We thought about the crusaders and pilgrims of years past. We had a "grueling" 3 hour flight and 1 hour bus ride. They had weeks of travel on foot. We complain about jet lag. They went hungry. We complained about rain holding up the flight, while we sat in the warmth, drank the beverage provided us, and watched TV. They walked in it. Or they didn't get there. Perspective is everything...
The Alitalia flights from OHare to Rome to Tel Aviv were interesting. Wine and beer gratis, as opposed to the usual "beer, wine, and cocktails are available for $5. please have exact change" rhetoric on our domestic flights that gets lost after "you may now use your laptop computers and other electronic devices." The food was (with caveat that it is yet still an airline) good. And seeing the sun come up over the Atlantic was memorable... especially since it happened around midnight EDT.
The flights also featured riveting movies. The teen drama that finished the series to Rome was a riveting elucidation of the trauma a young woman experiences during her first year of college while joining a sorority. Exactly the kind of thing that speaks to a seminarian's experience...The airport in Tel Aviv is new, and it shows. They had a model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period by the money exchange counter. 
It reminded me of the model of the Parthenon in the Royal Ontario Museum. Discussion was had regarding which way was north - evidence of travel fatigue.
It reminded me of the model of the Parthenon in the Royal Ontario Museum. Discussion was had regarding which way was north - evidence of travel fatigue.But the bottom line: We are in Jerusalem. Safe. With the exception of a few luggage issues and a slight delay at DTW, all went according to plan. Thanks be to God.
We look forward to the Old City tomorrow...
