On the plane from London to Tel Aviv we were surrounded. To the front, to the left, to the right, and even down to the kosher meal that Paul mistakenly received (and enjoyed!), we were surrounded by notice that we were on our way to Israel. Men in black robes, black hats, once-black (now greying) beards; 
younger men in black beanies; their wives in headscarves, rocking babies to sleep. I think verse two of Away in a Manger may be true after all! No crying they make, these little Jewish babies! It was a great flight. And all our luggage arrived, even the two guitars and of course Frasier the gnome!
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| The capacious Sherut |
After loud protestations from the driver that there was too much luggage, and declarations of our innocence, "but what can we do?!" we jammed into the back seat with two guitars, three computers and a carry-on tightly wedged in and around our laps, and took a Sherut (shared bus-taxi, seating 10), from the airport. It drives to every person's stop request; well, except the girl who was going to a Bar Mitzvah and the location was too complicated, so he took her as far as possible and dropped her off at a corner, after yelling through the window at a passing taxi to see if that driver would turn around and take to the end of her journey!!
We plunged through narrow, winding streets, up and down hills, tooting horns, and continuous conversation between driver and passengers, shouting (driver) or whispering (teenage girl), and though I don't know Hebrew it wasn't hard to figure out the gist of everybody's story, and we all shared them, like Canterbury tales! A water bottle fell and spilled; it had belonged to someone who was already off, so the driver, craning his head around to see, shouting insults, and managing to avoid traffic, asked some respectable passenger to mop up the floor with tissues, and he did it happily. Clearly the journey was as much a part of the day's joy as arriving!
Finally we reached our destination: Tantur. White and shining, made of beautifully carved stone, surrounded by olive orchards and tall Tuscan-like trees, we were welcomed at the front desk by Issa - which means Jesus! After that ride, it felt like it too!
Our home is just down from the main building, all connected by white stone-embedded paths, You go up four steps and you're at our front door. Walk inside and there's the living room with couch and chairs and coffee table. Right behind them is the dining table, and around the corner is the small but completely updated kitchen - with a brand-new, compact stainless steel gas stove and oven!! Go through the living room and you come to three nice bedrooms, each with a desk or even two: yes, we are here to study! Out the sliding doors is a quiet stone patio with white table and chairs.
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| Our cottage at Tantur |
The floors are marble tile - in December, it's chilly!! Paul's wishing he kept his bedroom slippers in the suitcase! But there are three standing heaters in the house and we're okay, for sure! Thanks for coming here with us! It's another world and it's going to be amazing!
