Judy here-
Shalom!
Yesterday (the beginning of Sabbath) everyone greeted each other with "Shabbot Shalom". But that is only used on the Sabbath or Shabbot. The rest of the week it's Shalom!
Weather - It's been in the low 60s here during the day. Sometimes a breeze comes through and chills things abit. If you're on a roof-top, it can get down right chilly! Roof-top you say? Yes, they use every available space, and then some :) Steps up and steps down. Rounded corners and arches. Stones walks - big, flat stones and smaller, cut stones. Rock used everywhere. Very little dirt in the old city (no room for it!).
Food. Let's just say we are not starving :) I'm so glad Naim introduced us to the local food and taught us what to look for. God has led us to the most awesome, out of the way, places that are clean and downright yummy. Tonight we ate Austrian food here at the Guest House because the restaurant we ate at last night closed before we got there. We had a bowl of goulash and fresh bread for dinner. For dessert we had applestruddle, with mounds of whipped cream. All of it was excellant and very filling. We passed an interesting place today. You've heard of the Hard Rock Cafes. Well, this was the Holy Rock Cafe :) Really cute, huh? We saw a t-shirt that I wanted Bruce to buy that said "Guns and Moses"! Then another one "Don't worry America, Israel's got you covered". They do have a sense of humor here.
Following our experience so far "God Provides", we have been amazed at what God has blessed us with here in Jerusalem. My #1 desire for this part of the trip was to be at the Wailing wall at the beginning of Shabbot. Last night I was blessed with this incredible opportunity. It is said that God is everywhere but his heart is at the Wall and at the beginning of Shabbot it is especially strongly felt. We have experience His presence in a very special way. I can't find the words.... While waiting for Bruce (men and women have different areas in which to pray and worship) I began talking with another American gentleman. He was very nice and very much a "believer". After sharing our faith for a bit, Bruce came up to us and this man introduced himself to Bruce as a Catholic priest from Minn.! We have met some of the most marvelous people here. God's love doesn't know church boundaries. Jerusalem is the center of three religions - Christian, Muslim and Judaism. Areas overlap. But most people do their best to get along and co-exist. And it doesn't hurt that there's a military presence on almost every corner! Today we had no specific plans. Yesterday we did a quick and dirty (but awesome) tour of the old city. It gave us a great basis to build on for the next 4 days. Tomorrow (Sunday) we're doing a tour that will take us to the Holy places including the Temple Mount. Today we were just going to walk around. We are staying in a Guest House ON the Via Dolorosa. So we walked out the front gate, said goodmorning to the two Israeli Soldiers (packin' heat! :) who were watching the street and the people going by (ever vigilant!) and keeping the peace, turned left and started walking up the Via Dolorosa towards the first station of the cross where Jesus was tried before Pontious Pilot and the second station where he was whipped and beaten. Bruce started questioning a doorway and wondering if that was what we were looking for. The couple next to us said, No. What we were looking for was up the street farther and to be sure to... when we got there. Well, we started talking to them and before you know it, we were sounding like old friends. Terry and Tina (both ex-cops) work with security in different countries all over the world. Jerusalem is their favorite place to be. As it happens, they are both believers as well! As Bruce said earlier, that led to us being toured around the city by a gentleman named Mike. Thirty seconds earlier or thirty seconds later we would have missed out on this blessing. God is so good! He has prepared the way before us so many times on this trip I've stopped counting and just enjoy it! Besides this tour, Mike's cousin is going to take us on a tour of the important sites outside the old city walls on Monday! Twice blessed!
I hope I'm not boring you. Believe it or not, this is only a small part of today. It's impossible to remember as I sit here, much less write down everything that we've experienced. The church bells chiming, the dove flying over us, the street venders pestering us, the 2,000 year old rocks that we walk on, the rooster crowing to wake us at dawn, the fresh leaves in our afternoon tea, the mounds of fresh fruit in the merchant stalls, the Moslim call to prayer 5 times a day, the sunset colors on the whispy clouds overhead... Need I say more?
I tell Bruce that sometimes my heart is so full that it has to leak out my eyes! We hope you are all doing well and that you are as thankful for life as we are. God bless you and we'll be back on here tomorrow!

