We Leave (DAY 1) and ... WE ARRIVE (DAY 2)!

THE BIG DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED....

We arrived with our luggage, ready to begin our Journey at 5:45...

Terri Levi

And boarded the bus to JFK ...

Debbie Velthuizen

Michael and Janice Kessler



Beverly Fein



Then the rabbi had hugs all around to those who came to bid us farewell.

 

Rabbi Colin hugging the Levis

The Brodies saying good-bye at the bus

Ariel Fein pleas for the "last open spot" on the tour

Then we were off to JFK...

Our expert El Al crew got us safetly to our desitination, and some of us actually got some sleep... Debbie slept through Breakfast though :( 

After the longest 7-hour flight I ever took (actually it was 10 or 11) :)

We ARRIVED at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv-Yafo, to the strains of Hava Negillah...

And the plane cheered ...

Our El Al flight #008

After Passport Control... we assembled in the terminal...

Kathy (and Rabbi Colin) show us where we need to be

Later Hal told us that he stepped away from the passport line for just a second, and Beverly let like 20 people go ahead of them :)

Then we re-assembled again near the Baggage Claim to meet our luggage - and then on to meet Liora and our tour guide Yosi waiting just outside...

"Everybody line up against the wall to count"

Uh Oh, Now where did Susan Pastor go ... we lost her, just for a moment..., but we were a little hard to find...

Then onto our tour bus and directly to dinner (Yay!) in the Yemenite section of Tel Aviv ... At the Maganda Restaurant on Rabbi Me'ir Street.

What a great meal -- everyone had a great time here -- and the food was DELICIOUS.

Appetizers and Kabob skewers of Chicken and Beef (not for the Rabbi, of course).

I can say this was the best Hummus I ever ate...



During the appetizers, our tour guide Yosi entertained us with his flute playing, and we had this interesting Mint Leaf and Tea drink with dessert.

After dinner - a quick group shot while waiting for the tour bus (its hard to get a shot with everyone)

Let's see... Left to right (back)... Leon, Hal, Judy,
(middle)... Terri, Sandy, Rabbi, Diane (behind Rabbi), Beverly, Nancy (behind Bev), Pat,
Sharon, Anita, Ken, tour guide Yosi, (front)...Shirley, Dick, Debbie, Margery, Susan, Linda, Michael, and Janice.
Missing - Dotty, Doris, Bari, Lucille, and Elaine, Liora

Finally, on to the Carlton Hotel... for Sleep, Sleep, Sleep... Tomorrow the bus leaves at 8:45.  I guess I should get some sleep too!  Here is a shot from my window balcony at night of the Mediterranean Sea (see the crests of waves on the left).  More pictures tomorrow in the light.