Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
First Stop NYC
Dear Friends,
It seemed against all odds but Friday morning Leroy picked us up and we headed for the Phoenix Airport. Thursday Stu got an all clear from his eye doctor, we had been holding our breath hoping for the okay. Stu will have more surgery on his eye when we return in April, and of course if necessary we'll be in Israel with some of the best doctors in the world.
The flight to NY was pretty uneventful. We had a lay over in Chicago--it was cold, even at the airport, but the smells of Chicago eateries were tantalizing. We could have stopped the trip there and eaten our way through the airport. Stu's preference would have been Miller's Pub for barbecued spare ribs. I could have filled up at the Hot Dog Stop for 20 different kinds of dogs, Kosher style, Italian, Polish, Chili, and anything you could care to layer on a dog. We were good, just took a lot of deep breaths and strolled past. We satisfied ourselves with Southwest peanuts.
Two hours later we replaned and headed for Central Islip where we were greeted by cold, rainy weather, and a very warm hearted cousin Audrey. Family is great. This is my cousin, we grew up together, spent lots of time horsing around, playing cards, just being cousins. She lives out on the island in Lindenhurst. She's a perfect NY host and had already prepared chicken soup with matzo balls, roast chicken, NY potato salad, and fresh challah. What else could we want. Between having our last meal with wonderful Trilogy friends, Norman and Harriet, and joining Audrey for Shabbat dinner, we feel loved and pampered and are already missing all of you.
Tomorrow we're seeing Aunt Roz and Uncle Larry. Life is so good.
Adrienne and Stu
It seemed against all odds but Friday morning Leroy picked us up and we headed for the Phoenix Airport. Thursday Stu got an all clear from his eye doctor, we had been holding our breath hoping for the okay. Stu will have more surgery on his eye when we return in April, and of course if necessary we'll be in Israel with some of the best doctors in the world.
The flight to NY was pretty uneventful. We had a lay over in Chicago--it was cold, even at the airport, but the smells of Chicago eateries were tantalizing. We could have stopped the trip there and eaten our way through the airport. Stu's preference would have been Miller's Pub for barbecued spare ribs. I could have filled up at the Hot Dog Stop for 20 different kinds of dogs, Kosher style, Italian, Polish, Chili, and anything you could care to layer on a dog. We were good, just took a lot of deep breaths and strolled past. We satisfied ourselves with Southwest peanuts.
Two hours later we replaned and headed for Central Islip where we were greeted by cold, rainy weather, and a very warm hearted cousin Audrey. Family is great. This is my cousin, we grew up together, spent lots of time horsing around, playing cards, just being cousins. She lives out on the island in Lindenhurst. She's a perfect NY host and had already prepared chicken soup with matzo balls, roast chicken, NY potato salad, and fresh challah. What else could we want. Between having our last meal with wonderful Trilogy friends, Norman and Harriet, and joining Audrey for Shabbat dinner, we feel loved and pampered and are already missing all of you.
Tomorrow we're seeing Aunt Roz and Uncle Larry. Life is so good.
Adrienne and Stu
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Count down 38 hours
Dear Friends,
I'm still working on getting comfortable with the posting, reading the comments, and trying to upload photos. I'm hoping to have it all together in time for the trip.
Today, Wednesday, in preparation for our departure on Friday morning, Stu and I took a quick trip to Algadones to get Stu new eyeglasses with the new prescription. Algadones was filled with winter snow birds from all over. Lots of Canadians, Washingtonians, others from Minnesota, Michigan, and even northern California. There was lots of time to get to know other visitors while we all waited for 2 hours on line to pass through the border back to the states. We thought about waiting until nightfall and then sneaking across--heard that's faster and easier--but we decided to go during day light so Stu could test out his new sun glasses.
Haven't done a single thing in preparation for the trip so tomorrow is the errand and packing day.
More news to follow, that will be much more interesting or I won't post it.
Adrienne
I'm still working on getting comfortable with the posting, reading the comments, and trying to upload photos. I'm hoping to have it all together in time for the trip.
Today, Wednesday, in preparation for our departure on Friday morning, Stu and I took a quick trip to Algadones to get Stu new eyeglasses with the new prescription. Algadones was filled with winter snow birds from all over. Lots of Canadians, Washingtonians, others from Minnesota, Michigan, and even northern California. There was lots of time to get to know other visitors while we all waited for 2 hours on line to pass through the border back to the states. We thought about waiting until nightfall and then sneaking across--heard that's faster and easier--but we decided to go during day light so Stu could test out his new sun glasses.
Haven't done a single thing in preparation for the trip so tomorrow is the errand and packing day.
More news to follow, that will be much more interesting or I won't post it.
Adrienne
Friday, February 20, 2009
Preparing for Israel
Dear Friends and Family,
Oh my gosh, I have a blog! I feel like I have just leaped into the 21st century and am a bit nervous that I'm out there in web-world. The purpose of this blog is to journal our trip to Israel and to help us to keep in touch with family and friends more easily.
Stu and I began planning this trip in early 2008. We met with friends, discovered many had already been to Israel, and found another couple who wanted to join us--Susan and Joel Brosse, our neighbors here at Trilogy, in Phoenix, Arizona (actually--in Peoria, Arizona northwest of Phoenix). Susan is a great web explorer and she did all of the leg work in finding us a tour group. Here's how the trip will shape out for Stu and I.