Jerusalem Day 3

Judy has taken 3,210 photos so far. An Arab Christian who has run a photo shop for 18 years in a tiny place not more than 10X12 put them on a DVD today just in case. Today we met 2 folks from Virginia out walking - they called their friend Mike - the fellow who guided Presidents Clinton and Carter, and Condi Rice around the old city. Great guy - he walked us around for an hour starting at Pilat's Palace, explained things you don't hear in tours, got us in to places because he was either related to, or friends with them, and then bought us tea. That's all - no charge. Just a nice guy. Mike took us places that tours don't go - we touched the hill at Calvary today - Golgotha - where the Romans crucified Jesus. There is a red stain on the rock, and a crack running from top to bottom. Bruce became friends with a Friar named Gomidass Sherbetdjian from the Armenian Church. He will visit Alaska one day.
Muslim Prayers are beginning - industrial speakers from the minarets.

Jerusalem, Day 2

We are in Jerusalem today thru Tuesday - last night we were terrorized - so many varying nationalities, customs, languages buzzing around and such history in such a small place, but today we spent the day walking with a guide through the old city, and now feel right at home. Jerusalem is overwhelming at first, but then you start peeling the layers away, spending time at the important sites, and learning why Jesus and Mohammed came here, and walking where they walked. We spent time in the 4 Jewish, Armenian, Muslim and Christian Quarters learning, asking questions, and marvelling.
Judy and I spent the evening (Jewish Sabbath) at the Wailing Wall with Israeli soldiers back from Gaza, young people dancing and singing in circles, and thousands of other worshippers. I can't describe it. God was there!
We investigated a tiny back alley in the Muslim Quarter after dark and found an Arab restaurant in a 3000 year old alcove and had one of the best meals of the trip.
Palestinian shops are everywhere, and can be overwhelming until you learn the game, then it's fun! I found a bedouin dagger; Judy found jewels, a 2000 year old Widow's Mite, a beautiful arabic shawl to wear for Sabbath, and olive wood carvings - one Arab shop-keeper chased us, reducing his prices until we stopped walking. Very few tourists - What a hoot!
Judy's exhausted - my head is spinning and it's 10:30 at night..
Today people nodded and said "Shabbat Shalom" as they passed. Shabbat begins at sundown Friday, and is observed until sundown Saturday.
Shalom! (Peace!)
Bruce

Jerusalem!

ENTERING JERUSALEM IS HUMBLING. Naim drove us here, arriving at sunset, we watched the sun go down from the Mount of Olives, drove in the Lion's Gate (exactly 1-car wide), and found our 160-year-old Guest House in the Muslim Quarter. It is Austrian - a Christian Guest House protected by high walls, gates, and 3 staircases that open into a gorgeous garden in front of the building's entrance.
Wow.
Leaving Galilee at 9 this morning, driving south past Tel Aviv to the current center of scientifc research and high-tech applications in Israel you reach Rehovot, a sparkling new city of homes, buildings, shops, eateries, and one of the top universities in the world for post graduate research, set among orange groves, green fields and the Mediterranean sea. It rivals any modern city I've seen.
On a hilltop in the groves at the edge of town is a small kibbutz - a very special kibbutz.
Great Britain held the country in an iron grip in 1948 - if you were caught with a firearm you were sent to prison for life. Carry ammunition and it could mean a firing squad. Hard rules for a country facing the 7 heavily armed Arab Armies waiting to drive the new country into the sea immediately after the UN gave it independence. The Haganah - meaning "Defense" - smuggled in captured Nazi firearms. Imagine the people who tried to exterminate them, now being responsible for their salvation. They made sten-guns in their basements, but they only had a handful of ammo for each gun. Realizing they had no suppliers, they smuggled in machinery, and in 21 days dug an underground factory, covered it, and established a laundry and children's center on the surface - under the noses of the British. The troops began bringing their laundry for the Israelis to do, which allowed the large noisy washer covering the stairway to work all day to cover the noise of the machinery underground. Move the washer, and it exposed a long staircase down into the factory. Brass for cases was imported as lipstick cases. Sunlamps were set up so workers wouldn't loose their healthy glow. Nobody knew it was there - even the other Kibbutzim living and working above it - for 3 years. When Israeli became a nation, they moved the equipment to Tel Aviv and closed the doors. 45 people gave up 3 years of their lives to produce ammunition that had to be perfect - their nation would perish without it.
Today we were invited to visit the site, which was found a few years ago. Israeli determined to save its history. Everything is still there, including the stories of pioneers still alive to tell it.
Our friends Omri and Naim made reservations for us to see it.
We still have goosebumps.
It is quiet in Jerusalem. Tomorrow is Shabbat - the Sabbath, and everything closes at sundown.
This place is close to God's heart - you can feel it.

