarding area, the boarding area was sealed off and a security sweep was performed, nearly two hours in length. Then, as we went through the gate, we were pulled aside in groups of four, and asked several questions--such as:
1. What is the purpose of your trip?
2. How long will you be staying?
3. Did you pack your own bags?
Also, it was unnerving to some in our group to see the airport security personnel carrying assault rifles, but it seems to me that American police are frequently under-equipped, so it gave me an added sense of calm knowing that the security force was well-heeled.
Once off the plane, we were greeted by one of our guides, who welcomed us with, "Shalom, ya'll"...LOL. I was so tired, it took me several seconds to get the joke, but then I laughed mightily. He got us through the Tel Aviv airport quickly and efficiently, so we arrived at the hotel at about 3 AM local time. I have found that traveling in the Middle East is at a much slower pace than in the States. Maybe that's a good thing.
I woke up early Monday morning, and walked down to the beach, which is less than 1 block away from the hotel. I sat at a picnic table and did some writing, which felt good. The cool breezes and salty smell were invigorating. I mostly reflected about my Aunt Mabel. I have not heard any news regarding her condition since I left.
Yesterday found us seeing several sites, including the old Independence Hall, where Israel declared independence in the early 20th century. There was a group of school kids from Jerusalem there, and it reminded me of field trips I had been on. It also occurred to me that, in a way, this is the most intense field trip I have ever been on...LOL.
After independence Hall, we went to a nature preserve unlike any other I have seen. It was a re-creation of the physical setting of the Bible in all its depth and detail. We were shown a network of natural and agricultural landscapes bearing names that indicate their textual source:
* the Forest of Milk and Honey
* the Dale of the Song of Songs
* Isaiah's Vineyard
* the Fields of the Seven Varieties
* and many more.
After this, we went to Rabin Square, which is where City Hall is currently located, and is the site where Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated in 1995. Our guide explained to us that, perhaps the worst part of Rabin being killed was that at the time the general attitude of Israelis was optimistic of peace. Now, the people seem to be resigned to a life of uncertainty. It will certainly take a charismatic and effective leader to restore the optimism and to bring peace.
After dinner last night, some of us went walking along the promenade. We stopped for some imbibitions, and had a good time.
The currency here in Israel is the shekel, which is exchanging at about 4.7 shekels per US dollar. Prices here seem reasonable, too, similar to Memphis. Amsterdam was much more expensive, as the Euro trades at about .83 per US dollar.
One of my classmates has come down to the lobby, where I am, and the sun is rising. We are going to walk down to the beach and enjoy the sunrise.
BTW...if anyone wishes to call me, my cellphone here is: 011-972-52-052-470-2491
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
posted by Chris Winn | 4:43 AM
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