It is 12:15 AM. I am exhausted, albeit reinvigorated with two or three cups of the most amazing Turkish coffee I’ve ever had.
I need to tell you all about my day. Wanna hear about it? here goes!
Despite setting my alarm for 6:30 AM, I awoke on my own at 5:30. Figured I might as well get up and do some online stuff before getting ready for my flight, which now seems AGES ago. I replied to some emails, printed some documents out, then started getting ready as girls do: shower, makeup, hair. The works.
Andy, one of our cameramen, was supposed to meet us at our house at 8 am to go over the equipment one last time before leaving. With two cameramen out, we had to reevaluate everything we’d packed. Oh, did I not mention that? Yes, after David was hit by a heart attack on Mother’s Day, another of our cameramen came down hard with the flu. We quarantined him away from our home, and his dear wife brought over his equipment, which he still allowed us to use (sweetheart!). Still, we had to really think it through, and unfortunately David simply didn’t have the energy to do it.
But of course, as things go, Andy encountered the worst traffic in the world on his way to Casa von Glahn, and instead arrived at 8:45. We were supposed to leave at 9 to pick up Patrick–the other cameraman–and make our way to Newark airport from the Philly suburbs in time to return the car I’d rented for the trip, get to the airport, through security, and on the plane before it left.
David mustered his strength and went through the equipment with me, and we got it all done. Fortunately, he didn’t suffer another heart attack, as stressful as this was. Andy arrived, we packed the car, picked up Patrick, and were on our way.
It was hard leaving. I wanted David to come, but I was glad he wasn’t.
Fortunately–and at this point, surprisingly–we didn’t hit any traffic on the way to Newark. We rented a minivan from Avis, who gave us “their best car”, which was AWESOME. Then, when we dropped the car off, and I told one woman that we had a lot of equipment, she drove us herself in the rental car to the gate!! WOW! I was amazed and grateful. What service. BRAVO AVIS! Bravo.
At the airport, we encountered the pleasant El Al checkin people, who proceeded to question us about everything under the sun for what seemed like three hours but was really more along the lines of 45 minutes. Still, I was REALLY glad we were early. I was surprised at the level of grilling we got, especially considering El Al was sponsoring our flight… but whatever. I at least felt somewhat safer on that plane.
After the grilling, we went to customs who had to sign off on our ever changing equipment list, then through security, and finally to the gate, where everyone was already boarding. I was bummed, I’d hoped to connect with the Catholic Press Association journalists who were on our flight–Denise Bossert, Marge Fenelon, John Feister, Peter J Smith, Julie Holthaus, and Elizabeth Scalia. They all got to hang out in the El Al lounge! La di da! LOL. But I did recognize Elizabeth as I rolled my bag down the aisle and said hey. I also saw Denise walk on and gave her a shout. God, I love these people! So glad to have met them all!
The flight was a typical 12-hour flight: uncomfortable and restless. I did get fitful sleep for a while, but MAN is it impossible to sleep in those seats! And I’m little. I don’t know how big people do it.
But there were some great moments.
I got to watch the Lego movie. Everything is awesome.
The El Al flight attendants were FANTASTIC. So nice and peaceful! Especially considering their demanding customers! One example of how they went out of the way to help us: I brought a HUGE 24-ounce water bottle aboard for my flight bc I always get thirsty, but of course bc of the pre-flight grilling I got, I didn’t have a chance to buy water before the flight. As I sat there, woefully looking upon the teensy little water glasses the stewardesses were handing out, I recalled an online article I’d read that said that if you ask a flight attendant to fill your water bottle, they usually will. “Not my behemoth,” I thought. And sat there, dejected.
Eventually, my thirst got the better of me, and I slunk up to the flight attendant stand and said, “Can you put some water in my bottle? Iknowitsbigandyoudonthavetofillitallthewayup!” But before I even finished my lame attempt at seeming selfless, the ANGEL attendant filled my ENTIRE BOTTLE! I could have kissed her. I was THAT thirsty.
The food on El Al is also stupendous. Normally, for breakfast, I’ll have a yogurt. Or a bagel and cream cheese. Or an omelet. Or some fruit. This morning, I got a bagel, some cream, cheese, a yogurt, an omelet, some fruit, AND a chocolate danish! I felt like a pig but ate like a king!