North Mediterranean Sea, Meggedo, Jezreel Valley

Breakfast in Israel -- What would you imagine an Israeli breakfast would be? We had no idea what to expect. When I get to the table about 8:30, I find a table full of cereal, yogart, olives, avocado, fresh bread, fruit (strawberries, oranges, qiwi, banana and grapefruit), cheese (Bruce's favorite cheese is a soft, white cheese called "Ski" that Israeli kids love!), cereals (muesli or "Fitness") and choices of juices. Tea picked from the bush outside. Coffee made in the cup. YUM! After stuffing ourselves, we head out at 9 to go northwest today.

The Grottos and Rosh Ha Nikra (Roash Haw Nee'kra)
North of Haifa, along the Mediterranean Sea coast, we went to Rosh (means "head") Ha Nikra (means "caves") which butts up against the border with Lebanon. We tried to walk across the border just to say we visited Lebanon, but we were surprised to see that there were no tourists - just a white car marked UN. Then I found out it was because Lebanon lobbed 2 rockets over the border into Israel yesterday, hit a house with old people in it not far from here, and all the tours had cancelled! OK, I admit I was a little shaken. But today is peaceful so far and what are the chances, right? On with the plan.... I was awestruck by the incredible beauty of this site. Beautiful beaches - pounding surf - fishing from the shore. The coast walls rose hundreds of feet and are vertical white chalk, sand/limestone and mixed thousands of with small flint nodules. It's impossible to describe. The limestone is white and the flint is black - a dream come true for those who shoot flintlocks! The water has carved the rock and created caves. The blue water of the Med was active today. Waves crashing in and out of the caves. A cable-car takes you down almost to the water - you walk inside the caves and watch the show! Wow! We spent the whole morning and early afternoon walking everywhere we could and taking many pictures. Bruce and Niam did some rock hopping above the surf to get a better view outside, and then we drove south along the sea away from Lebanon's threat. 24 degrees celcius today.

Meggedo
After lunch of hummus, peta bread (the US has lots to learn about making good hummus and pita bread!), olives, salads and spices, we drove off to the Jezreel Valley and Meggedo (also known as Har Megido or Armegeddon). This valley is where the battle of Armegeddon is supposed to take place in the final days, according to prophecy. It gave me goosebumps to look down into this beautiful, lush, green, productive valley that the people of Israel have made bloom. Historically, more people have died in battles in this valley than any other place, ever! It is a strategic commerce route that has been fought over for milleniums, dating back 4,000-5,000 BC. Joshua's village is on the valley floor ("Joshua fought the battle of Jericho ..") The area closed early so we headed home for an early evening. Schlomit made a delicious dinner and time for me to get this done.

We are having a great vacation. Tomorrow we leave Naim and his family and head for Jerusalem. Naim is driving us there and he will be picking up his oldest daughter (who is in school) in Jerusalem to bring her home for break. We are so grateful to Naim. He has given us 5 days of his time and his williness to show us his home, his community, friends and his part of this awesome country. What a blessing he and his wife Schlomit have been to us. She is the village MD. We may not be able to write for a few days. We will be in Jerusalem for 5 nights, staying at an Austrian, Christian Guest House located 1/2 block off the Via Dolorosa! Bye for now!

Sea of Galilee, River Jordan, Mt Hermon/Golan Hts

WOW!!!!
We have been to some of the most awesome sites. We plan. God laughs. He plans and we are blessed!
I won't tell you what our plans were. I'll just tell you where God led our friend Naim to take us. Naim lives in Yuvalim which is in the central part of Galilee in the northern part of Israel. The first day we headed east (Kibbutz Geshel). The 2nd day we went west (Haifa & Akko). Today we head north.

As we drove, Naim would tell stories of the kibbutz along the way or the town of Non-Jews (Arabic, Muslim, Druze, etc), etc. He stopped by a grove of olive trees, I mean HUGE-trunked olive trees! We got out and took pictures of these trees that are 200-300 years old! We saw horses, cows and sheep in the fields.

