Israel Travel Diary
March 1997

What Happens When You Change Cultures?

The journey from New Orleans to Tel Aviv spreads out over a 32 hour period, which includes the loss of 8 hours in time zone changes and an actual travel and wait time of approximately 24 hours. It is a large investment of time and energy and should include significant diversionary tactics as reading, sleeping, reading and sleeping. Thrown in for good measure are a few short periods of eating. I would also recommend that you carry a few snacks and a small bottle of water in your hand luggage.

Stepping off of the plane in Tel Aviv for the first time is an open assault on your senses. The noises, the process, the emotions of being in the Holy Land and your tired body all rush together to overwhelm the soul. Generally, the arrival is an emotion that I just try to get through and think about later when I get back home.

We immediately gather up our stuff, get to our rental vehicle and dash downtown to Joppa before the sun goes down. A couple of trips we left Joppa to get back to and never did. Too much to see and do in such a short time. Experiencing Joppa, seeing the general location of Simon the Tanner's house and hearing the waves crash on the seawall where Jonah fled from the Lord is an appropriate beginning to a life changing trip. You will never again read Acts without a renewed experience of sight, sound and smell. Joppa!

JONAH
Jonah found a place to go.. a refuge big, a journey slow
He chose it on his own. "I'll show you!"
Determined, he determined his way.
Breathing, eating, sleeping, he went. Who will know?
A hand unseen corralled him. Hurting others with him.
Sin is such a desperate act. Careless pain it sheds.
Defined and destined, he gave in, punishment in the end.
Crying out for safety. Save me.
That unseen hand, again delayed, stayed the end.
Rebelliously, Jonah changed his way. You win.

Clay April 1997

Netanya calls and we journey up the coast from Joppa, thru Tel Aviv (traffic and fatigue make this a thrilling ride) about an hour to the Maxim Hotel in Netanya. It is very different from the Holiday Inn. The elevator ride to the 4th floor is a kick. Two with luggage in the elevator is an overload! Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and we arrived at 8:30 p.m. so we quickly get back down to our meal. It is a real experience to watch three travelers on their first trip to Israel have their first meal in Israel. The hummus was good. The eggplant was okay. The meal was fun.

We were told as we got off the plane at the airport the correct local time. We didn't question it, and obediently set all of our watches. When we picked up the rental car we noted the clock had the wrong time and I dutifully changed it. The waiter told us at dinner that breakfast wouldn't be ready until 7:30 a.m. We all agreed that at 7:15 a.m. we would be ready and come down together to try and hurry them at breakfast. We did and to our horror they had just shown up at 7:15 a.m. We were nice but persistent and finally about 8 a.m. we finished breakfast and began our first full days journey. We dashed everywhere all day and arrived at Beit Hava at 7 p.m. that night worn out. After we checked in we went around to the restaurant to eat supper. It wasn't ready. Odd. We also noticed that the clock on the wall had the wrong time. We went back to the front desk and asked the time. We discovered that we had been an hour fast in Israel for two days. The airline had given us the wrong time! I was very glad that I had given the kitchen staff at the Maxim Hotel a decent tip.


- A Day of Flowers