Arrived!

Yesterday we arrived in the Holy Land!  What an amazing and long flight.  I watched movies on the plane and hardly slept at all...good times but now I am here!

When we arrived in Israel, we found our luggae and headed out to meet our tour bus.  As expected, there was a delay getting going.  Once on the bus, Bob Marley was playing, as is apparently required on every bus tour in Israel.  We went to visit the Golani Brigade museum and army base, the first and oldest brigade in the IDF which was formed before the state of Israel.  Quite a visit.

After that, we headed to our first stay in Tal Hai, just north of Kiryat Shmona in the north.  We are staying at a hostel until Sunday morning, and quite unexpectedly they do9 not have internet.  In the hostel there was what seemed a grade 8 event of some kind, as there were kids running around and the had a Disco Disco party there last night.  After the plane ride, we were all exhausted by 9:30 and went to sleep.  Alas, the young whipper snappers were making noise at bedtime.  I was tired enought ot fall asleep though.

Today we came to visit Safed, the home of Kabbalah. It is an amazing city with lots of history to see and look at and hear about.  We heard many iunteresting stories and I will have to post about them after Shabbat, as I am running out of time.  It is also the home of Safed candles.  In preparation for Shabbat, everything here is closing in about 5 minutes, which is the time I am supposed to meet the group by the bus.  We are going back to our hostel to prepare for Shabbat, and will have a relaxing evening.  First I need to find the beer store.

We have a great group.  There are 18 of us from Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg.  Everyone is getting along and having a great time. Some are on their first trip to Israel, and some are not.  The last time I was here was ten years ago when I was travelling with Matt, Justin and Kayla.  What a trip!  I am sop happy to be back though, despite the rain...yes it is raining here.  Not as good for tourists, but great for Israel.

I have eaten Shwarma already, and am looking forward to doing so repeatedly over the next 3 weeks. 

I most likely wont have another post until Sunday.  Shabbat Shalom and Go Canucks Go!  Glad to see the first 'W'!!

Sincerely,

Elliot S. Weinstein