The Sea of Galilee
Our first stop was on the Sea of Galilee. Naim took us to a place where he puts his kayak in (we decided not to go kayaking because my knee would probably not let me get out once I got in :). So we walked down this flatish ramp and walked into the water! I was in the Sea of Galilee!!!!! Bruce took pictures. Naim showed us that the edge of the water was "living". The whole beach was beautiful tiny shells. Some were barely big enough to see while others were about an inch long. You could pickup handfuls! No sand. Every other place we saw the edge of the sea, it was rocky. Naim said that it was a favorite restaurant for tourists, but nobody was there. While we were cooling our feet in the sun, an older woman (85 yrs) and a young man (her grandson) came walking down to the water. Lilly Rousso spoke English so we could talk. It turned out she was a teacher who had come from France and taught in a kibbutz for 40 years and now volunteered in a classroom teaching learning disabled children. She had Omri (our host on Sunday) in her class years ago! She had asked her grandson (Israeli special forces home on short leave) to take her to the water. She was a strong woman with opinions galore about politics, but an absolute love. She was truly one of the pioneers that helped build Israel again. She and Bruce talked for quite awhile while I listened and looked at the shells!

Jordan River
Our next stop was the Jordan River. I know we said we stopped on Sunday (or was it Monday?) but here again, Naim had a surprise for me! We went to a different place that he said I couldn't tell anyone where it was. Again its a place where he puts in his kayak. There was a muddy, sloped "beach" that required slow going. But it led down to the most wonderful water and a beautiful section of the Jordan River. The river is very low due to draught conditions in the country. In most places its very muddy. But in this section, it had a pretty good current and was absolutely beautiful. Except where we were standing, the edges were lined by rushes and other plants. This was exactly what I was hoping the Jordan would look like but had been warned that I would be disappointed. We ate a lunch of fruit and vegies there by the Jordan. Again we were blessed by our host/guide.

Capernaum
Another surprise today was stopping in Capernaum (sp?), the city and area where Jesus spent most of his ministry years. We stopped at the place where it is believed that Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Beatitudes), fed the 5,000 with loaves and fishes, etc. I was NOT impressed by all the churches built on all the traditional sites and all the tour buses of people visiting them. We had not encountered tour buses anywhere else up to this point.

Golan Heights and Mt Hermon
We then drove to the northermost part of Israel, the Golan Heights. Once a fortress for Syrian guns to fire on Israel, the Golan Heights is now rich vineyards which produce excellent wines. On top is miles of flatish land of rocks and trees. No settlements. Naim's niece is working up here. On the other side is Syria. We climbed and climbed through Druz and Arab villages to the 2nd highest mountain in Israel, Mt Hermon. There was a little snow at the top but the best part is that there is a ski lift that took Naim and Bruce to the top of the world! What a ride! Snow in Israel! I sat and watched for them to come down again :) This area is said to be "the eyes of Israel".

After this long day, we headed back to Yuvalim, picked up Naim's family and went out for an awesome dinner. They really know the best places to eat!

Haifa

Judy here:
What a trip! I'm overwhelmed and don't know where to start. God put this trip together and I'm learning that it was for more than one reason. We are staying with non-religious Jews and seeing Israel through their eyes. Yesterday Naim took us to see a Kibbutz. I thought it would be interesting but, Oh My! We first went to "Kibbutz Old Gesher" and met his best friend Omri. He took a day off to show us around and tell us the history. We have found out that every meeting begins with coffee/tea. You sit and talk and then you go out and see. By the end of the day we came to understand that everything we saw was the result of a dream Omri had. He was born in this Kibbutz and he knew the history of the people and wanted to find a way to keep this history alive. He has found the funding and helpers to repair/rebuild where necessary, the 100 year old site where the first pioneers settled in 1908. That sounds so simple -- Jews moving back to the land God gave to father Abraham. This morning when I woke up, two words came to mind as I pondered yesterday -- God Provides. The Jews were run out of Israel almost 2,000 years ago. They were dispersed to almost every corner of the earth, into almost every country. In 1908, one man suddenly had the urge to move back to the land given to Abraham. He gathered others around him that also felt led to move. A handful of these pioneers left everything except what they could carry and headed to Israel. They settled in Gesher, near the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee on the Jordan River. As they needed a translator, God provided. When they needed someone to teach them Hebrew, God provided. When they needed women to cook and take care of them, God provided. When they needed doctors and nurses, God provided. When they needed electricity, God provided a man with a vision of a hydro-electric plant who came and built it before anyone told him it couldn't be done or it wouldn't work. It goes on and on. More people came and prepared the way for the hundreds and thousands that were to follow when in 1948 Israel became an independent state. And when they had to fight for what they were given, God provided. Every Jew has his/her story of their return to Israel. They talk about waves of returning families, of strategic placement of communities. Again and again, the story today in Israel is -- God has provided. All this provision has done one huge thing -- it has fulfilled prophesy. Of course, one prophesy was that the Jews would return to Israel. Another was that Israel would bloom. It has been a barren desert for nearly 2,000 years. Today I can testify that Israel blooms. It's green in January! You can see almost every flower and tree in existence. They grow every fruit here including strawberries (the sweetest I've ever tasted), oranges, kiwis, grapes, kumquots, bananas, pomelos, grapefruit, cherries, lemons, etc. They grow every vegetable like carrots, all kinds of lettuces, zuccini, celery, tomatoes, various peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbages like we have in Alaska, etc. There is every spice you can imagine -- cinnamon, salt (of course), garlic, cardamon, parsley and many more - many I've never heard of. Our hostess goes to the garden, picks some leaves and makes me the most awesome tea I've ever had :) Herbs and spices grow wild everywhere! We've been in 2 open market places and it's an unforgettable experience. We stopped at one vender and I asked if they had any frankincense and myrrh - the precious gifts of the 3 wise men to baby Jesus. He pointed to the sack next to me! 10 shekels for a handful (about $2.50). I got 2 handfuls!

