Friday - preparing to go home

It is time to go home.  Debbie, who lives in Colorado, was following the progress of a blizzard that threatened to close Denver Airport.   She changed her flight plans to leave as soon as possible, so she left late on Thursday night to catch a flight to Frankfurt, and from there to Denver or San Francisco (she was hoping for one or the other last I heard).   I hope that she was able to leave Frankfort and get back to Denver before the blizzard hit!

The rest of us had breakfast together and had some good-bye hugs.   Rita left for the airport, and then Ron.  Michael is staying for an extra day, as his nephew is getting married today and he will spend a day with his family before flying home on Saturday.

Penelope and Rose had flight plans for Saturday that could not easily be changed, so they rented a room in a bed-and-breakfast and I (Bob) spent part of the day with them.   We went to the flea market in Jaffa which was nearly empty when we went there two weeks ago - but was very crowded today.  Then we walked along the Jaffa beach and waded in the Mediterranean Sea.  Finally, we walked past the hotel.   Here are some of the sights we encountered:

Catholic Church in
Northern Jaffa

Coins for sale.
These are 50-year-old Israeli coins
from before the currency reform.
About as valuable as Confederate
money after the Civil War - but I'm
sure someone will pay for them!

 

This "flower" is made out of
lemon and grapefruit rinds

Our Rose with a beautiful  Jaffa rose

 

Rose and Penelope at the Mediterranean Sea in Jaffa

We walked into the Old City of Jaffa (Ottoman period, on the site of much older cities), and found a wonderful ice cream parlor! This is now largely an artists colony.

We then walked back to the bed-and-breakfast, where I took a shower and used Uber (my first time ever) to call for a ride to the airport.

And so the trip is ending.   I am writing this at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.  I have learned plenty about the man after whom this is named during this trip.  In a few hours, a plane will take me to New York, and then another back to Cleveland.  

Thanks to Ron who was the Cleveland Hiking Cub organizer for this trip.

Thanks to Keshet Tours who really know how to put together a wonderful event like this.

Thanks to Asaf and Hani, who led us through the wonderful adventures described in these posts.

Thanks to Debbie, Mike, Penelope, Rita, Ron, and Rose, we were delightful companions on this trip.

When I return, I plan to write a final posting summarizing my thoughts.  Until then, shalom aleichem (peace to you) and  l'hitra'ot (until we meet again)

Bob