Tired in Tel Aviv

We left the Jackson airport at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning and arrived in Houston at 10:25 a.m.  We had an hour-and-a-half layover, flew back across Jackson, and arrived in Newark, NJ at 4:30 p.m. (eastern time).  After a 6-1/2 hour layover, we were joined in Newark by Ken & Billie Sheppard, Gary Purdy, and Eddie & Wesley Brown.

We departed Newark at 10:50 p.m. and after an overnight flight arrived, somewhat weathered and worn, in Tel Aviv at 4:15 p.m. (Israeli time).  All our luggage arrived safely, and we were surprised to find that the Tel Aviv airport is only 3 or 4 years old and is very nice and modern.

We were met at the airport by our guides, Walter Zanger and Nathan Shapiro.  Walter was the guide when Billy went to Israel with Ken Sheppard in 1979.  Also joining us at the Tel Aviv airport were our fellow travelers, Robert & Karen Bluethman from Austin, and Charles Fortune, from Dallas.

Pictured is our group (minus Bart and Margie Huemmer who met us at the hotel).  Pictured are Wesley Brown, Eddie Brown, Ron Scarbrough, Betty Scarbrough, Mary Beard, Sue Brooks, Wyeth Luter, Bill Luter, Walter Zanger, Robert Bluethman, Billie Sheppard, Karen Bluethman, Ken Sheppard, Charles Fortune, and Gary Purdy.

Also shown is Bill Luter, Walter & Paula Zanger, and Ken Sheppard.

Our hotel, Dan Panorama, is only 5 miles from the airport, but it took us almost 40 minutes to get there because of the traffic.  Traffic in Tel Aviv is perpetually rush hour -- constant bumper-to-bumper.  The hotel is very nice and we all enjoyed an Israeli buffet dinner.

It is now 10:30 p.m. and we are hoping for a good night's sleep so we will be rested for our day of touring.

Pictured below is our guide, Nathan Shapiro, and our driver, Ami Shachar.