After Old Gesher, Omri gave us a tour of the new Kibbutz. The kibbutz idea had to change and adapt over the years as the people's needs have changed. But again, God has provided people with a new vision. After that we crossed the River of Jordan (in the car, over a bridge) into Jordan where we could never have gone without Omri. What an amazing man with amazing connections. He hosted us the whole day and treated us as if WE were special! After a few more stops, we drove into the parking lot of a somewhat commercial area for going into the river Jordan. Usually this place is filled with lines of Christian groups who are there to be baptized in the Jordan. It caters to these groups. We got there at sunset. It was completely empty! Just the four of us! Bruce and I took off our shoes, rolled up our pants and walked into the water. It was a dream (desire of my heart) come true. What an experience! My heart is so full......

Haifa on the Mediterranean

Today was Haifa. We first drove though the town, viewed the harbor and then went to the Bahai World Center. We didn't spend alot of time there because access was limited. But the gardens were incredible. Every flower and every tree imaginable! The grounds were meticulous. Everything is planted trying to reach balance and tranquility. There's a big temple. It actually was a little too perfect for me. But the view of Haifa and the harbor at the top of those 100 steps was to die for.

Akko (Acre)

Next we were off to Akko by the Sea. This harbor has an incredible 5,000 year history. I can't even begin to tell you what it feels like to walk narrow ways on stones thousands of years old! Everything from a Turkish Bath to the Great Hall, the Knight's Templars Tunnel (from the days of the Crusades) to the Turkish Open Market. Incredible history! Here I bought frankincense and myrrh, and some incredible deals on silver.

Oh, and what about food? We had no idea what Israelis eat. The answer - everything. Now that we've been here a few days and eaten at some of the local's favorite places, I can tell you that we haven't gone hungry :) They eat alot of salads and fresh vegetables. Hummus (ground chickpeas) is actually really good here! Ground sesame seeds is another popular dip. And fresh pita bread is nothing like what we have in Juneau! And let me tell you about the bakeries!!!!!!! On that note, we stopped at Naim's favorite bakery on the way home and a box of goodies is calling to me from our bedroom :) I must respond...... The plan for tomorrow is the Sea of Galilee and the places that Jesus spent his time. I must get my beauty sleep :)

Haifa

Our friends live in a community named Yuvalim, half-way between Haifa on the coast of the Mediterean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. The drive to the coast takes you past a bakery owned by Christian Arabs from Nazareth - stop there on the way home for Koda Efe and just enjoy!

Galilee

A wonderful day in one of the first Kibbutzim in Israel with the son of one of the pioneers. We walked the site of one of the pivotal 1948 battles for independence; drove a british train, crossed the Jordan, and walked in the Jordan RIver.

