Just wanted to do one Israel email since the wifi seems to be working.  Lots more will follow along with a few more from Cyprus.  Off tomorrow for Masada and Jerusalem.

Ru

Israel # 1

So my first thoughts when we were walking around the mall at the marina……nobody here looks Jewish! Oiy! Such a variety of people are the Israelis.

Linda and Charmaine on their first passage…both stood watch and were pros by the end of the passage.

It was a smooth, easy passage with four sets of eyes and hands to make everything easier. And since they are birders, we even had a visit from several small birds making their migration. One was so tired it let Randal pick it up. When it had rested it flew off to continue its journey.

View from our door: the marina mall, shopping complexes and condo high rises.

Walking the breakwater that surrounds the marina complex.

WE are just at the dock near the marina office with the curved roof, but we will move in a few days to our permanent spot. The Israeli Navy has a boat just at the marina entrance where you are first stopped and boarded and searched by marine customs and immigration officials but everyone is professional, friendly and very nice.

In case you are lost.

DoraMac is a curiosity at the marina for old and young….

I went out to say hello and these young Palestinians spoke fluent “American English” so we talked for a while about school and learning languages. Arabic and Turkish share words so I told them what I knew which was lots of fun. They are seniors in high school who want to go on to university, but first travel. I hope you get to meet some of them. I hope we see them again when they come to the beaches here to swim. Come visit guys if you come back!

The best part of travel is meeting people and these were young men it was a pleasure to meet.