Shalom - Israel Arrival

07.11.2011 Berlin - Vienna - Jerusalem - Tiwon

Departed from Berlin in drizzling rain and 20 degrees, early at 5. Got off well in Tegel and headed to Vienna. There, I encountered Orthodox people at the gate for the first time. Our flight was delayed by an hour because there was a thunderstorm, and in Vienna, they didn’t even pack our luggage at first, so we eventually sat on the plane. But dealing with Israelis/Jews isn't easy. They first have to discuss the seating arrangement. Even after the steward repeatedly asked everyone to sit down, it didn’t progress well. Anyway, the flight was horrible. With a school class and constant jostling around. Of the 147 passengers, everyone seemed to use the restroom an average of 2 times. (By the way, before at the gate, and upon arrival as well) So sleeping was not an option. I also felt like they were all flying for the first time. The seatbelt signs were generally ignored. Everyone immediately rang for food and drinks. A girl tried for a long time to get into the occupied restroom. In vain.

In Israel, I was quite panicked about the passport control. I had prepared 1000 sentences and expected a 2-hour interrogation. But nothing. I said that I was visiting a friend, unfortunately, I neither knew where she lived nor what she specifically does, and I was wished a nice vacation.

Thanks to Anne's directions, I quickly exchanged money and dashed to the train. I still missed it by 5 minutes and had to wait for an hour. On the train, it felt like 5 degrees. There are always groups of 4 seats, and a Russian mom sat across from me. Maybe 50 years old and with a 20-year-old daughter. Next to me sat a guy from the army. Maybe 40 and not very good-looking. And as I looked around, I noticed the guy holding his iPhone next to his knee to film up the Russian mom's skirt. And all throughout the train ride (1.5 hours). Oh man, I never stared so hard out the window. I considered whether I should maybe slip him a note with the Youporn URL when getting off. You'd definitely see more there. - Welcome to Israel!

Annemarie picked me up from the train and we went to Tiwon, to her villa, which she shares with the other volunteers and which her employer provides. They also provide food. We watched a movie with the others, and even though I had been awake for 20 hours, I was the only one who didn’t fall asleep.

Everyone was very happy about my gifts (newspaper, Nutella, tobacco).

07.15.

This morning we went to Haifa to see the Bahai shrine. The Jews were again very rule-abiding. Even though the guide pointed out at least 5 times that we must all definitely stay together and that nothing but water should be consumed because this is the most sacred place of the Bahai, they, of course, did not stick together and there was juice as well. Well.

Afterwards, we took Haifa's subway (the only one in the country). A mountain metro. 5 stops, like in Dresden, similar to the funicular railway. The ticket machine was broken, and we were told to pay at the exit. Then a grave silence at the station. Many people definitely don’t ride there. At the exit, we also didn’t have to pay. So we rode for free. And that in Israel. Ooooh. We couldn't find the Arab market we were looking for, or it really consists of just the one street we were on. However, there were falafels. Not as tasty as in Egypt, but I was hungry.

Afterwards, we took the bus to the beach. Unfortunately, it's still full of jellyfish. I tried going into the water 3 times anyway. Because it's wonderfully warm. Now I have red welts all over my body. And they sting quite a bit for the first 10 minutes. And of course, two Israelis talked to us, and we had quite a hard time getting rid of them.

No bus was running back due to Shabbat, and we didn’t want to take the last one at half past 4 because we only got there at half past 3.

So we hitchhiked. Annemarie wasn’t fully convinced, but we stood by the road for no more than 10 seconds before someone stopped. An Israeli with a girlfriend who lives in Spain and is also currently on vacation. Then we had to switch to a car with a girl who said nothing and drove us only 1 km, and then three overly loud Arabs with a wannabe-tuned Fiat showed up. Tiger rug on the ceiling, some blinking lights around the cockpit, and Destiny's Child at full blast. Just like the gas pedal. Well, at least we didn't have to chat. When getting out, of course, I got a handprint on my butt. Ah Arabs, always a pleasure.

Tomorrow we want to go to Acco in the north and hope there are no jellyfish there.