Back from Israel

Lydia · Post by **Lydia** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:05 am

Hi all,

Just got back from a week in Israel. I had my laptop with me, but was so busy I barely had time to check email. Now caught up on reading the mail here.

It was a fantastic experience, seeing the cradle of civilization "in your face". Unfortunately, Lydia had to stay behind (except for a pretty blue nightie) - baggage problems. However, we (with my SO, Paula) were so busy, I hardly thought about CD. However, I knew that Lydia would be back as soon as I returned home.

Aside from the historical features, I did meet several Israelis of various varieties and political persuasions - thanks to an excellent personal guide. I learned much of the social conditions and problems in this unusual country, and many of my preconceived notions were swept away. Some of my touring events were physically taxing (for this old geezer). So much so that at one point, struggling and limping though a narrow tunnel under the famous Western Wall, I uttered:' Why am I suffering so? I'm not even Jewish!"

I feel strongly that without actually seeing the country and talking with the varieties of inhabitants, one cannot have even a glimmering of the human problems. My short visit gave me a shred of information and left me feeling the frustration of encountering a plethora of problems with no evident solutions. Yet, with all that, it is a giant of a country built upon a small sliver of real estate.

Good to be back home and back among friends here,

Hugs - lehitraot (= see you again)

Lydia

Post by **DonnaT** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:13 am

Welcome back Lydia.

SilverLady(SO) · Post by **SilverLady(SO)** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:48 am

Welcome home, Lydia! I'm glad Paula and yourself had a wonderful and informative vacation . . . an experience neither of you will ever forget!

((Hugs))

- SL

Carol Ann · Post by **Carol Ann** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:51 am

Welcome home Lydia, missed you

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:05 am

Welcome back, Lydia. I would like to see Israel in person, myself. One of my ex-girlfriends was in the army there, as she had dual citizenship. She tried to tell me what it was like, but that doesn't do much. It is hard to imagine thousands of years of history in the buildings--in CA, an old building is maybe one hundred years standing.

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:20 pm

I think it was the Discovery Channel that recently ran a story about the Crusades and how the Muslims and "Christians" slaughtered each other for hundreds of years over that place. Absolutely amazing and still it continues = same song different verse.

Glad you are back and had a good time;

Love,

Virginia

Post by **KimberlyS** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 10:20 pm

Welcome back. Glad you both had a good and safe trip.

kim

CJ · Post by CJ » Sun Aug 16, 2009 3:13 am

Good to have you back, Lydia.

Travel advisory boards can sometimes sound faintly alarmist when it comes to the Near East.

The country's history seems intertwined with threads both religious and political. I remember that, a few years back, a scheduled appearance here by Benyamin Netanyahu at Concordia University's downtown campus caused a riot (face scarves, smashed windows, riot squads and all). Netanyahu's conference was cancelled. But perhaps this says more about where lie the sympathies of most Quebecois (who tend to identify with "oppressed" peoples) than it does about Israel's domestic and foreign policy decisions.

Anyway, just glad you and Paula are back on home turf, safe and sound. Well, safe, at the very least.

Love,
CJ

Stephanie H · Post by **Stephanie H** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:07 pm

And to think about it,,, all the locations the you read in the bible are just a "short" walk in the neighbor hood.

DeniseL · Post by **DeniseL** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:43 pm

Welcome home Lydia so glad that you and Paula had a great time

Denise