After probably a year of planning, we’ve finally reached Israel and launch our five-week holiday. (Probably shouldn’t use the word ‘launch’ when talking about Israel…)

Our flight from Perth left at the exceptionally reasonable time of 2pm. This gave us time to get the house ready, talk to Glen’s mum, say goodbye to Smudge (who was hiding under the bed) and get to the airport with minimal stress.

We had plenty of time in the lounge after getting through a very short customs and security line. I got some writing done while we waited, then it was time to fly to Singapore. The flight was easy (though there was probably some turbulence which would have upset Glen). I was reading Salvation Creek, a book I was thoroughly sick of by the time I got to the end.

We traipsed back and forward through the terminals to find a non-existent lounge then finally sat down, had some food and went for a shower. There’s nothing more wonderful than having a shower in between flights.

Trouble in Turkey

Next up was a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul. We got to lie flat. Service was excellent. When we landed I was anxiously looking at the time. We had an hour to get from one plane, pick up a boarding pass and then find the next flight to Israel. We weren’t going to make it. We had to take a bus, then push through the hoard and find a check-in counter.

They couldn’t help us. Next counter said we couldn’t get on the flight so we had to enter Turkey. Then went upstairs to another desk. They couldn’t help us. Another counter spoke to someone on the phone then told us to go somewhere else. My patience, short most of the time, had evaporated by then and was on the edge. Thankfully they then said we had been automatically put on the next flight and miraculously my luggage (only I had brought a checked bag) was put in the correct flight.

The upshot was that we would be on the same flight as Julian and Simon who were arriving in a few hours.

Off to the lounge we went, wrestled with wifi to notify the tour company we were going to be late, had a shower and sat and waited, Julian and Simon arrived, we hung out with them, and then it was time to fly off to Israel. A short hop later and we were in Israel.

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From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

We had been warned that Israeli immigration was a nightmare but luckily for us we got into a very short line and were asked a total of four questions and we were through and meeting the tour operator. Our luggage arrived and we waited for Julian and Simon to come through and then we were in the car and hurtling through the streets to Jerusalem.

Damn it was frightening, especially as the driver had some sort of flight deck setup with three phones—hands-free but still touching all the screens and having multiple conversations.

We arrived at Mamilla Hotel—alive—and checked in to this beautiful hotel. Met some of the boys and then Glen and I had a nap. Later I went to the gym then it was time to meet the tour group and go for dinner.

There are about 20 of us on the group, most of them older than us, but friendly. We walked through the streets to a restaurant called Chakra. There are seven of us who are already friends so we occupied a table of eight. We need to make sure we don’t stay to much in our clique.

Food was amazing and plentiful. Gorged ourselves then walked home. There was entertainment in the hotel bar but we claimed tiredness and went to bed. I was unconscious by 11:30. Heaven.