Taglit Birthright Winter 2012 - Day 1 & 2
Posted on 12/16/2012 @ 08:00 AM
On Sunday, December 16, 2012, 40 people between the ages of 22 to 26 from Miami’s Jewish Community, met at Newark Airport for the trip of a lifetime—a 10-day Taglit Birthright Trip through Israel. Here is a log of their experiences from a few of the participants.
Days 1-2
Arriving in Newark, I meet the trip staff encircled by a group of very excited looking people. A man wearing a name tag that spells "Moses" approaches me and immediately cracks a golf joke. Excellent! I've found the right place.
After a minimally intrusive but lengthy interview by the El Al staff, we board the Boeing 777. I personally enjoy the in-flight meal but that is another matter entirely.
Time does as time always does best, and the nine hour flight is finally over. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we are greeted by Israel Outdoors staff and get a basic layout of what is to happen for the next week and a half. I can't sit still anymore and neither can the rest of my peers. We're itching for some of that fresh Mediterranean air!
Now let's board the bus. Jet lagged and slit eyed I can't help but take in the scenery on the way to our quarters for the evening. Finally, a bed! Home sweet home, it's now time to reset my body clock.
Breakfast time! Check out these Israeli cocoa puffs. Today we go to the Golan Heights in the north to do some trailblazing. I make light work of the trail and get some intel on the land while the rest of the group catches up.
The day is full of beautiful sights and morally empowering history lessons. In the short time we have been on this planet, we only know the warm blanket of our Stars and Stripes. Looking on to the Syrian border will shake that.
On a more touristy note, the illustrious Sea of Galilee gleams in the background as our bus cruises to the hot springs. I’ll let you check that out for yourself.
After just one day, this trip is looking far up. I'm not green when it comes to traveling, so I don't say that lightly. Onward!
Christopher Kehoe
Comments
Leave a Comment