Jordan and Back

Petra is Petra. The light and the stones defy description. (that took care of that). Our guide and driver were delightful and told us what we wanted to know and got us back to the border in good time. Crossing from Israel to Jordan and then back from Jordan was easy but then the questions started. I might have mentioned that we got no questions when we entered Israel at Ben Gurion Airport, not one question. Got our luggage and got out of the airport in no time at all. But here at Eilat we were grilled and grilled and grilled (3 times). First at the border which was more or less routine. But since we were flying back north we were grilled again by two different people at the Eilat Airport. I can tell you that if I wasn't nervous before the interrogation I was afterwards. Suddenly everyone looked like a terrorist, even Bonnie. Both airport personnel acted as if they could not understand why we were coming into Israel. Either we were transporting in toxic substances or where naive dupes of the enemy. Their level of anxiety was contagious unfortunately and I really regretted not taking the bus north. You all remember in the 50's in NJ: skip the bother and skip the fuss, take the Public Service bus. (maybe you don't, so trust me). Well, that was what I was thinking.

Today was an uneventful day. We are both tired and fighting some germ or other. We walked over the Ben Yehuda to buy father-son yamulka's for Emmett and Aidan and walked back to your new hotel for a nap. We have moved from the Guesthouse in the Old City to the YMCA on King David. The YMCA is a fine hotel. Of course after the previous night in the Venus Hotel in Petra, anything would look good. We think the Y has been refurbished recently. Nice bathroom, comfortable bed and most importantly, really nice staff. And they charge for laundry by the kilo not the piece and that made me very happy.

At 3 this afternoon we walked the Stations of the Cross with the Franciscans. There were 1000s of people there and it was a fascinating experience. I tried to get some pictures but I could not get a good vantage point.

Afterward we went to the American Colony Hotel for dinner. It was delightful. We came too early for the full meal in the dining room but we had good meal in good surrounding in their "cafe." American Colony Hotel History

Raining again like last week and even colder.

Tomorrow we are off to the territories, Bethlehem and Jericho with a Palestinian guide. Might even get a refugee camp in if it doesn't rain too hard. For a good time, call Judy.