Galilee

Mountain biking this morning with our friend Shimshon (Samson) this morning along the Israeli border north of Tel Aviv - picked fresh avocado's the size of baking potatoes, and looked out over lush, well kept lush fields, clean and showing a lot of pride. Over the fence was rocky desolate land. Judy got to catch up on sleep. Our friends have taken us places and showed us things it would take days to describe. And the FOOD - fresh oranges, grapefruit, pecans, carob, pomelos, cheese, bananas, meat, fish, dates as sweet as sugar -- all grown in Israel. Our friends introduce us to delicious new dishes every night and spices which would take weeks to describe. The Land is blooming like never before. We are in Yuvalim - half-way between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee, 40 kilometers from Nazareth at a friend's home.
Tomorrow we go to see the "Mount" where Jesus spoke, and "the place of loaves and fishes".
What an awesome place.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Note to Self: If you want a good night sleep, DO NOT fly all night!!!!!!

Our flight from London to Tel Aviv was scheduled to leave London at 10:15pm, but our airplane broke and British Air had to find another one that could fly the route and hold enough people. We finally left at 12:15and arrived in Tel Aviv at 7:30am (2 time zones ahead). We are now 11 times zones from Juneau and home.
This was a one-time shot. Israel was on our Wish List - the deciding factor was 3 groups of Israeli's who stayed with us at the B&B in the last 2 years. They all decided that we were going to visit them, and wouldn't let up. We finally ran out of excuses.
Besides being stressed from very little sleep, we managed to see a little of Tel Aviv today. Bruce went to check in at the Embassy - the most heavily fortified building in Israel according to the contract secruity - while I got a little nap. Our motel was once a movie theater, and is a delight. The promenade along the Mediterranean Sea is Tel Aviv's playground, and sunset was gorgeous. Awesome pictures, then to 2000 year old Jaffa where Jonah launched his encounter with the whale and Paul set off for Rome.
We have NOT seen any signs of war. We have seen enough security to feel comfortable. My purse was checked before entering the mall, and signs say "if you see a suspicious person or an unattended bag, report it". Israeli's in Army uniforms walk home with M-16's over their shoulders and nobody blinks an eye. People are walking around town at night and walking to the beach after dark without a care. Someone said "an armed society is a polite society".
Israeli's are incredibly friendly and frank people, and visitors are treated like family.
The first of our B&B friends picked us up in Tel Aviv and made us feel at home. This evening we had dinner with Nir and Michal Bar-Lev overlooking the Med. Nir has off from work and is going to take us around Tel Aviv tomorrow and show us their town. At 4 tomorrow we meet Shimshon at Ben Gurion Airport (we have to turn in our rental car. I will NEVER complain about US drivers again!!!) and will join Naim's family the next day for the beginning of Shebbat (Sabbath) in the north.
Shabbat Dinner was hard to describe -- 2 candles were lit at sundown; both families gathered around an incredible array of foods and wines -- everything grown and produced in Israel. Their father stood at the head of the table and sang the prayer and blessing in Hebrew .. It was magical.
Shimshon and I went mountain biking the next day from his home into some incredibly productive agriculture groves, past the Minister of Defense's home, along the fence between Israel and the West Bank (Israel is only 24 miles wide at that point) and back in time for breakfast.
Shimshon drove us north into the Galilee region to his brothers' home, and we spent the next 5 days with Naim and his wife Schlomit, the community MD.
On to Galilee!

London

We are at the Hounslow Library near Heathrow Airport and have finally found a computer to update our trip. We arrived in London early Sunday morning after flying all night across the Atlantic. We dropped our bags at our B&B in Hounslow and took the Tube into London to meet our friends Elaine and Jennifer. The Tube stops about 1/2 block from our B&B. Nice way to get around. The 4 of us first had lunch and then boarded a WW2 Duck vehicle. They took us through London, giving us a quick and humorous explanation of what we were seeing. They say the English have no sense of humor. We have found that "they" whoever they are, are wrong. We've thoroughly enjoyed our tour guides. We then drove down to the Thames River and motored passed Big Ben and Parliament, etc. This was all done under clear, sunny skies and about 35-40 degrees. Had dinner in a cozy pub at the base of Big Ben. It was a great day!

