The Land of Milk and Honey
Our group trip to Israel under the direction of Yael Adventures is now in the record books. To say it was amazing is an understatement.
We were a group of fifteen including seven of us who used wheelchairs or scooters. Twelve of us met in New York at JFK and flew together on EL AL Airlines to Tel Aviv. The remaining three were a family from Canada so they met us when we arrived at the first hotel in Tiberias. Five members of the group had traveled with us previously but we all got to know each other very quickly. Once again the magic happened. We bonded and became a family of happy travelers anxious to explore all that Israel had waiting for us. Our group was comprised of people with different beliefs but we all respected each other and learned so much from observing the different aspects of religion that were most meaningful to all. One young man, Nate, is studying Theology and truly impressed me with his knowledge of the different religions and the history of the region. Our Canadian family had an adult son with cerebral palsy who was non-mobile and non-verbal. Watching the parents explain everything to their son Jacob and sharing every experience with him enhanced the meaning of the trip for all of us. When we visited the River Jordan they filled a basin with the water and submerged his feet into it. They did the same at the Dead Sea. They brought his wheelchair to the Western Wall and placed his hand on the Wall. It was truly inspiring. Our trip exceeded everyone's expectations. We had a fantastic guide who impressed us constantly with her passion for Israel and an amazing bus driver who always had a smile on his face and loaded the wheelchair users over and over again with compassion and skill. We were always comfortable on our 45 passenger motor coach and enjoyed the ever changing landscape of this small country.The National Park system which is home to Beit She'an, Masada, Cesarea and Qumran has done an admirable job in providing access for all. Yes, we encountered an occasional obstacle but with the help of many, managed to get everyone where they needed to be. Besides enjoying all the archeological wonders, our group loved to shop. They had plenty of opportunity at the Olive Oil Press, Yvel Jewelry (where they train Ethiopian Jews the art of jewelry making), Ahava Dead Sea Products and an abundance of gift shops. There was always something for everyone.
We planted trees, visited Bethlehem and Nazareth, shared Shabbat Dinner, visited Churches and Holy sites and more...
I invite you to read my personal daily journal....
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New Ships, More Fun!
Both NCL and Royal Caribbean are taking delivery of new ships in November. Steve Kerper will sail on the inaugural of RCCL's Anthem of the Seas on November 4 and I will be on NCL's Escape on November 9. We will bring you full reports on both of these amazing and innovative ships in next month's newsletter. Many of you are already booked to cruise on the Anthem which sails out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ. The Escape will sail round-trip Miami.
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Looking Ahead....
I have had requests for an African Safari and a trip to some of the National Parks in the U.S. Please let me know if you have any interest in these trips. I will be posting information about future trips to Scandinavia, London & Paris, Hawaii and more after the first of the year.
Together we will explore an accessible world.
Hope you can join us!
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Ghosts and Goblins and Witches, oh my! May you all have a fun filled and safe Halloween, I love autumn when the weather cools off and the leaves turn all shades of orange and I can enjoy a cup of afternoon tea. Most of us are looking ahead to the holidays and all the added activities that this time of year holds for us. I look forward to being able to spend time with family and cooking favorite recipes. May you all enjoy whatever you love best.