We leave Phoenix on Friday, February 27th, heading for New York. Cousin Audrey is meeting us at the airport, we'll spend the night at her house in Coram Long Island. Saturday we're off together to visit Uncle Larry, Aunt Roz, and whichever other cousins are available for our one day trip. From Uncle Larry's place we'll head for JFK airport where we'll most likely wait around for a while until our 11 PM flight leaves on El Al for Israel.
Sunday, March 1st, we'll arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (I'm so excited I can't believe it is finally happening.). We've rented a car, although we've been forewarned about the crazy Israeli drivers--each one I'm told owns the road. We'll drive 2 1/2 hours north to Tiberius where we have swapped for a time share. We'll spend a week in the north visiting Tiberius at length, the Golan (heart of Israel's wine country), and Haifa Univesity.
Following Tiberius and points north, we head to Tel Aviv where we have rented a small apartment on the beach for three days. We haven't planned our whole itinerary so we'll share it with you as it unfolds.
We'll meet the tour group on March 11th, and our friends Joel and Susan, and spend the next 15 days letting someone else lead us around.
When the group leaves on March 25th, we're going to Jerusalem where we'll stay for another 8 days. We've rented a studio apartment in the home of a potter. We're looking forward to watching her work, to spending a lot of time in and around Jerusalem catching anything we might have missed with the tour.
We'll leave Israel on April 1st, around ll PM and arrive in New York the same day, I think. Again we'll spend time with our family, mostly on the island, and then return home April 7th just in time to prepare Passover dinner.
We can hardly believe the time is here, and already anticipate when it will be behind us--boo hoo.
I haven't packed, or even thought about the clothes to bring. We always figure what we missed we can do without or buy along the way. As long as we have jeans, comfortable shoes, and a sweater, we can do anything. Shabbat clothes are a must and we do have them on the list.
We hope that you pop in as often as you want. We'll attempt to post pictures and journal--if I can figure out how to do that.
Our Israeli phone number is 011972528891810. Calling from the states is no charge. Calling back is a bit costly, but not prohibitive. We'll plan to stay in touch via e-mail (Israel is very connected and we are traveling with a lap top). The phones are for emergencies and for getting around in country.
Hope that you are all well, that you check in, and that I can manage to keep the blog going and keep it interesting.
Shalom,
Adrienne and Stu
Oh my gosh, I have a blog! I feel like I have just leaped into the 21st century and am a bit nervous that I'm out there in web-world. The purpose of this blog is to journal our trip to Israel and to help us to keep in touch with family and friends more easily.
Stu and I began planning this trip in early 2008. We met with friends, discovered many had already been to Israel, and found another couple who wanted to join us--Susan and Joel Brosse, our neighbors here at Trilogy, in Phoenix, Arizona (actually--in Peoria, Arizona northwest of Phoenix). Susan is a great web explorer and she did all of the leg work in finding us a tour group. Here's how the trip will shape out for Stu and I.
We leave Phoenix on Friday, February 27th, heading for New York. Cousin Audrey is meeting us at the airport, we'll spend the night at her house in Coram Long Island. Saturday we're off together to visit Uncle Larry, Aunt Roz, and whichever other cousins are available for our one day trip. From Uncle Larry's place we'll head for JFK airport where we'll most likely wait around for a while until our 11 PM flight leaves on El Al for Israel.
Sunday, March 1st, we'll arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (I'm so excited I can't believe it is finally happening.). We've rented a car, although we've been forewarned about the crazy Israeli drivers--each one I'm told owns the road. We'll drive 2 1/2 hours north to Tiberius where we have swapped for a time share. We'll spend a week in the north visiting Tiberius at length, the Golan (heart of Israel's wine country), and Haifa Univesity.
Following Tiberius and points north, we head to Tel Aviv where we have rented a small apartment on the beach for three days. We haven't planned our whole itinerary so we'll share it with you as it unfolds.
We'll meet the tour group on March 11th, and our friends Joel and Susan, and spend the next 15 days letting someone else lead us around.
When the group leaves on March 25th, we're going to Jerusalem where we'll stay for another 8 days. We've rented a studio apartment in the home of a potter. We're looking forward to watching her work, to spending a lot of time in and around Jerusalem catching anything we might have missed with the tour.
We'll leave Israel on April 1st, around ll PM and arrive in New York the same day, I think. Again we'll spend time with our family, mostly on the island, and then return home April 7th just in time to prepare Passover dinner.
We can hardly believe the time is here, and already anticipate when it will be behind us--boo hoo.
I haven't packed, or even thought about the clothes to bring. We always figure what we missed we can do without or buy along the way. As long as we have jeans, comfortable shoes, and a sweater, we can do anything. Shabbat clothes are a must and we do have them on the list.
We hope that you pop in as often as you want. We'll attempt to post pictures and journal--if I can figure out how to do that.
Our Israeli phone number is 011972528891810. Calling from the states is no charge. Calling back is a bit costly, but not prohibitive. We'll plan to stay in touch via e-mail (Israel is very connected and we are traveling with a lap top). The phones are for emergencies and for getting around in country.
Hope that you are all well, that you check in, and that I can manage to keep the blog going and keep it interesting.
Shalom,
Adrienne and Stu
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