On Monday (rain fell early but had stopped by the time we ventured out. Still between 35 and 40 degrees), after our Indian host served a full "English" breakfast, we hit the tube again and met Elaine at Charing Cross Station, in London and had tea at St. Martin's Cathedral in Trafalger Square in the crypt before we started out for Buckingham Palace. We took the double-decker bus passed Scotland Yard and got as close as we could get to the Palace and then walked the rest of the way. We walked the Queen's Mall and fed the ducks, swans and geese along the way. We stopped at James Park for lunch including a hot mulled wine and pumpkin soup :) and ended at the Embankment on the Thames. We then boarded a Clipper Catamaran (the public transportation along the Thames) and made several stops in places we've only read about in books like Shakespeare's Theater, London Bridge, Tate Art Museum... We ended this part of our cruise at Greenwich. This is where east meets west (look it up if you don't understand what Greenwich Mean Time is). We visited the Royal Navy College, the Painted Hall and an awesome Chapel. After this fantastic time we boarded the Clipper back to the Embankment and had dinner at another great pub on Trafalger Square. A few sprinkles fell on us during the day but otherwise we were dry (amazing for London - two dry days in a row!). Then back on the tube and another try at catching up on our sleep. We're currently 9 hours difference from home!

Tuesday morning started the same way. All London is abuzzz with the Coronation of Obama. The weather is cloudy but dry and chilly. We met Elaine again and had coffee and tea at Starbucks! We boarded the Clipper again and disembarked at the Tower of London. We spent what was left of the morning and early afternoon touring this 1000 year old, historic castle. Historically the royal jewels, crowns and gold are kept here as well as armour, historical records and even animals before the London Zoo was started. The queen lived here at one time. The area has a full history of events. After checking this out we boarded the train and accepted Elaine's invitation to visit her home in the country for tea. We traveled out to York (the end of the train line) with Elaine telling us mile by mile what we were seeing. Early evening we found our way (without Elaine to guide us - scary!) back to London and Trafalgar Square to try yet another pub for dinner. We found The Old Shades, a pub built in 1873, where we had a delightful dinner. We shared an entre called "Toad in the hole": Yorkshire Pudding with Cumberland Sausage, fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes with gravy. What a treat! Then headed home on the Tube again to try to catch up on sleep :)

Today we've given Elaine a day off :) She's been such a great companion, tour guide and friend on this adventure. She and Jennifer stayed with us this last summer when they visited Alaska. We are off to TelAviv tonight (10:30pm) and will arrive there around 6 tomorrow morning. This will put us about 11 hours off Juneau time.

Friday Jan 16

Walk, walk, and walk some more! Miles and miles of venders! The SHOT show has been great. Visited with Pete and Karen Gerber, founder of Gerber Knives, yesterday and today. They are lovely people. It's fun talking to folks from all over the world with like interests to ours and upbeat attitudes about life. Life is not only a gift but a responsibility!
We attended the "State of the Industry" banquet last night. Good food, but better yet, entertainment by comedian Bill Engvall (Here's Your Sign......). What a hoot! We haven't laughed that hard and that long since we saw Bill Cosby in person. Bill E. was funny but clean. What a treat!
Tomorrow we'll be driving back to Miami and then flying on to London on the red-eye, arriving at 10am Sunday. It might be awhile before we can get back to this but we will as soon as we can find a computer in London. Hope all is well with everyone. We're having a blast :)

Florida

Carolyn Sharp was there when we needed her at the airport in Juneau. Want to meet an angel? Go say hello to Carolyn.
Miami was 80 yesterday - Alaska Airlines got a scratch on the windshield, and that put us in at 10:30 at night. Sleep? Who needs sleeps? We drove halfway to Orlando up the Sunshine parkway until 3 Am, found a Holiday Inn Express and slept the best in ages! In the morning we met the owners of I-94 On Line - the East Coast's answer to the Milepost. Canadian's from Montreal - their world consists of driving from one end of I-94 to the other, meeting business owners, and logging who is where along the way.
In Orlando a delightful lady from Jamaica at the hotel desk said "You going to Israel? - Well you must go to the Holy Land Experience down the street! It's a real blessing", and she was right! TBN started it 7 years ago - it's a trip back in time to Jerusalem in the time of Christ, and it's fascinating. Next time you go to Orlando, take a day to go. They rebuilt the Temple right here in Orlando.
The SHOT Show begins today - the largest outdoor "stuff" trade show in the world. It's 6 Am and we're on the road.
Shalom!
Bruce

Jim Low says it is 45 below in Fairbanks at the CAP hanger. Jim was in Jordan in 1975 and has fond memories of good coffee, floating in the Dead Sea, and the Rose City of Petra (in Jordan). We will be following his steps and reporting on it.

Alaska!

Snow is piled over my head today (not too tall - I'm only 5'6"(grin). But Tuesday Judy and I leave For London and Israel.