THANK YOU, EL AL, for your service and for allowing us to fly on your flight. Such an awesome experience. Of course, I’ll get ready for that grilling on the way home… 🙂 Better safe than sorry, right?
Once off the flight, I finally had my “Joe versus the Volcano” moment, and saw someone at the end of the walkway holding up a sigh that read “The Faithful Traveler”. Awesome. She was standing right next to a woman holding a sign for the Catholic Press Association journalists, so we all met up, passed quickly through passport control (no more stamping, BOO), and then waited a while for our luggage which eventually came. Then we split up–my team went our way and the other team went their way. I DID get to hug Marge Fenelon, though, as I’d promised on Facebook. She’s awesome.
Our day continued with Uri, our driver and guide. When I mentioned that Uri was a popular name–the man at the Israel Ministry of Tourism who first contacted me about this trip is also called Uri–he said “Uri” means light, and that name is usually given to boys born during Hanukkah. I asked him if he was one. “The first light,” he said. Awesome.
Uri first took us to Old City Jaffa, where we’d hoped to film some stand ups overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and maybe some in or around the Church of St Peter. Unfortunately, we picked the loudest, busiest street in the world, apparently. Oh, AND we discovered that some bug decided to crawl up into the deep insides of one of our lenses and DIE there, rendering that entire camera USELESS. Yeah. We brought a useless camera. Annoying.
After many attempts at talking about Jaffa and Andromeda and Tel Aviv (watch the show to find out more!), I gave up, and decided to just go inside the Church of St Peter to have a look inside. “How could this day get any worse?” I said to Andy and Patrick as I walked toward the church… and watched the priest shut and lock the doors just as I neared them.
“Seriously?!” I thought. Seriously. At this point, hanger was creeping up, and Uri solved that problem with some of the best shawarama EVER. YUM.
We drove to Caesarea Maritima, decided it was way too windy to do anything there, and then made our way to Nazareth. At this point, jet lag was kicking in. Andy and Patrick were dozing in the back, and I was doing my best to fight it off. After all, I didn’t come here to sleep. Uri and I chatted the whole way up to Nazareth, which was beautiful.
Once in Nazareth, we checked in to our hotel and I called Habib. Now, for those of you on Facebook, you know Habib. For those of you who don’t, let me tell you: Habib is awesome. I met him online a few months ago when a blog post I wrote about Nazareth appeared on www.rcspiritualdirection.com. Habib liked it and emailed me right away–he’s got gumption! And, of course, I wrote him back right away, and the next thing you know, I told him we were coming out to Nazareth and would he like to meet us, and then we’re making plans, and now we’re friends!
Habib and his beautiful wife, Gosayna, came to meet us at the hotel. They had graciously invited us to their home that evening for dinner, but before that, we wanted to film some things at the Basilica of the Annunciation first–we got to go to the roof top and film from there. It was fabulous! Then, we went to get ice cream at this amazing little shop in the town where Gosayna grew up. YUM!
After that, we went to Habib’s beautiful home and had the most fabulous dinner of salad, stuffed baby zucchini, spiced chicken, hummus, rice, and little pastries with spiced meat. SO YUMMY! After dinner, Andy and Patrick made their way to the hotel, while I stayed to chat with my new friends.
Can I just tell you right now that God is good? He is so good, he orchestrates things. I know it. And I am SO grateful that he allowed me to meet this super fantastic couple, whom I hope to know for the rest of my life. What a blessing they are to their family and friends and community. To the world, at large, because let me tell you, these are the kinds of people who have the faith that moves mountains. And I believe they are doing just that right here in Nazareth. I am SO grateful I met them, and so blessed to call them friends. Oh, we enjoyed some yummy Turkish coffee and Easter cookies. And we chatted and enjoyed one another’s company.
Tomorrow, Habib will show us around Nazareth a bit more, and then we’re off to Jordan.
It’s been a long day, folks. But today, my prayer is this:
Dear Lord. I love you. I love you for having created me and this world that I enjoy to discover. I love you for having created my friends, Habib and Gosayna and Denise and Marge and John and Peter and Julie, and Elizabeth, and Uri.
Dear Lord, please bless all of our endeavors to help make the world a better place, to spread the word of your Love. And please don’t let any more of my crew or equipment come down with the flu.
Amen.
G’night all! More tomorrow!