"Jill, just look where we are!" Our flight to the Holy Land, which is how we are to refer to our new place of residence, went smoothly. It was a long day. We flew out of Idaho Falls. We arrived in plenty of time to weigh our luggage, rearrange each bag to fit the allotted weight, check in and then wait for our journey to begin. Do any of the rest of you like to people watch in airports? Let's just say I'm so glad that the world is filled with such a variety of individuals. Chinese to the left of me. French to the right. All traveling their own journeys to see the world and experience new sites, tastes, and smells. And yes, the Chinese and French were in Idaho to experience their own "trip of a lifetime." Do we truly know what beauty surrounds us right here in our own backyard!?
Idaho falls to SLC to New York (the ultimate people watching venue) to Tel Aviv. Left at 7:00am Friday morning and arrived 5:00 PM Saturday night. Very little sleep, a lot of little children and not very tasty airplane food...but the bottled water was divine!
After we arrived and went through the passport control station I was quickly reminded that "I'm not in Kansas anymore!" We are the minority now. We are the guests here. We are not in charge of anything but our own choices. As you know this country is in a volatile state at the moment. You can feel that some are on edge. Lots of security. Airport security looking each of us up and down and us full aware that we could be the next passenger picked out of the crowd to have our luggage completely rummaged through and then interrogated as to why we are in here. We passed through without questions this time.
The hour drive from Tel Aviv was reflective for me. It has been 12 years since I have been here. The terrain, the buildings, the driving and the signs of a war torn past surrounded me. It looked much the same but only bigger. More developments, higher apartment buildings, new roads, Muslim prayer calls five times a day, falafels and horns honking.
This picture conveys all that we felt as we sat on our veranda and gazed out across the Kidron Valley. The sacred Dome of the Rock on the left and to the right the hustle and bustle of West Jerusalem. We feel lucky. We feel fortunate and blessed to be here. We are tired and need to rest.
First matter of business upon our arrival at the center...easiest access to the two bomb shelters.
Check.
I bet it was neat for you to return back after so many years--it's gotta be strange for you too. I am so glad you made it safely and hope you two will have some neat experiences together this go around. You don't have your little angels around you beckoning the Iraeli's over this time, "Ahhhh, look at their golden hair!" haha Sure love you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great journal entry. Be sure to keep this up for your own sake as well as for any of us who will feel closer to you - rather than far away. You also write very well, Jill, which I have always known. We are in touch daily with the unpredictable violence between the Hamas and the Israelites - just praying that none of it reaches you at any time.
ReplyDeleteI was just explaining to Courtney tonight how we live in one of the most perfect places in the world--she was concerned about volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc...I didn't feel the need to mention we don't have to worry about being shot or blown up either. I love Idaho and wish to experience all of those other sights, sounds, and smells there are, as long as I know my home is waiting for me here. Glad you are safe and sound. Loves
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