We are home from a most AMAZING trip to Israel. Wednesday, August 9 we departed from the Denver airport on a ten hour flight to Munich on Lufthansa. Thanks to the NBA we flew business class. Don was part of the coaching staff for the NBA Basketball Without Borders Europe group. We arrived in Munich at 10:10 am and departed to Tel Aviv at 12:05. After 3 1/2 hours we arrived in Tel Aviv and were met by an airport official who took us through security. An NBA security person met us then and we taxied to the Ritz Carlton. After a quick check in and a shower we walked the Mediterranean wharf area for dinner and to meet up with the NBA staff. Israel was nine hours ahead of our mountain time. Sitting through a 8:00 dinner was difficult. Finally we walked back to the hotel around 10:00 and promptly went to bed.
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| Business Class! |
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| 20+ hours later we arrived in Israel |
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| The Ritz-Carlton |
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| The view of the Mediterranean from our room |
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| The boats right out the door of the hotel |
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| Relaxing one evening on the Mediterranean |
Quick facts about Israel
capital - Jerusalem
currentcy - New Israeli Shekel
population - 8.4 million
Religions - 75 % Jewish, 16% Muslim, 2% Christian, 7% other
languages - Hebrew and Arabic
Jerusalem
Friday, August 11, before BWB begins Don and I and a group of others were bused from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for a 1/2 day tour. Sunday, August 13 I got to go back to Jerusalem with other wives as part of the "quest program" planned by the NBA. Both days our tour guide was Issy.
Jerusalem is Israel's capital and largest city with 800,000 people. It has served as the spiritiual center of the Jewish people for more than 3000 years. In the center of modern Jerusalem surrounded by stone walls sits the Old City and many of the world's oldest and most important sites.
Friday we started the tour on the Mount of Olives. It is one of the most dramatic views of Jerusalem. From Mt Olives we could look down into the Old City and the Jewish cemetery. The oldest Jewish cemetery in the world, it covers the entire western and much of the southern slope of the Mt of Olives. The Garden of Gethsemane is nearby.
We moved on to the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the most important sites for Christians. It is also known as the church of the Resurrection. Just past the church's massive outdoor courtyard we entered a chapel that includes a Greek Orthodox crufication altar where Jesus is said to be been crucified. A large stone to the left is the place where according to tradition, the body of Jesus was prepared for burial. In the rotunda inside a small inner chamber was a marble encased tomb said to be the place where Jesus was buried. A massive vaulted dome rises about the tomb now.
Walking away from the church took us through Souq Khan al-Zeit, stall of Israel markets from spices, scaves, clothing, jewelry and more.
The Dome of the Rock is eaily recognized from Mt. Olives and many points in Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock is built over the rock where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son.
We walked to the Western Wall. Named for its position as the outer western wall of the destroyed Second Temple's courtyard. The Western Wall is also called the Wailing Wall. The Wall is considered particularly significant to Jews because it is the last remaining piece of the great temple. The imposing wall is the destination for the faithful who come to pray before it. Space to pray is divided for men on the left and women on the right and visitors are permitted to leave small pieces of paper with prayers in the crevices of the wall.
Shabbat - Friday evening
The NBA staff and coaches were invited to attend Shabbat at the King David Hotel on Friday evening with a full dinner.
The Jewish Shabbat (Sabbath) starts on Friday at sundown and ends on Saturday night when it is fully dark. Depending on how religious someone is, Shabbat can involve restrictions on using motorized transport, electricity and working. In Israel, Shabbat is the weekend for everyone.
The Shabbat ceremony was explained to our dinner crown and some of the ceremony was sung. The dinner was fabulous: First course - assortment of salads and traditional appetizers. Then we choose salmon. Soup course - We choose chicken consomme with matzo balls. Main course - choices were veal chope, cordon bleu chicken, or salmon. Dessert - chocolate mousse or apple pie. What a fabulous evening.
Tel Aviv
A day to visit the Yaffo and Neve Tzeddek neighborhoods of Tel Aviv.
The port city of Jaffa (Yafo) is believed to be one of the most ancient cities in the world. Old Jaffa is contained largely near the port on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean. We started at Clock Tower Square. Small winding street led us up the hill and overlooking the sea. Jonah in the Bible took off from the Jaffa port.
We had lunch at Branja, Sarona Market. Sarona was designed to be the cultural and culinary center of Tel Aviv.
Caesarea - Guest program tour
Caesarea is a town on Israel's Mediterranean coast. It is known for Caesarea National Park which includes a large Roman amphitheater and the historic port. On the site is an archaeological park with pillars and sculptures, and the remains of a hippodrome with frescoes and stone seating. The ruins of the seafront palace include the remains of a mosaic floor.
Named for Augustus Caesar, who gave the city to King Herod. Caesarea was built by Herod to include venues for entertainment, bath houses and houses of worship.
Masada and Dead Sea - Guest program tour
A full day tour was planned to go to Masada and the Dead Sea. We left the hotel by 8:30 and didn't return until 6:00. It was over a two hour bus ride to get there, but oh, so worth it!
Masada is an ancient fortress in southern Israel's Judean Desert. Its on a massive plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. A cable car (or a long, winding path) climb up to the fortifications, built around 30 BC. Among the ruins are King Herod's Palace, which sprawls over three rock terraces and a Roman-style bath house.
A most dramatic vista in the region is from atop this hilltop fortress of Herod the Great that served as a last stand for a band of rebel Jews facing off against the Roman army.
We were bused to the Herod's Hotel for a day stay access to the Dead Sea and lunch. The lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea draws tourist to indulge in its rich mud. The high salinity of the waters of the Dead Sea, in which nothings lives, makes it possible to easily float on the water (and difficult to get upright again!) Our group of ladies thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
Dinners
Friday - Shabbat at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem
Saturday - Pontifical Institute, Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. It currently belongs to the Vatican. It was built by the French Assumptionist Fathers from 1884-1904. The rooftop dinner view was fabulous, looking over Jerusalem's Old City
Sunday - Dinner at Claro in Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Lunch in Jerusalem
Don at BWB Camp
Return Trip to USA
We returned to the USA on Thursday, August 17 on a 11:50 am Air Canada flight to Toronto. 11 1/2 hours later we landed in Toronto for a 8:45 pm flight to Las Vegas. About an hour delay landed us in Vegas about midnight. Don started bright and early the next morning for a USAB's coaching Academy.
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